review-and-steer · always-on · vps-first runtime · swift flagship app · claude-first · codex fallback
Arc is built around a simple belief: the next step after today's IDEs and AI coding tools is not more autocomplete, more chat panes, or a better one-off session.
The next step is a system that can keep software moving. Arc is meant to be that system.
- Persistent workers — Claude and Codex agents keep running after a session ends
- Isolated worktrees — Every task runs on its own git branch in its own directory
- Review & steer — Diffs, tests, summaries, and blocked queues in one place
- Async execution — Queue work and come back to results, not in-progress prompts
- Multi-project home — Operate many projects from a single cockpit
- VPS-first runtime — Runs on a remote server; stay in control from anywhere
npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboardSee the full docs for gateway setup, VPS configuration, and worker configuration.
Arc has one runtime with two surfaces:
| Surface | Role |
|---|---|
| Swift macOS app | Flagship review workstation — diffs, queues, decisions |
| VPS TUI | Fast remote operator console — queue, inspect, unblock |
Arc only makes sense if the layers stay clean:
| Layer | Role |
|---|---|
| Arc | product, workflow, workstation, project cockpit |
| OpenClaw | runtime, gateway, worktrees, worker lifecycle, durable state |
| Claude + Codex | worker engines that do the coding work |
| Obsidian | planning, notes, specs, architecture, project memory |
Obsidian should hold thinking. Arc should hold execution.
The human role in Arc is mostly to review and steer:
- Decide what matters
- Queue or reshape work
- Let Claude and Codex execute in isolated worktrees
- Return to diffs, tests, summaries, and blocked items
- Approve, redirect, retry, or reprioritize
Arc should feel like a workstation for software momentum, not a prompt box with file access.
Near-term product priorities:
- Review queue UI
- Blocked / needs-input queue
- Run summaries and review-ready artifacts
- Diff / test / log review lane
- Workspace persistence
- Better-looking, more functional TUI ops console
- Richer multi-project home
The first unmistakable flagship milestone is a review workstation — not a full editor, not just a daemon dashboard.
Arc is already a real system, not just a concept. What exists today:
- Canonical async runtime running on a VPS
- OpenClaw as the durable control plane
- Self-drive loop executing queued work asynchronously
- Claude-first with Codex fallback
- Workers running in isolated git worktrees on local branches
- Persisted task, worker, run, and review state
- Swift macOS shell (review workstation in progress)
- TUI remote operator surface (polish in progress)
Contributions are welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md before opening a PR.
- Bugs & small fixes → Open a PR
- New features / architecture → Open a GitHub Discussion or ask in Discord first
- Questions → Check CONTRIBUTING.md for support links