splash

SplashCompareAutomaker

Splash and Automaker, compared.

Splash and Automaker both run several coding agents at once, each piece of work optionally in its own git worktree. Automaker, an Electron app, tracks work as feature cards on a Kanban board and runs Claude, Codex, Cursor, Gemini, OpenCode and Copilot through their SDKs and CLIs. Splash drives each agent over the Agent Client Protocol in its own session.

Checked 10 October 202653 sourcesNot affiliated with Automaker Core Contributors

Splash

Helge Sverre

A desktop app for running several coding agents at once, each session in its project folder or its own git worktree. It drives agents over the Agent Client Protocol.12

splash.computer

Automaker

Automaker Core Contributors

An Electron desktop and web app that turns features on a Kanban board into agent tasks, each in its own git worktree, with six agent providers. Its README says it’s no longer actively maintained.3456

automaker.app

Side by side

SplashAutomaker
The basics
What it is Desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser17 Electron desktop app, also usable as a browser web app from source or Docker, built around a Kanban board of features43
Release status v0.2.1, early development18 v1.0.0 (15 March 2026), after 0.x releases from December 2025; the README says it’s no longer actively maintained91045
License Open source (MIT)11 Open source (MIT) since February 2026; in December 2025 it switched to AGPL-3.0, then to a source-available license541213
Price Free14 Free, with no paid tiers; model usage is billed by each provider through your own plan or API key34
Platforms macOS 14+ (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 11 x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x6415 macOS (Apple silicon, Intel), Windows x64 and Linux x64, with no code signing in its release workflow; a Docker image covers amd64 and arm644916
Built with Rust, with a Svelte 5 frontend in a webview, built on the Elyra framework17 Electron, React and Vite with an Express backend, in TypeScript; running from source needs Node.js 224
Agents
Agents Ships launch commands for 20 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Gemini, Goose, OpenCode1819 Claude, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and GitHub Copilot, plus endpoints that speak Claude’s API, such as OpenRouter6420
How it runs agents Agent Client Protocol over stdio, natively or through a pinned adapter for the vendor’s CLI182 Claude and Copilot through their SDKs; Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and usually Codex as CLI subprocesses that stream JSON212223242526
Agent sign-in Who pays for the model You install and sign in to each agent’s CLI yourself; Splash runs it with that login19 Your existing Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or Gemini CLI login, a GitHub login for Copilot, or API keys saved in Automaker; providers bill usage4212324252227
Account required Splash has no accounts; splash-server asks for a token it keeps in its data folder287 No Automaker account; the local server creates its own API key at first start, and web mode uses a session cookie294
Model and mode pickers Yes: Model, mode and effort pickers when the agent offers them30 Yes: A model per feature, and four planning modes from skip to full; spec mode starts a separate agent for each task4
Permission requests When an agent asks before it acts Yes: Shown in the transcript and answered with the 1–9 keys; pending ones wait in Needs attention30 Partly: No per-tool prompts: Claude bypasses permissions, Copilot auto-approves, Gemini uses yolo mode; an optional plan approval step comes first2122254
MCP servers Partly: Read-only list of MCP servers from Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Pool and Glue config files3031 Yes: Add stdio, SSE or HTTP MCP servers for agents in settings, then test each one and list its tools3233
Working in parallel
Isolation per session Yes: The project folder, or a git worktree on its own branch per session30 Yes: A git worktree on its own feature branch per feature, on by default; a project can turn worktrees off432
Setup scripts and dev servers No: A worktree is a plain git checkout; Splash runs no setup scripts or dev servers3034 Yes: A per-project init script for new worktrees, copied files like .env, and a dev server per worktree on its own port353236
Terminal Yes: A terminal in the session folder30 Yes: Built-in terminal with tabs, split panes and persistent sessions; a worktree can also open in your external terminal437
What needs you Yes: One queue for permission requests, connection failures and finished turns, kept across restarts3038 Yes: A Running Agents view of every active agent across projects, and a Waiting Approval column for finished features439
Notifications Yes: Notifies when a background session needs permission or finishes a turn; can be turned off4041 Yes: In-app notifications and optional completion sounds; event hooks can run a command, call a webhook or push via ntfy.sh4394243
Scheduled tasks Agents that start without a prompt from you No: No scheduler; an agent starts when you create, continue or prompt a session17 Partly: Auto Mode picks up backlog features by itself and implements them, one at a time unless you raise the limit; time-based schedules aren’t documented3432
Review and shipping
Review changes Yes: Latest response, failed tools and every changed file as a diff, with a box to send feedback30 Yes: Finished features wait for approval with a git diff of their changes; you can message running agents. Diff comments aren’t documented4
Create pull requests No: Shows the PR for a session’s branch and starts worktrees from PR heads; does not create PRs3044 Yes: Commit, push and open PRs from a worktree via gh; Merge joins branches in local git, not on GitHub44546
GitHub Yes: Issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories, through the gh CLI3044 Yes: Imports issues, lists PRs with review and merge state, and turns PR review comments into agent tasks; CI check status isn’t documented44748
Issue trackers Partly: GitHub (github.com), through the gh CLI; no Linear or Jira3044 Partly: GitHub issues, which AI checks for feasibility before they become tasks; Linear, Jira and GitLab aren’t documented4
Where it runs
Cloud execution No: Agents run as child processes on your computer, or on your own server with splash-server17 No: No hosted cloud; it runs on your computer or in your own Docker container, which its security disclaimer recommends3449
Remote access Yes: splash-server runs on the machine with your code; you use it in a browser over an SSH tunnel. Single user.7 Partly: Web mode in a browser or as a phone PWA, reachable from LAN devices after sign-in; SSH isn’t documented4505129
History and search
Existing agent history Conversations started outside the app Yes: Browse, preview and import conversations agents list over ACP, including ones started outside Splash3038 Not documented: Not documented, nor is search across sessions; chats started in Automaker persist across restarts with their full history4

Where they differ

How agents connect

Automaker runs Claude through the Claude Agent SDK and Copilot through the Copilot SDK, and starts Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and usually Codex as subprocesses whose JSON output it parses. Its provider docs describe adding a provider as one new TypeScript file plus a line in a factory. Splash speaks the Agent Client Protocol with every agent, natively or through an adapter for the vendor’s CLI.21222324252652182

Permissions and sandboxing

Automaker runs agents autonomously: Claude bypasses permission prompts, Copilot auto-approves and Gemini runs in yolo mode. Its security disclaimer advises running it in Docker or a VM rather than directly on your computer, and the Docker deployment has no host filesystem access. Splash shows each permission request in the transcript and keeps pending ones in Needs attention.21222549430

How work is organized

Automaker organizes work as features on a Kanban board. Each can get a plan you approve first, depend on other features and pass through custom pipeline steps; Auto Mode picks up backlog features by itself, one at a time unless you raise the limit. Splash is organized around conversations: one agent per session, with a review screen and transcript search.435332130

Reaching it from other devices

Automaker’s server listens on all network interfaces by default and accepts private-network origins, so its web mode, which also works as a phone PWA, can be opened from other devices on your LAN after signing in. Splash runs locally, or as splash-server on the machine with your code, opened in a browser through an SSH tunnel for one user.5145017

Platforms, license and maintenance

Automaker has desktop builds for macOS, Windows x64 and Linux x64 plus a Docker image, and is free under the MIT License, which it has used since February 2026, after AGPL and source-available terms in December 2025. Its README and LICENSE say it is no longer actively maintained. Splash, in early development, is free and MIT-licensed, with builds for macOS, Windows and Ubuntu.49512131111415

Which one fits

Splash may suit you if

  • You want agents to ask before they act, with each permission request answered in the transcript.
  • You want to browse and import conversations your agents started outside the app.
  • You want a GitHub view of issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories.
  • You want to run sessions on your own server and reach them from a browser over an SSH tunnel.

Automaker may suit you if

  • You want to plan work as features on a Kanban board, with plan approval, dependencies and Auto Mode working through the backlog.
  • You want an init script, copied .env files and a dev server on its own port in every worktree.
  • You want to open pull requests from the app and turn PR review comments into tasks for agents.
  • You want event hooks that run commands, call webhooks or send ntfy.sh pushes when features finish or fail.

Sources

Facts about Automaker come from its public website, documentation and repositories as they read on 10 October 2026; we haven't confirmed each one by running Automaker. Facts about Splash link to its source. Products change, so check the linked pages before deciding. Something wrong or out of date? Open an issue.

  1. 1 Splash README Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  2. 2 Agent Client Protocol agentclientprotocol.com · agentclientprotocol.com · checked 2026-10-09
  3. 3 Automaker | Agented Coding with Autonomous AI Agents | AI Software Engineer Automaker · automaker.app · checked 2026-10-10
  4. 4 README.md AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  5. 5 LICENSE AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  6. 6 apps/server/src/providers/provider-factory.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  7. 7 Splash README: Run as a web app over SSH Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  8. 8 Splash releases Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  9. 9 Release v1.0.0 AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  10. 10 Release v0.1.0 - Biggie Shorty AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  11. 11 LICENSE Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  12. 12 LICENSE at f2a443af AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  13. 13 chore: update project status and licensing information AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  14. 14 Download Splash splash.computer · splash.computer · checked 2026-10-09
  15. 15 Splash README: Download the app Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  16. 16 .github/workflows/release.yml AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  17. 17 Splash README: How it works Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  18. 18 src/agents/registry.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  19. 19 Splash README: Agents Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  20. 20 Claude Compatible Providers System AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  21. 21 apps/server/src/providers/claude-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  22. 22 apps/server/src/providers/copilot-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  23. 23 apps/server/src/providers/codex-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  24. 24 apps/server/src/providers/cursor-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  25. 25 apps/server/src/providers/gemini-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  26. 26 apps/server/src/providers/opencode-provider.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  27. 27 apps/server/src/services/settings-service.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  28. 28 Splash README: Build from source Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  29. 29 apps/server/src/lib/auth.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  30. 30 Splash README: Features Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  31. 31 src/agents/customize.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  32. 32 libs/types/src/settings.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  33. 33 apps/server/src/routes/mcp/index.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  34. 34 src/worktree.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  35. 35 apps/server/src/services/init-script-service.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  36. 36 apps/server/src/services/dev-server-service.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  37. 37 Release v0.13.0 - Flying High AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  38. 38 Splash README: Existing sessions and review Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  39. 39 libs/types/src/notification.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  40. 40 app/src/components/settings/General.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  41. 41 app/src/lib/system.ts Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  42. 42 apps/server/src/services/event-hook-service.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  43. 43 apps/server/src/services/ntfy-service.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  44. 44 Splash README: GitHub view Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  45. 45 apps/server/src/routes/worktree/routes/create-pr.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  46. 46 apps/server/src/routes/worktree/routes/merge.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  47. 47 apps/server/src/routes/github/routes/list-prs.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  48. 48 Feature: Add PR review comments and resolution, improve AI prompt handling (#790) AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  49. 49 DISCLAIMER.md AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  50. 50 Feature: Comprehensive mobile improvements and bug fixes (#782) AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  51. 51 apps/server/src/index.ts AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  52. 52 Provider Architecture Reference AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  53. 53 Release v0.7.0 - Dragon Slayer AutoMaker-Org/automaker on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10