Should you build your own Uncircle?
Native workspace that keeps repos, terminals, and CLI agents in one window
The core loop · read a yml of processes from the repo, run them, stream logs into terminals, show status dots · is a genuine one-sitting build with node-pty and xterm.js, and mprocs already gives you most of it in a TUI for free. What does not one-shot is everything around it: a native window with tray and notifications, killing whole process trees without orphans on three OSes, crash auto-restart that does not flap, and signed auto-updating builds. And since the paid tier is $19 once rather than a subscription, the usual death-list math barely applies.
ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.
Build me a local dev-stack dashboard like Uncircle. Requirements:
- Node 20 + Express + ws, single process, started as `devstack` from any repo
folder; opens http://localhost:4680.
- Read a `stack.yml` in the repo root: list of processes with name, command,
cwd (relative), and autostart flags. Include an example file.
- Run each process in a real PTY via node-pty and stream output over WebSocket
into xterm.js terminals in the browser, one tab per process.
- Sidebar lists processes with green/red/grey status dots and buttons for
start, stop, restart, plus Start all / Stop all. Stopping must kill the
whole process tree · no orphaned children.
- If a process exits nonzero, auto-restart with exponential backoff, max 5
tries, and show a "flapping" badge when it keeps dying.
- Scan output for localhost URLs and render them as clickable pills above the
terminal.
- Add ad-hoc shell tabs (plain PTYs cwd'd at the repo root) so CLI coding
agents like Claude Code can run inside the dashboard too.
- No accounts, no telemetry, everything local. Deliberately out of scope:
native window, tray, notifications, and multi-repo management · this is one
repo per running instance.
- README with install and usage.The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running.
What would building your own look like?
A local web dashboard that starts and stops the processes defined in a repo's yml file and streams their logs into browser terminals.
It is $19 once with a free tier that covers 3 projects, so the honest calculus is not subscription math · it is whether an evening of vibe coding beats a lifetime license. People pay for the parts that are tedious to get right: clean shutdown of whole process trees, restart backoff that does not flap, native notifications when an agent finishes or crashes, and updates they never think about.
xa real native app: tray, crash/finish notifications, auto-updates
xreliable process-tree cleanup and auto-restart across macOS/Windows/Linux
xagent presets (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, goose, Aider) and clickable localhost pills
xthe built-in file editor, diff view, and command palette
Prefer something ready-made?
cmuxA native Mac workspace for terminals, browsers and agent notifications; repos remain folders.Open source↗
Wave TerminalRepos, terminals, previews and remote files in one window; agents are just commands.Open source↗
NimbalystA visual desktop for several coding agents; repos and terminals stay in the same room.Open source↗View all 3 alternatives to Uncircle →· Licença, instalação e limitações em cada alternativa.
How much does Uncircle cost?
- One-time licence
- $49$49
- On a Brazilian card, with 3.5% IOF
- R$256
Saved to My list. You will see a notice on this site when the price changes.
You complete the purchase on Uncircle’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/user | $0/user | 3 projects; unlimited agents, processes and terminals inside those projects. |
| lifetime | custom | - | Unlimited projects; use on 3 devices; all future updates. |
Free tier3 projects; unlimited agents, processes and terminals within those projects
Billing termsfree plus a one-time $49 lifetime license; no recurring monthly or annual plan
Additional costsClaude Code, Codex and other CLI-agent/model subscriptions are not included; the user supplies those separately.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Is it cheaper to build or buy Uncircle?
Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.
Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.
Starting hours estimated from the analysis (one sitting for the dashboard, a weekend-plus for native app polish). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).
Can I rebuild Uncircle?
Kinda. The core of Uncircle is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: a real native app: tray, crash/finish notifications, auto-updates, reliable process-tree cleanup and auto-restart across macOS/Windows/Linux. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does Uncircle cost?
Uncircle’s pricing is usage-based or varies by plan · The $19 launch price has ended; lifetime is now $49 for 3 devices and the free tier covers 3 projects..
What do I lose by replacing Uncircle?
Honestly: a real native app: tray, crash/finish notifications, auto-updates; reliable process-tree cleanup and auto-restart across macOS/Windows/Linux; agent presets (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, goose, Aider) and clickable localhost pills; the built-in file editor, diff view, and command palette. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Uncircle?
Yes: cmux (A native Mac workspace for terminals, browsers and agent notifications; repos remain folders.) Wave Terminal (Repos, terminals, previews and remote files in one window; agents are just commands.) Nimbalyst (A visual desktop for several coding agents; repos and terminals stay in the same room.) All 3 curated free alternatives are at https://viberadar.si/uncircle/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.