Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Band, the agents and editors it works with, and how it differs from a traditional IDE.
How is Band different from Cursor or VS Code with AI built in?
Cursor and VS Code are general-purpose editors that bolt agent features onto an interface designed for human keystrokes. Band flips that — it's an IDE designed for agent-driven work first, with hands-on editing as a secondary mode. You can run multiple agents in parallel (each in its own git worktree), schedule recurring agent tasks via cron, swap between Claude Code, Codex, and OpenCode per workspace, and check on long-running tasks from your phone. When you do want to edit by hand, one click opens the active worktree in Cursor, VS Code, JetBrains, Zed, or Xcode — pick whichever you prefer.
What coding agents work with Band?
Band currently supports three coding agents: Claude Code, Codex (via the standalone CLI), and OpenCode. They are auto-detected on first launch from the binaries on your PATH (claude, codex, opencode). The agent adapter pattern makes it straightforward to add new ones. You can configure which agents are available and pick a default in Settings, then override per chat pane.
Is Band open source?
Yes. Band is open source and available on GitHub under the MIT license. You can inspect the code, contribute, and build on top of it.
Does Band work on Linux or Windows?
The desktop app is macOS-only for now. However, the web interface works on any platform with a browser. If you're running the Band server on a Mac, you can access the dashboard from a Linux or Windows machine via the built-in Cloudflare tunnel or by pointing your browser to the server URL.
How does Band relate to Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode?
Those are coding agents — they write the code. Band is the IDE you watch them in. Band doesn't ship a model or an agent of its own; it dispatches your prompts to whichever agent CLI you have installed (claude, codex, opencode) and shows you the chat, the file changes, and the worktree state in one window. You can mix and match: Claude Code in one workspace, Codex in another, OpenCode in a third.
Can I use Band without a coding agent?
Yes. Even without a coding agent, Band is useful for managing git worktrees across projects. You can create isolated workspaces, organize projects, and use the window management features to quickly switch between different branches and IDE setups.
How does Band create workspaces?
Band uses git worktrees under the hood. Each workspace gets its own directory with a separate working tree and branch, all sharing the same git repository. This means you can have multiple branches checked out simultaneously without conflicts.
What is a cronjob in Band?
Cronjobs are scheduled agent tasks. You define a cron expression (like "every day at 9am") and a prompt, and Band will automatically create a workspace and dispatch the task to a coding agent on schedule. Great for automated code reviews, dependency updates, and daily reports.
How does remote access work?
Band has a built-in Cloudflare tunnel integration. When enabled, it creates a secure tunnel from your machine to a public URL, letting you access the dashboard from your phone or another computer. Authentication is handled via tokens, and you can scan a QR code for quick mobile access.
How much does Band cost?
Band is free and open source. You'll need your own API keys or subscriptions for the coding agents you use (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode), but Band itself has no cost.
Still have questions?
Open an issue on GitHub or check the documentation for more details.