bb
Agentic development environmentsbb
bb is an open-source agent IDE that can control, customize and automate itself, driven from a desktop app, web app, CLI or HTTP API.
- Open source (MIT)
- Desktop and CLI
- Active development
At a glance
bb is in the directory but not on our ranked shortlists, and we have no traction figure for it yet.
Key facts
As of Nov 12, 2026
- Who it's for
- Developers who want an ADE they can script and extend, built around the Claude Code and Codex CLIs they already use.
- What does it do?
- An agentic IDE that builds itself. Work runs in threads you can follow live, steer at any point or hand to another agent, and every surface (desktop app, web app, CLI and HTTP API) can drive it.
- What does it cost?
- Free and open source under MIT. It uses the provider CLI you already have authenticated.
- Where does it run?
- Desktop app for macOS on Apple Silicon, with Linux AppImage and Windows installer in alpha. Or run it anywhere with npx bb-app@latest and open localhost:38886. Windows also works through WSL2.
- Which agents does it work with?
- The provider CLIs you already have signed in, such as Claude Code and Codex.
- Who makes it?
- get-bb, an open-source project on GitHub. MIT licensed.
Common questions
What is bb?
bb is an open-source agent IDE that can control, customize and automate itself, driven from a desktop app, web app, CLI or HTTP API.
Who is bb for?
Developers who want an ADE they can script and extend, built around the Claude Code and Codex CLIs they already use.
How much does bb cost?
Free and open source under MIT. It uses the provider CLI you already have authenticated. Checked against the vendor's pages on Nov 12, 2026. Plans change often, so confirm before you decide.
Does bb run locally or in the cloud?
bb runs in the vendor's cloud. You use it through chat apps and an API.
What are alternatives to bb?
See the Agentic development environments shortlist for the other options.
Compare bb
No head-to-head pages for this one yet.