About Multitui
Multitui is a macOS app factory designed to convert Terminal User Interface (TUI) programs into dedicated, native macOS applications. It allows users to wrap command-line tools like Claude Code, lazygit, htop, and vim into individual .app bundles with their own dock icons and window management. A standout feature is its integrated sandboxing, which leverages macOS's built-in sandbox-exec to provide fine-grained filesystem protection. This ensures that CLI tools or AI agents can run with restricted permissions, preventing them from deleting or modifying sensitive data unless explicitly allowed. Each app maintains its own shell history, snippets, and visual themes, providing a first-class macOS experience for power users.
How to Use
Download the Multitui app factory to configure and preview your custom terminal apps. Select a TUI program, define filesystem permissions and visual styles, and generate a dedicated .app bundle. You can then launch these apps from the Dock, Finder, or via global shortcuts.
Key Features
- Native .app bundle generation for TUI programs
- Fine-grained filesystem sandboxing using macOS sandbox-exec
- Finder integration via toolbar buttons and context menus
- Isolated shell history and snippets per app
- Customizable per-app themes, icons, and window styles
- Global keyboard shortcuts for instant app launching
Use Cases
- Running AI coding agents like Claude Code with restricted filesystem access
- Converting git interfaces like lazygit into dedicated macOS apps with Dock icons
- Creating standalone system monitors using htop or btop
- Managing isolated development environments without VMs or containers
Key Features
Pros & Cons
- Superior security through built-in sandboxing prevents data leaks or deletions
- Native macOS integration with dock icons and window controls improves usability
- Per-app customization like history and themes enhances personalization
- Lightweight and efficient, preserving the performance of original TUI tools
- Easy isolation of multiple CLI tools without shared state
- Freemium access lowers barrier for individual users and teams
- Exclusive to macOS, limiting cross-platform use
- Requires users to source and manage TUI binaries manually
- Sandbox setup may involve a learning curve for fine-grained permissions
- Freemium model might restrict advanced features behind paywall
- Limited to TUI programs, not general CLI tools without UI
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