explaingit

makecindy/cindy

Analysis updated 2026-08-13

2,052TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

TLDR

An open-source AI agent client for desktop and mobile that combines tools like Claude Code and Codex to finish real tasks on your own computer and phone.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Cindy))
    What it does
      Local AI agent
      Combines multiple harnesses
      Drives browser and computer
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      Electron desktop
      React Native mobile
      pnpm monorepo
    Use cases
      Automate recurring tasks
      Reuse Claude Code or Codex plan
      Connect internal tools via MCP
    Audience
      Developers
      Contributors

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Run an AI agent locally that can use your files, browser, and logged-in apps to finish tasks.

USE CASE 2

Connect an existing Claude Code or Codex coding plan instead of paying twice for AI usage.

USE CASE 3

Automate recurring tasks that run on a schedule and report back.

USE CASE 4

Build or contribute to an open-source desktop and mobile AI agent client.

What is it built with?

TypeScriptElectronReact Nativepnpm

How does it compare?

makecindy/cindymicrosoft/flint-chartopensearch-project/opensearch-dashboards
Stars2,0522,0142,095
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Last pushed2026-07-17
MaintenanceActive
Setup difficultymoderateeasyhard
Complexity3/53/54/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires Node.js 22, pnpm 10, and Git LFS to build from source.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright and license notice.

In plain English

Cindy is an open source AI agent that runs on your own computer and is meant to actually finish real tasks, not just chat. Instead of building its own model from scratch, it brings together several existing AI harnesses and models, currently Claude Code and Codex, with more planned, and lets them work on your files and logged-in apps. It can also drive your web browser, control your computer, take instructions from your phone, and pick up requests sent through messaging apps or on a schedule. This repository holds the open source client for Cindy, meaning the desktop app for computers and the mobile app for phones, along with the shared code packages they both depend on, organized as a single project with multiple linked pieces. The client itself is free and its source code is released under the Apache 2.0 license. To actually run tasks it needs a model, and you have several options: sign into the official Cindy service and pay for usage as you go, connect an existing Claude Code or Codex coding plan you already subscribe to, bring your own API keys from a model provider, or use models that run locally on your machine. Because Cindy is open source, several parts of how she works can be changed by anyone. You can correct her memory once and she will remember it going forward across every harness she uses. You can teach her a particular way of doing a task once and reuse that skill repeatedly. Recurring work can be scheduled to run and report back on its own. Internal tools and business systems can be connected through MCP, a way of wiring outside tools into the agent. A plugin system for reshaping the app's features and interface is also in the works. To build Cindy from source you need Node.js version 22, the pnpm package manager version 10, and Git LFS for handling large files. There is also a hosted mode that requires a Cindy account, and a local only mode called Skip Sign-In that runs local agents without one, though that mode loses access to server-backed features. The client connects to Cindy's official cloud servers by default, so contributors do not need to run their own server to develop or test the app.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through cloning and running the Cindy desktop client locally with pnpm.
Prompt 2
Explain the difference between Hosted service mode and Skip Sign-In mode in Cindy.
Prompt 3
How do I connect my existing Claude Code or Codex coding plan to Cindy instead of paying for a separate service?
Prompt 4
What is MCP and how does Cindy use it to connect to internal tools?
Prompt 5
Show me how Cindy's memory and skills features let me customize how the agent works.

Frequently asked questions

What is cindy?

An open-source AI agent client for desktop and mobile that combines tools like Claude Code and Codex to finish real tasks on your own computer and phone.

What language is cindy written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, Electron, React Native.

What license does cindy use?

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright and license notice.

How hard is cindy to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is cindy for?

Mainly developer.

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