Archon
Open-source tool that runs AI coding agents through repeatable YAML workflows with checks and approval steps.
- Stars
- 23.8k
- Forks
- 3.5k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Dev tool
What it is
Archon lets you describe a process as a YAML workflow: a graph of steps where AI agents handle judgment, scripts run checks like tests, and a person is asked to decide at chosen points. It runs Claude Code, Codex and Pi through their own CLIs, so the goal is to make AI coding runs follow the same steps each time. The README also describes a bundled workflow pack that takes a GitHub issue through to a merged pull request.
- Run a saved workflow that plans, implements until tests pass, pauses for approval and then opens a pull request
- Investigate a failing test by running the bundled archon-investigate workflow
- Answer attention items from paused runs in the web console or the terminal
- Use the sdlc pack to triage issues and queue builds for ready issues
Great for
- Developers who want AI coding runs to follow the same plan, test and review steps each time
- Teams that already use Claude Code or Codex and want to keep their own accounts and project guidance
- Repository owners who want approval gates and a record of every run
- People who want to automate a multi-step process beyond software, using the same YAML engine
Not ideal for
- Someone wanting a single chat-style coding assistant with no setup, since the README describes a workflow engine that needs configuration
- Teams unwilling to let automated runs open pull requests or touch their repository
- Users without a working Claude Code or Codex setup, since the agents are required
- People who need a hosted service; the README describes a self-hosted install
How to get it
- 1
See the README
You'll need: Claude Code or Codex installed and signed in · Git
Install on macOS or Linux
curl -fsSL https://archon.diy/install | bashInstall on Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://archon.diy/install.ps1 | iexInstall with Homebrew, then run setup
brew install coleam00/archon/archon - 2
Run it
- Open a terminal in any git repository
- Run archon workflow list to see available workflows
- Run archon workflow run archon-investigate "Why does the login test fail?"
- Watch runs and answer questions with archon serve or archon workflow attention
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Save your own workflow in .archon/workflows/ and replace the test command with your own
- Use archon skill add so your coding agent can drive Archon directly
- Bind queues to a schedule or issue events with a trigger, as described in the README
- Connect Slack, Telegram, GitHub webhooks or Discord to start and follow runs from chat
- Write your process as a plugin pack and share it through archon plugin add owner/repo
Downloads
Strengths
- Workflows are plain YAML files stored in your repository, so the process is visible and versionable
- Runs can pause for a human decision and resume, with an event log and cost record for each run
- Self-hosted, with SQLite by default and PostgreSQL optional
Trade-offs
- The README describes many moving parts (workflows, queues, providers, forges, chat adapters), so setup has a learning curve
- The GitHub-based pack uses the gh CLI today, and the README does not detail its limits beyond that
- Its claims about results, such as the share of merged pull requests built by Archon, come from the README and were not independently checked
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archon (this) | 23.8k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want AI coding runs to follow the same plan, test and review steps each time |
| OpenHands | 92.5k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want coding agents running on a server while their laptop is off |
| oh-my-pi | 37.5k | CLI | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want an AI agent working inside a terminal on their own codebase |
| ai-website-cloner-template | 38.4k | App | intermediate | 17 days ago | Developers who want a working Next.js starting point for a site they already own |
| ECC | 295k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who already use Claude Code and want a shared workflow for planning, testing and review |
| oh-my-claudecode | 40.5k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already using Claude Code who want multi-agent workflows |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.