splash

SplashCompareJean

Splash and Jean, compared.

Splash and Jean are open-source apps that run several coding agents at once, each able to work in its own git worktree. Jean is a desktop app and headless Linux server that drives each agent through the interface its CLI offers. Splash is a desktop app and single-user server that drives every agent over the Agent Client Protocol.

Checked 9 October 202651 sourcesNot affiliated with coolLabs

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

Jean

coolLabs

An open-source AI agent workspace that gives each task its own git worktree, with chats, terminals and integrations for GitHub, Linear and Sentry. It runs as a desktop app, a headless Linux server, or both.345

jean.build

Side by side

SplashJean
The basics
What it is Desktop app, plus a headless server you open in a browser16 Desktop app, plus jean-server, a headless Linux binary whose full UI opens in a browser47
Release status v0.2.1, early development18 v1.0.9, released 7 October 2026; v1.0.0 came out on 21 September, and some agents and features are labeled beta910411
License Open source (MIT)12 Open source (Apache 2.0)5
Price Free13 Free, with no paid tiers, feature gates or usage limits; sponsoring is optional14
Platforms macOS 14+ (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 11 x64, Ubuntu 24.04 x6415 macOS 10.15+ (universal), Windows x64, Linux x64 and ARM64; the maker tests on macOS. jean-server: Linux amd64/arm64 or Docker916147
Built with Rust, with a Svelte 5 frontend in a webview, built on the Elyra framework17 Tauri v2 with a Rust backend and a React 19, TypeScript and Tailwind frontend4
Agents
Agents Ships launch commands for 20 agents, including Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Gemini, Goose, OpenCode1819 Nine in the README: Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor Agent, Pi, Command Code, Grok, Kimi Code and Antigravity; the website lists eight411
How it runs agents Agent Client Protocol over stdio, natively or through a pinned adapter for the vendor’s CLI182 Each CLI’s own mode: Claude Code’s stream-json print mode, Codex app-server, OpenCode’s HTTP server; ACP over stdio for Grok and Kimi Code202122112324
Agent sign-in Installing agents and logging them in You install and sign in to each agent’s CLI yourself; Splash runs it with that login19 Uses your CLI logins, subscriptions or API keys, with no Jean account; it can install and update managed copies of supported CLIs4142526
Permission requests Yes: Shown in the transcript and answered with the 1–9 keys; pending ones wait in Needs attention27 Partly: A policy per session, from Supervised to Full access (the default); Cursor, Pi, Command Code and Antigravity run with Full access28
MCP servers Partly: Read-only list of MCP servers from Claude Code, Codex, Pi, Pool and Glue config files2729 Yes: Finds servers in installed backends’ config files, which you enable at global, project or session level; its own Jean MCP server lets agents drive Jean1130
Working in parallel
Isolation per session Yes: The project folder, or a git worktree on its own branch per session27 Yes: A git worktree per task, on its own branch, holding one or more chats; a base session uses the main checkout33132
Setup scripts and dev servers No: A worktree is a plain git checkout; Splash runs no setup scripts or dev servers2733 Yes: A jean.json file sets setup and teardown scripts, terminal run commands and named dev-server ports31
Terminal Yes: A terminal in the session folder27 Yes: A terminal beside the chat or in a drawer that floats or docks to an edge; a session can also run the agent’s own CLI full screen34430
Built-in browser A browser inside the app No: No built-in browser; the workbench holds git changes, a file tree, diff and file tabs, and a terminal27 Yes: An embedded browser in the desktop app; Browser Context Grab sends a page element, with DOM and React hints, to the chat354
What needs you Yes: One queue for permission requests, connection failures and finished turns, kept across restarts2736 Yes: The canvas shows each session as waiting, planning, running or review-ready; unopened finished sessions collect in an unread popover3437
Notifications Yes: Notifies when a background session needs permission or finishes a turn; can be turned off3839 Yes: Optional notification sounds; the desktop app also shows OS notifications when a session you aren’t viewing needs approval or input2640
Issue sweeps Agents picking up issues on a schedule No: No scheduler; an agent starts when you create, continue or prompt a session17 Partly: Mr. Robot (beta) checks open GitHub issues on a schedule, plans each in its own worktree, and can run approved plans414
Review and shipping
Review changes Yes: Latest response, failed tools and every changed file as a diff, with a box to send feedback27 Yes: Unified or side-by-side diffs with line comments for the agent; a Review command runs an AI or CodeRabbit review44243
Files and diffs Partly: File tree, git changes and diff tabs; files open read-only, with no editor2744 Yes: A file browser with previews and in-app editing; a workspace can also open in Zed, VS Code, Cursor, Xcode or another external editor426
Create pull requests No: Shows the PR for a session’s branch and starts worktrees from PR heads; does not create PRs2745 Yes: Magic commands commit, push, create or update a PR, merge, and resolve conflicts with AI, using the GitHub CLI4246
GitHub Yes: Issues, pull requests and Actions runs across repositories, through the gh CLI2745 Yes: Starts work from issues, PRs, workflow runs and security alerts; tracks PR, review and CI state; checks out PRs as worktrees41447
Issue trackers Partly: GitHub (github.com), through the gh CLI; no Linear or Jira2745 Yes: GitHub, Linear with a personal API key, and Sentry once configured; Jira and GitLab issues aren’t documented4146
Where it runs
Mobile app Phones and tablets No: No mobile app; builds cover macOS, Windows, Ubuntu and a headless server15 Partly: No native app; the full UI opens in phone and tablet browsers through Web Access, with mobile layouts710
Remote access Yes: splash-server runs on the machine with your code; you use it in a browser over an SSH tunnel. Single user.6 Yes: Not hosted; the desktop app adds jean-server hosts or installs one over SSH; any instance can serve a token-protected browser UI4847
Auto-update No: Download new versions from GitHub Releases; the app does not update itself1549 Yes: The desktop app checks GitHub Releases after launch and installs updates in the app; jean-server installs one after you confirm, with a SHA-256 check37167
History and search
Existing agent history Yes: Browse, preview and import conversations agents list over ACP, including ones started outside Splash2736 Partly: Developer docs describe importing Claude and Codex sessions from disk as terminal sessions that resume in the CLI30
Search transcripts Yes: Search titles, folders and saved transcript text, archived sessions included27 Yes: Cmd/Ctrl+F within a conversation; Magic → Load Context can find saved sessions by their message text3410

Where they differ

How each connects to agents

Jean drives each CLI through the interface that CLI offers: Claude Code in --print mode with stream-json, codex app-server over JSON-RPC, opencode serve over HTTP, and the Agent Client Protocol for Grok and Kimi Code. Splash speaks ACP over stdio to every agent it launches, natively or through a pinned adapter around the vendor’s CLI.20212211232418172

Where agents run

Jean’s desktop app shows projects from jean-server hosts beside local ones. On Unix, its source code starts most backends, including Claude, Codex, Grok and Kimi Code, as detached processes, so a turn can continue after Jean quits. Splash runs agents as child processes and stops them when it quits; splash-server is a separate single-user server, opened through an SSH tunnel, where agents keep running when the browser closes.4505123241176

Workflow around the agents

Jean builds automation around its worktrees: jean.json setup and teardown scripts, Magic commands that commit, push, open and merge pull requests, Mr. Robot (beta) issue sweeps, and Jean MCP, a built-in server agents use to drive Jean. Splash centers on a Needs attention queue, a Review panel listing every changed file, and GitHub and Actions views across repositories.314241302745

Platforms and testing

Jean ships desktop builds for macOS 10.15 and later, Windows x64, and Linux x64 and ARM64, plus a Linux server binary and Docker image. Its makers test on macOS; Windows is not fully tested and Linux is community tested. Splash ships desktop builds for macOS 14 and later, Windows 11 x64 and Ubuntu 24.04 x64, plus a headless server archive for each, and runs native CI on all three.9167144151

Which one fits

Splash may suit you if

  • You use agents such as Gemini, Copilot or Goose, which Splash drives over the Agent Client Protocol.
  • You want permission requests, failures and finished turns from every session in one queue that persists across restarts.
  • You triage GitHub issues, pull requests and Actions runs across many repositories next to your sessions.
  • You want to find conversations agents expose over ACP, import them, and search their saved transcript text.

Jean may suit you if

  • You want setup and teardown scripts, run commands and dev-server ports defined once in jean.json for every worktree.
  • You want the app to commit, push, open and merge pull requests, and to start work from Linear or Sentry issues.
  • You want agents on your own Linux server or Docker host, reachable from the desktop app or a phone browser.
  • You want open GitHub issues swept on a schedule, with a plan drafted for each in its own worktree (Mr. Robot, in beta).

Sources

Facts about Jean come from its public website, documentation and repositories as they read on 9 October 2026; we haven't confirmed each one by running Jean. 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 Jean coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  4. 4 Jean README coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  5. 5 LICENSE.md coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  6. 6 Splash README: Run as a web app over SSH Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  7. 7 Web Access and Headless coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  8. 8 Splash releases Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  9. 9 Release v1.0.9 coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  10. 10 Changelog coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  11. 11 Backends, Models, and MCP coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  12. 12 LICENSE Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  13. 13 Download Splash splash.computer · splash.computer · checked 2026-10-09
  14. 14 Jean: FAQ coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  15. 15 Splash README: Download the app Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  16. 16 src-tauri/tauri.conf.json coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  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 jean-core/src/chat/claude.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  21. 21 jean-core/src/chat/codex.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  22. 22 jean-core/src/chat/opencode.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  23. 23 jean-core/src/chat/grok.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  24. 24 jean-core/src/chat/kimi.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  25. 25 Local-First and Security coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  26. 26 Settings and Customization coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  27. 27 Splash README: Features Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  28. 28 Workflow and permission policies coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  29. 29 src/agents/customize.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  30. 30 Architecture guide coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  31. 31 Add Your First Project coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  32. 32 How Jean Works coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  33. 33 src/worktree.rs Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  34. 34 Project Canvas and Chat coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  35. 35 Browser Context Grab coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  36. 36 Splash README: Existing sessions and review Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  37. 37 Archive, Recovery, Updates coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  38. 38 app/src/components/settings/General.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  39. 39 app/src/lib/system.ts Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  40. 40 src/lib/session-notifications.ts coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  41. 41 GitHub, Linear, and Reviews coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  42. 42 Magic Commands coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  43. 43 CodeRabbit CLI Integration coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  44. 44 app/src/components/FileTab.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  45. 45 Splash README: GitHub view Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  46. 46 Install and Setup coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  47. 47 src/types/pr-status.ts coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  48. 48 What is Jean coolLabs Solutions Kft. · jean.build · checked 2026-10-09
  49. 49 app/src/components/settings/About.svelte Splash on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  50. 50 jean-core/src/chat/detached.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09
  51. 51 jean-core/src/chat/codex_server.rs coollabsio/jean on GitHub · github.com · checked 2026-10-09