Frequently asked questions

Onda is an AI-native terminal emulator for macOS built for developers working with AI coding assistants like Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI. It includes 21 MCP tools, split panes, a built-in Git panel with inline diffs, file browser, dev server preview, AI session resume detection, and a plugin system running in Web Workers.

Onda is designed for macOS developers who use AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf) and want a terminal that integrates natively with those workflows. It is especially useful for engineers who manage multi-pane workflows, juggle multiple projects, and want Git, file browsing, and dev server preview inside the terminal.

Download the latest DMG from onda.mindfullabai.dev/download, open it, and drag Onda.app to the Applications folder. The app is notarized by Apple and supports auto-updates, so you do not need to reinstall for new versions. Requirements: macOS 12 or later on Apple Silicon.

Yes. The Free tier includes split panes, tabs, up to 3 workspaces, the plugin system, full MCP integration, and auto-updates — no account required. Pro unlocks unlimited workspaces, premium themes, and priority support for $3/month, $29/year, or $59 one-time lifetime.

No. Onda is Apple Silicon only (M1, M2, M3, M4). Apple has dropped Intel support in recent macOS releases, so Intel builds are not planned.

No. Onda is currently macOS-only. Windows and Linux builds are under consideration but not planned for the short term. Follow the repo for updates.

Onda supports any shell installed on your system — zsh, bash, fish, nushell, and custom shells. It reads your dotfiles (.zshrc, .bashrc, .config/fish/config.fish) and respects your existing aliases, environment variables, and prompt.

Onda has an open plugin system (Warp does not), does not require an account, does not collect telemetry by default, and includes a built-in Git panel with commit graph and inline diffs. Both support AI command generation, but Onda is purpose-built for MCP and AI session resume with Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI.

iTerm2 is a mature but non-AI-native terminal. Onda adds 21 MCP tools for AI agents, AI session resume, Cmd+K command generation, a Git panel with diffs, file browser with drag-and-drop, dev server auto-detection with embedded preview, and workspace management. iTerm2 has no plugin API comparable to Onda.

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard that lets AI agents call external tools. Onda exposes 21 MCP tools — spawn terminals, split panes, run commands, create workspaces, switch tabs — so Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf can programmatically control your terminal. See /docs/mcp for the full tool list.

Onda detects when a Claude Code, Codex CLI, or Gemini CLI session in any pane has been interrupted (crash, quit, kill). It displays a one-click resume button that restarts the CLI with its previous context preserved — no need to re-provide the prompt or working directory.

Plugins run in Web Workers for full isolation and can add commands, context menu items, status bar widgets, panels, themes, keybindings, and more. The plugin API covers terminal, filesystem, HTTP, storage, notifications, exec, and panel rendering. Plugins live in ~/.config/onda/plugins/ and are managed from Settings.

Yes. Onda runs entirely on your machine — terminal input, output, and files never leave your device. The app is notarized by Apple, optional telemetry is opt-in only, and there is no account requirement for the Free tier. Source code for the core app is available on GitHub for inspection.

Yes. Onda works alongside your existing terminal with no migration needed. It uses your existing shell (zsh, bash, fish), reads your dotfiles, and supports your current aliases and shell configuration out of the box. You can run Onda and iTerm2 side by side.

You keep using Onda with Free tier features. Your workspaces, plugins, settings, and session history are preserved — you only lose access to Pro-only features (unlimited workspaces, premium themes, priority support). No data is ever deleted on downgrade.

Only if you opt in. Telemetry is disabled by default. If enabled, Onda sends anonymous usage events (app open, daily active) to improve the product. Commands, file contents, and personal data are never collected. Opt-out any time from Settings > Privacy.

Free users can open issues on the GitHub repo or join the Discord community for help. Pro users get priority email support with response within one business day. The docs at /docs cover setup, plugins, MCP, and CLI usage.

Yes. Onda exposes a Unix-socket IPC API for programmatic control — open tabs, split panes, run commands, manage workspaces from scripts or other apps. See /docs/cli for the full reference. The same surface is exposed as 21 MCP tools for AI agents.

Onda ships with built-in themes (Dracula, Nord, Solarized Light/Dark, Onda Dark default). Custom themes can be installed as plugins. Pro users get access to premium themes curated for focus and readability.

Upcoming: Windows and Linux builds, richer AI agent orchestration (multi-agent pane groups), hosted plugin marketplace, team workspaces, and deeper Git worktree integration. Subscribe to the Discord or mailing list for shipping announcements.

Press Cmd+Shift+S from anywhere — Onda, Chrome, Figma, wherever you are. A small picker appears at the bottom of the screen. Choose Area, Window, Full Screen, or From Clipboard. After capture, Onda saves the PNG to ~/.config/onda/screenshots/<project>/ and brackets-pastes the path into the active terminal pane. Claude Code reads it as [Image #N] and can inspect the image as part of the conversation.

Yes. The Cmd+Shift+S shortcut is global — it works even when Onda is not the active app. Once the picker appears, pressing 1, 2, 3, or 4 triggers the corresponding mode as a global shortcut too, so you can switch to another window and capture it without coming back to Onda. The picker and the success toast never steal focus from your active app.

Screenshots are saved to ~/.config/onda/screenshots/<project>/ where <project> is derived from the working directory of the active terminal pane. You can browse per-project history, open the folder in Finder, or clear history from Settings → Screenshots.

Git worktrees let you check out multiple branches of the same repository into separate directories simultaneously — no stashing, no branch switching, no context loss. Onda shows your worktrees in the sidebar Git panel. You can create, switch between, and remove worktrees directly from the UI without touching the command line.

The Run Command Bar appears at the bottom of each workspace and auto-detects runnable commands in the current project: npm/pnpm/bun scripts from package.json, Makefile targets, and similar. Each detected command appears as a one-click chip — no need to remember script names or type them manually.