The Best Agent IDE I've ever used (Orca)

Highlights

• Orca is a free, open-source application that runs multiple coding agents like Claude and Codex side by side in a single window.

• The built-in browser allows users to annotate specific webpage elements and automatically send those visual edits directly to an AI agent for fixes.

• Orca natively integrates with Git work trees, letting users isolate features and spawn separate agent instances for different branches.

• An integrated usage tracker at the bottom of the interface provides real-time monitoring of weekly quota consumption across multiple AI providers.

• The software includes a companion mobile app for checking agent progress remotely and managing deployments.

Timeline

1. 00:00 - 02:31

   Introduction and Core Interface

   Orca operates as an open-source tool designed to combine terminal flexibility with a structured graphical user interface. Users interact with command-line tools while tracking agent status, viewing files, and opening multiple tabs via simple keyboard shortcuts. The system automatically provisions Git work trees when starting tasks on new branches, keeping experimental changes organized and separate from the main codebase.

   • Orca runs multiple coding agents like Claude Code and Codex side by side within a unified terminal window.
   • The interface provides progress indicators and a full file viewer that renders markdown and raw code.
   • Users can instantly create new Git work trees and launch specific agents inside those isolated branches directly from the UI.
2. 02:31 - 03:46

   Browser Annotation and Git Integration

   Local development servers open directly inside the application interface, allowing developers to inspect running apps without switching windows. An annotation tool captures exact page elements and relays feedback to the chosen coding agent, streamlining UI bug fixes. Additionally, integrated file previewers render images, videos, PDFs, and markdown documents directly inside the workspace.

   • Local web services running on ports like localhost can be viewed inside Orca's built-in browser tabs.
   • Users can click and annotate specific page elements, sending targeted visual feedback directly to an AI agent for code modification.
   • The right-hand panel displays native Git changes and allows users to push updates and create pull requests linked to repositories.
3. 03:46 - 06:52

   Agent Orchestration and Workflow Comparison

   Advanced orchestration features allow the system to delegate sub-tasks to different models based on their individual strengths. By utilizing custom skills, such as specialized design guidelines, agents collaborate on complex projects without manual intervention. Compared to previous terminal multiplexer setups, Orca solves progress-tracking issues and unifies multi-provider management into a single application equipped with power features like a built-in presentation wake lock.

   • Orca installs specific skill sets to distribute complex tasks across multiple different AI models simultaneously.
   • Workloads can be split between agents, such as assigning backend tasks to Claude and front-end design to Codex.
   • Persistent usage meters at the bottom of the screen track weekly token consumption across Claude, Codex, and Cursor.