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bb: The agent IDE that builds itself
gist
bb is an open-source agentic IDE that can control, customize, and automate itself. The same work runs from a desktop app, web app, CLI, and HTTP API, in threads that can be steered or handed to another agent. The recommended start is the macOS Apple Silicon desktop app, or npx elsewhere; the Linux desktop build is alpha, and native Windows is unsupported. Production builds send anonymous usage telemetry unless BB_TELEMETRY is set to false. Architecture is stable, but workflows are still changing.
ideas
- Every surface is first-class. The desktop app, web app, CLI, and HTTP API all drive the same work.
- Work lives in steerable threads. Threads can be followed live, redirected, or handed to another agent.
- Install path depends on the machine. Apple Silicon desktop is recommended; Linux AppImage is alpha; Intel Mac and Windows use npx, and Windows only through WSL2.
- Production sends anonymous telemetry. Starts, thread and message counts, and public plugin names; opt out with BB_TELEMETRY set to false.
- Dev checkouts stay isolated. Each worktree gets its own data directory and ports so source and packaged instances can run together.
quotes
“bb is an agentic IDE that builds itself.”
“It can control, customize, and automate itself, laying the groundwork for your own software factory.”
“Every surface — the desktop app, web app, CLI, and HTTP API — is a first-class way to drive bb.”
“Work runs in threads you can follow live, steer at any point, or hand off to another agent.”