OpenMausBot runs local Claude, Codex and Grok CLIs as a roster of chat bots
An Apache-2.0 desktop app turns coding-agent CLIs into chat contacts, each with its own model, computer and connected apps, behind a local harness server and approval cards.
What it is
OpenMausBot is a TypeScript desktop app, released under the Apache-2.0 license, that presents AI agents as contacts in a messaging app. Its README describes it as an independent, open-source project inspired by Grok Bot and states that it is not affiliated with xAI, Meta, OpenAI or Manus. The project was formerly called OpenGrokBot. The repository was created on 2026-08-11, and in the GitHub trending snapshot it had 16878 stars, 1986 of them gained in the last day.
According to the README, every bot in the sidebar is a real agent with its own personality, model, cloud computer and connected apps. Bots run on the claude, codex and grok CLIs already installed on the user’s machine, using existing logins and subscriptions, with no new accounts and no proxy in the middle. Any engine can be pointed at a custom CLI binary in the app’s engine settings.
How it works
The design uses two processes. The React app holds no transports of its own: it sends typed commands over HTTP and folds one SSE event stream into state. A harness server on 127.0.0.1 owns every agent process and normalizes each provider’s native protocol into one canonical runtime event stream, logged per thread as NDJSON. There are drivers for Claude, Codex and Grok Build over their local CLIs, plus a cloud-computer agent, and the README says unknown drivers degrade to “unavailable” instead of crashing the fleet. Transcripts, keys and events live in ~/.openmausbot.
A permission broker turns shell commands, file edits and questions into inline cards with Allow and Deny buttons, for cloud and local computers alike.
Each bot can use a cloud Linux desktop, an isolated Local VM, or the user’s own computer where the platform safety boundary is certified. Host control is available on macOS and Ubuntu Xorg after explicit opt-in; Ubuntu Wayland host control stays disabled while issue #345 is resolved. The cloud computers come from Boat, which the README lists as the project’s sponsor. Connected apps such as Gmail, Slack, GitHub, Notion and Linear come through Composio, which the README puts at 500+ apps.
Other features
- Channels, each with its own transcript, shared instructions, working folder and bot roster.
- An optional decision model: with a TypeSafe Jev key or an OpenRouter key, rooms set to Auto pick the bot for each un-mentioned message and fall back to the room’s lead when the model is off or unsure.
- Team import from one Markdown file with YAML frontmatter. Connections stay off until approved and routines arrive paused.
- Spoken replies and calls through ElevenLabs, Fish Audio, Grok (xAI), built-in Mac voices or a local Chatterbox server.
- A stdio MCP server for clients such as Claude Desktop and Cursor. It does not expose approval grants, deletion, arbitrary settings, credentials or computer lifecycle.
- An
openmausbotcommand for scripts and CI:
openmausbot team apply team.yaml
openmausbot run "Room Lead" "Rehearse the launch of https://example.com" --export ./out
Positioning and caveats
The README pitches the project as an open alternative to Grok Bot, Meta Muse, OpenAI dots and Cue by Manus, which it describes as closed personal-agent products that keep the model, the computer and user data on the maker’s side. Those comparisons are the maintainer’s own. The README also says OpenMausBot has no token and that any coin using the OpenMausBot, Maus or SupaMaus name is not affiliated with the project. Desktop builds are listed for macOS on Apple silicon and Intel, Windows x64, and Ubuntu 24.04 x64 as a .deb or AppImage beta.