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Spacecake

Free

Explore Spacecake, the open-source terminal interface for Claude Code with task tracking, markdown planning, real-time cost monitoring, and WYSIWYG editing.

Inputs: textOutputs: text, image
Type
Saas
Company
spacecake

About Spacecake

spacecake is an open-source desktop application designed to provide a superior interface for Claude Code. It combines a Notion-style markdown editor with an integrated Ghostty terminal, bridging the gap between running terminal agents and editing documentation. The app features a real-time status bar to monitor context window usage and costs, a live task panel to track agent progress, and a WYSIWYG editor for spec-driven development. It allows users to write specs, create Mermaid diagrams, and define custom project rules via JSON to maintain coding conventions.

How to Use

Download the application for your specific platform (macOS or Linux). Once installed, use the integrated Ghostty terminal to run Claude Code and the markdown editor to visually manage your specs and plans. Monitor the task panel to see what the agent is working on and check the status bar for real-time cost tracking.

Key Features

  • Notion-style markdown editor
  • Integrated Ghostty terminal
  • Real-time context window and usage cost tracking
  • Live task monitoring panel
  • WYSIWYG editing with rich code blocks
  • Custom rule definitions via JSON

Use Cases

  • Editing markdown documentation while running Claude Code agents
  • Monitoring AI agent tasks and progress visually
  • Explaining code architecture using integrated Mermaid diagrams
  • Tracking API costs and context limits in real-time during development

Key Features

Notion-style markdown editor
Integrated Ghostty terminal
Real-time context window and usage cost tracking
Live task monitoring panel
WYSIWYG editing with rich code blocks
Custom rule definitions via JSON

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open-source and free to use (no software license cost)
  • Integrates planning, coding, git, and cost tracking in one interface
  • Supports markdown with visual features like diagrams and checklists
  • Cross-platform availability (macOS, Windows, Linux)
  • Real-time cost visibility helps manage Claude API spending
Cons
  • Requires Claude Code and a valid Anthropic API key/account to use the terminal features
  • Still in public alpha, so stability and completeness may vary
  • Primarily designed for terminal-oriented developers; may have a learning curve for non-CLI users
  • Free tier limits for Claude Code usage (API costs) are not managed by Spacecake and should be verified with Anthropic
  • Open-source project; support and updates depend on community and maintainers

Best For

Editing markdown documentation while running Claude Code agentsMonitoring AI agent tasks and progress visuallyExplaining code architecture using integrated Mermaid diagramsTracking API costs and context limits in real-time during development

Alternatives to Spacecake

FAQ

Is Spacecake free to use?
Yes, the Spacecake application itself is open-source and appears to be free to download and use. However, using the integrated terminal with Claude Code may require a valid Anthropic API key or subscription, which could involve usage costs. Users should check the current pricing on Anthropic's website.
What platforms does Spacecake support?
Based on available information, Spacecake provides downloadable installers for macOS (both Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows (x86-64), and Linux (via deb and AppImage). It also offers a build for 'other platforms'.
Do I need to have Claude Code installed separately?
Spacecake is described as an interface for Claude Code. It appears that you need to have Claude Code set up and configured, along with access to the Claude API, to use the terminal features. Further details should be verified in the Spacecake documentation.
Is Spacecake open-source?
Yes, the source code is openly available on GitHub under the Spacecake Labs organization, as shown on the product's website.
Does Spacecake support mermaid diagrams?
Based on the product's features, Spacecake's markdown editor includes support for mermaid diagrams, allowing users to create flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and other visualizations within their planning documents.