splash

SplashComparebb

Splash and bb, compared.

Splash and bb are both free, MIT-licensed apps that run several coding agents at once, each in the project folder or a git worktree. bb is a server with desktop, web, CLI and phone clients and a plugin system, and can spread threads across machines; Splash is a desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser, that drives every agent over the Agent Client Protocol.

Checked 10 October 202660 sourcesNot affiliated with Michael Yong

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

bb

Michael Yong

An open-source agent IDE built around a server you run: it runs Claude Code, Codex, Pi and ACP agents in checkouts or git worktrees, from desktop, web, CLI or phone, extended by plugins.345678

getbb.app

Side by side

Splashbb
The basics
What it is Desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser19 Agent IDE driven from an Electron desktop app, a web app served by its server, a CLI or an HTTP API3105
Release status v0.2.1, early development111 0.46.0 (9 October 2026), plus nightly builds; in active development, with alpha Linux, Windows and Android builds and an iOS beta121338
License Open source (MIT)14 Open source (MIT)415
Price Free16 Free for individuals and teams, with no paid tier listed; the bb connect relay is free too15176
Platforms macOS 14+ (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 11 x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x6418 Desktop: Apple silicon Macs, alpha Linux x64 and Windows x64; Intel Macs use npx bb-app. iOS beta, Android alpha38
Agents
Agents Ships launch commands for 20 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Gemini, Goose, OpenCode1920 Claude Code, Codex and Pi built in; Cursor, OpenCode, Grok Build, omp, Hermes Agent and any other ACP agent; plugins add more21622232425
How it runs agents Agent Client Protocol over stdio, natively or through a pinned adapter for the vendor’s CLI192 Claude Code through Anthropic’s Claude Agent SDK, Codex through codex app-server, Pi in RPC mode, the rest over ACP26272822
Agent sign-in Who pays for the model You install and sign in to each agent’s CLI yourself; Splash runs it with that login20 Uses the CLI sign-in, plan or API key each agent already has; bb-app env can store API keys. Providers bill usage, not bb2915
Account required Splash has no accounts; splash-server asks for a token it keeps in its data folder309 None for the app; bb connect and bb cloud AI need a getbb.app account via GitHub; phones also connect directly without one3132338
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 attention34 Yes: Per-thread modes: Accept Edits, Approve for me (auto-reviews, escalates risky ones) or Full Access, capped per machine; answer from computer or phone1713
MCP servers Partly: Read-only list of MCP servers from Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Pool and Glue config files3435 Partly: Agents bring their own MCP servers, as bb runs their CLIs and SDKs; a community plugin manages MCP configs across agents2136
Working in parallel
Isolation per session Yes: The project folder, or a git worktree on its own branch per session34 Yes: The project checkout or a managed git worktree on its own branch per thread; several threads can share one75
Setup scripts and dev servers No: A worktree is a plain git checkout; Splash runs no setup scripts or dev servers3437 Yes: Setup and teardown scripts per worktree; .worktreeinclude copies files like .env. Dev servers run in a thread terminal; no built-in port allocation71738
Terminal Yes: A terminal in the session folder34 Yes: A terminal per thread in its worktree that keeps running when its tab closes; the bb CLI can create and read terminals3817
What needs you Yes: One queue for permission requests, connection failures and finished turns, kept across restarts3439 Yes: The thread list shows each thread as running, needing you or done, on every machine21
Notifications Yes: Notifies when a background session needs permission or finishes a turn; can be turned off4041 Yes: The built-in Push notifications plugin alerts phone, web and desktop; per thread, choose all activity, input requests alone or none424313
Agents handing off work One agent launching or messaging another No: Each session is one agent in one folder; sessions don’t hand work to each other134 Yes: Any thread can start and message threads on other providers; you can also hand a thread to another agent or model2113
Scheduled tasks Agents that start without a prompt from you No: No scheduler; an agent starts when you create, continue or prompt a session44 Yes: Automations start agent threads or scripts on your own machines: on a repeating schedule, at one chosen time or after a delay17
Built-in browser No: No built-in browser; the workbench holds git changes, a file tree, diff and file tabs, and a terminal34 Yes: An in-app browser in the desktop app; the official, experimental Browser Automation plugin lets agents drive it and connected machines’ browsers1345
Review and shipping
Review changes Yes: Latest response, failed tools and every changed file as a diff, with a box to send feedback34 Yes: Diff panel with glob filters; Add to chat sends selected lines to the agent; Commit stages and commits all changes171346
Files and diffs Partly: File tree, git changes and diff tabs; files open read-only, with no editor3447 Yes: Files open in a read-only preview; the built-in File Editor plugin edits and saves them in Monaco, with find and a file tree4813
Create pull requests No: Shows the PR for a session’s branch and starts worktrees from PR heads; does not create PRs3449 Partly: The agent opens PRs; the thread then tracks their checks and offers a Merge button. No create-PR button is documented17
GitHub Yes: Issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories, through the gh CLI3449 Yes: Official GitHub plugin, installed from the bundled catalog: issues and PR panel, Send agent and Review with agent, via gh5023
Issue trackers Partly: GitHub (github.com), through the gh CLI; no Linear or Jira3449 Yes: Official GitHub and Tasks plugins cover GitHub issues and Linear-style tasks; community plugins add Linear, Jira Cloud and GitLab issues502313515253
Where it runs
Cloud execution No: Agents run as child processes on your computer, or on your own server with splash-server19 Partly: No hosted agent compute; the built-in, experimental Modal Sandbox plugin runs threads in sandboxes on your own Modal account1754
Remote access Yes: splash-server runs on the machine with your code; you use it in a browser over an SSH tunnel. Single user.9 Yes: Threads can run on several enrolled macOS, Linux or Windows machines; remote browsers and phones use bb connect or Tailscale43382329
Mobile app No: No mobile app; builds cover macOS, Windows, Ubuntu and a headless server18 Partly: iOS (TestFlight beta) and Android (alpha APK) apps act as clients of a bb server; neither is in a public store843
Auto-update No: Download new versions from GitHub Releases; the app does not update itself1855 Yes: In-app updates for the desktop app and npm installs, from Settings → Updates; enrolled machines move to the server’s version on their own234356
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 Splash3439 Partly: No built-in import; bb’s guide has an agent read Claude Code’s .jsonl files. Community plugins adopt terminal sessions or import Codex chats5665758
Search transcripts Yes: Search titles, folders and saved transcript text, archived sessions included34 Yes: Thread search matches titles, projects and message text, with filter and sort controls13
Fork a conversation Partly: Experimental: fork the current conversation when the agent supports it, not from an earlier message3439 Yes: Fork a new thread off any message; in Codex, Claude Code and Pi threads, edit an earlier message to rerun1723

Where they differ

How agents connect

bb runs Claude Code through Anthropic’s Claude Agent SDK, Codex through codex app-server and Pi in RPC mode; Cursor, OpenCode and other ACP agents go through bb’s ACP kit. Every provider bridge talks to bb over a JSON-RPC protocol of bb’s own. Splash speaks the Agent Client Protocol with every agent, natively or through an adapter.2627282259192

Where agents run

bb’s server keeps state in SQLite and a host daemon runs on each execution machine, so threads can run on several machines. Its API has no authentication and listens on loopback by default; remote phones and browsers use bb connect or Tailscale. Splash runs agents on your computer, or under splash-server on a machine you reach through an SSH tunnel.543292319

Plugins and automation

bb’s GitHub, Tasks, notification and sandbox features are plugins, and a community marketplace reviewed by the bb team lists 300+ more; plugins run as full-trust code in the server. Agents use the bb CLI to start and message other threads, and scripts use the HTTP API or a Node SDK. A Splash session is one agent in one folder.50425460172321293134

Accounts and hosted services

bb runs without an account. Signing in to getbb.app with GitHub adds bb connect, a free relay, and bb cloud AI, which is on by default once signed in. It sends first prompts, diff excerpts and voice recordings through getbb.app to OpenRouter zero-data-retention endpoints for titles, commit messages and transcription; getbb.app keeps usage records but not prompts or recordings. Splash has no accounts; splash-server asks for a token.3132633309

Platforms

bb’s Electron desktop app supports Apple silicon Macs, with alpha builds for Linux x64 and Windows x64; Intel Macs and WSL2 run the server and web app through npx bb-app, and the iOS and Android clients are beta and alpha. Splash, written in Rust, builds for macOS 14+ on Apple silicon and Intel, Windows 11 x64 and Ubuntu 24.04 x64.31081844

Which one fits

Splash may suit you if

  • You want a desktop app for Intel as well as Apple silicon Macs, Windows 11 and Ubuntu.
  • You want launch commands for Gemini, Copilot, Goose and other agents shipped with the app, each driven over the Agent Client Protocol.
  • You want to import conversations that agents list over ACP, including ones started outside the app, and search them with the rest.
  • You want to reach your own server through an SSH tunnel, with no accounts or relay service involved.

bb may suit you if

  • You want one server to run threads across several machines, followed from a browser or a phone.
  • You want agents that start and message other agents’ threads, plus automations that run on a schedule.
  • You want setup and teardown scripts per worktree, with optional Modal sandboxes for cloud runs.
  • You want to extend the app with plugins, including community ones for Linear, Jira, GitLab and more agents.

Sources

Facts about bb come from its public website, documentation and repositories as they read on 10 October 2026; we haven't confirmed each one by running bb. 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 get-bb/bb README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  4. 4 LICENSE get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  5. 5 System Overview get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  6. 6 Switch from Claude Code to bb bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  7. 7 Worktrees, setup scripts, and teardown scripts get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  8. 8 Platform Support get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  9. 9 Splash README: Run as a web app over SSH Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  10. 10 apps/desktop/package.json get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  11. 11 Splash releases Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  12. 12 bb desktop 0.46.0 get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  13. 13 Changelog bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  14. 14 LICENSE Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  15. 15 bb: the IDE that builds itself bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  16. 16 Download Splash splash.computer · splash.computer · checked 2026-10-09
  17. 17 Conductor Alternatives: bb, the Free, Open-Source Option bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  18. 18 Splash README: Download the app Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  19. 19 src/agents/registry.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  20. 20 Splash README: Agents Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  21. 21 Build your own software factory of coding agents bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  22. 22 ACP providers plugin README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  23. 23 Configuration get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  24. 24 Devin — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  25. 25 Amp — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  26. 26 plugins/provider-claude-code/src/bridge/sdk-session.ts get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  27. 27 plugins/provider-codex/src/bridge/bridge.ts get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  28. 28 plugins/provider-pi/src/bridge/rpc-session.ts get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  29. 29 bb-app package README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  30. 30 Splash README: Build from source Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  31. 31 Privacy bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  32. 32 bb connect bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  33. 33 bb cloud AI plugin README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  34. 34 Splash README: Features Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  35. 35 src/agents/customize.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  36. 36 MCP Manager — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  37. 37 src/worktree.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  38. 38 Run a dev server for every branch bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  39. 39 Splash README: Existing sessions and review Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  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 plugins/push-notifications/package.json get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  43. 43 Using bb on multiple devices get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  44. 44 Splash README: How it works Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  45. 45 Browser Automation — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  46. 46 verify-bb: Projects, sources, environments, and Git get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  47. 47 app/src/components/FileTab.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  48. 48 bb-plugin-monaco-editor README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  49. 49 Splash README: GitHub view Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  50. 50 bb-plugin-github README get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  51. 51 Linear — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  52. 52 Jira — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  53. 53 GitLab — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  54. 54 plugins/environment-modal-sandbox/package.json get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  55. 55 app/src/components/settings/About.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  56. 56 Keep working from anywhere bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  57. 57 Handoff — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  58. 58 Codex Migrate — bb Plugin Marketplace bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10
  59. 59 The bb Provider Bridge Protocol get-bb/bb on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-10
  60. 60 BB Community marketplace manifest bb · getbb.app · checked 2026-10-10