# Vibe Kanban: features, protocols, quickstart

## TL;DR

Vibe Kanban is an Apache-2.0 local web app from BloopAI that runs coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode in separate git-worktree workspaces with diff review. Its README says the project is sunsetting; bloop shut down in April 2026 and the code is now community maintained. It suits developers running parallel agent sessions.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Type | Orchestrator |
| Languages / SDKs | Rust, TypeScript |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing model | Open source, free |
| Orchestration pattern | Other |
| GitHub stars | 28,220 (as of 2026-09-30) |
| GitHub forks | 3,029 |
| Last push | 2026-09-19 |
| Latest release | v0.1.44-20260424091429 |
| Repository | [BloopAI/vibe-kanban](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban) |
| Website | [www.vibekanban.com](https://www.vibekanban.com) |
| Documentation | [vibekanban.com](https://vibekanban.com/docs) |
| Last verified | 2026-09-30 |

## Key features

- Each workspace gets its own git worktree and branch for one or more repositories, so parallel agents do not touch the main checkout. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/workspaces))
- About ten coding-agent CLIs can be selected per workspace or session, including Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, Amp, Cursor Agent CLI, Droid and Qwen Code. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/supported-coding-agents))
- A changes panel shows the diff; inline comments on specific lines are sent back to the agent as feedback. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/reviewing-code))
- Agent profiles store per-agent settings such as model, planning mode, approval level and (for Codex) sandbox mode. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/settings/agent-configurations))
- Vibe Kanban runs a local MCP server (`npx -y vibe-kanban@latest --mcp`) with tools for context, issues and workspaces, and can also attach MCP servers to each coding agent. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/integrations/vibe-kanban-mcp-server))
- Several sessions can run inside one workspace; they share files but keep separate conversation histories. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/workspaces/sessions))
- Finished work is merged locally or opened as a GitHub pull request from the UI. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/getting-started))

## Architecture and orchestration pattern

Pattern: Other.

Vibe Kanban is a local application: a Rust backend and a TypeScript web UI started with `npx vibe-kanban`, which opens in the browser. It does not contain its own model loop. It launches the coding-agent CLIs you have installed and logged into, streams their output into a chat panel and tracks their file changes.

The person using it is the coordinator. Each workspace creates git worktrees on a new branch for the selected repositories and starts the chosen agent with a prompt; several workspaces can run at once, and one workspace can hold several sessions with different agents. The docs describe no agent-to-agent messaging or automatic task routing; parallelism comes from running isolated workspaces side by side.

Workspace branches, sessions and settings are kept locally. Kanban issues, projects, organisations and comments were hosted Cloud features. The April 2026 shutdown notice says those remote services would be removed after 30 days and the app would move to a fully local architecture, and version 0.1.44 replaced the project kanban page with an export-only screen.

### Human in the loop

Review is the main control point: the changes panel shows each workspace's diff, and inline comments on specific lines go back to the agent for another pass; you can also edit a message to retry, start a new session, or delete the workspace. Nothing is pushed until you open a pull request or merge. Agent profiles can turn on planning mode, where the agent's plan is approved before implementation, and set approval levels (for Codex: untrusted, on-failure, on-request or never). Permission prompts can be skipped with `dangerously_skip_permissions`, which the docs flag as unsafe. A "Needs Attention" marker shows when an agent is waiting for approval or clarification.

### Harnesses it can drive

- Claude Code ([evidence](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/claude-code))
- Codex ([evidence](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/openai-codex))
- OpenCode ([evidence](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/opencode))

## Protocols

| Protocol | Support | Evidence | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MCP | Yes (checked 2026-09-30) | [link](https://vibekanban.com/docs/integrations/vibe-kanban-mcp-server) | Server and host config: `vibe-kanban --mcp` starts a local stdio MCP server for external clients, and a settings page attaches MCP servers to each coding agent. Many of its tools cover organisations, projects and issues, which were Cloud features affected by the sunset. |
| A2A | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | — | No mention of A2A in the README or the docs index (llms.txt); GitHub code search for 'a2a' only matched hashes in lock files. |
| AG-UI | Unknown (checked 2026-09-30) | — | No mention of AG-UI in the README or docs index; GitHub code search for 'ag-ui' returned nothing, and Vibe Kanban is not listed in the AG-UI README. |

## Best for

- Running several coding-agent tasks at once on separate branches and reviewing each diff before merging. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/coding-agents.md))
- Trying different coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI and others) on the same repository from one UI. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/coding-agents.md))
- Developers who want a locally run interface for their agents; after the sunset the app no longer depends on hosted services. ([shortlist](https://multiagentguide.top/best/self-hosted-local.md))

## Not for

- Teams that need a working shared kanban or issue tracker: the project page now only offers data export and the hosted team features were removed.
- Anyone who needs vendor support or regular releases; the company behind it shut down and the last tagged release is from April 2026.
- Automated multi-agent pipelines; a person starts and reviews each workspace.

## Quickstart

```sh
npx vibe-kanban
```

Install not yet verified by this site.

```bash
# 1. Install and log in to at least one coding agent, for example:
npx -y @anthropic-ai/claude-code      # follow the login prompts

# 2. Start Vibe Kanban; the web UI opens in your browser
npx vibe-kanban

# 3. Behind a reverse proxy, allow the frontend origin (otherwise API calls get 403)
VK_ALLOWED_ORIGINS=https://vk.example.com npx vibe-kanban

# 4. Optional: expose the local MCP server to another MCP client, e.g. in its config:
# "mcpServers": {
#   "vibe_kanban": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "vibe-kanban@latest", "--mcp"] }
# }
```

### Common pitfalls

- Project status: the README says Vibe Kanban is sunsetting. The shutdown post (10 April 2026) says hosted services for kanban issues, comments, projects and organisations would be removed after 30 days; local workspaces keep working. Version 0.1.44 replaced the project kanban page with an export-only screen.
- The docs and website still describe sign-in, the kanban board and Cloud features (an open issue notes the stale content).
- Each coding agent must be installed and authenticated separately before it can be selected.
- Behind a reverse proxy or custom domain, set `VK_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`, or the backend rejects API requests with 403. On Windows with `HOST=0.0.0.0`, set `MCP_HOST=127.0.0.1`.
- Building from source needs Rust stable, Node.js 20+, pnpm 8+, cargo-watch and sqlx-cli; an open PR reports that the self-host Docker build is broken on main.
- Skipping permission prompts (`dangerously_skip_permissions`, `yolo`) removes the agents' safety confirmations.

Official quickstart: https://vibekanban.com/docs/getting-started

## Pros

- Workspaces isolate each agent on its own worktree and branch, and nothing is pushed until you open a PR. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/workspaces))
- Works with about ten coding-agent CLIs, so agents can be swapped per workspace or session. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/supported-coding-agents))
- Line-level review comments are sent straight back to the agent, giving a review-fix loop inside one UI. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/reviewing-code))
- Ships a local MCP server, so other MCP clients or agents can read context and manage workspaces. ([source](https://vibekanban.com/docs/integrations/vibe-kanban-mcp-server))
- Apache-2.0 licensed, and the shutdown notice commits the project to continuing as open source. ([source](https://www.vibekanban.com/blog/shutdown))

## Cons

- bloop, the company behind it, shut down on 10 April 2026; the README now says Vibe Kanban is sunsetting and the project is left to the community. ([source](https://www.vibekanban.com/blog/shutdown))
- The project kanban page was replaced with an export-only screen, despite the product name and README still advertising kanban issues. ([source](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/pull/3387))
- Website and docs were not updated after the sunset and still show Cloud, pricing and team features (open issue). ([source](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/issues/3433))
- An open pull request reports that the self-host Docker build is broken on main. ([source](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/pull/3442))
- The latest tagged release is from 24 April 2026; commits resumed in September 2026 without a new release. ([source](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/releases))

## Alternatives

- [Claude Squad](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/claude-squad.md)
- [Container Use](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/container-use.md)
- [HumanLayer](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/humanlayer.md)
- [Taskmaster](https://multiagentguide.top/tools/claude-task-master.md)

## FAQ

### Is Vibe Kanban still maintained?

The README says it is sunsetting. bloop shut down on 10 April 2026 and said the project would continue as open source and community maintained. Community commits landed in September 2026, but the last tagged release is v0.1.44 from April 2026.

### Does the kanban board still work?

The shutdown notice removed hosted kanban issues, comments, projects and organisations after 30 days, and v0.1.44 replaced the project kanban page with an export-only screen. Local workspaces still work.

### Does Vibe Kanban support MCP?

Yes. `npx -y vibe-kanban@latest --mcp` starts a local MCP server for external clients, and the settings let you attach MCP servers to each coding agent it runs.

### Which coding agents does it run?

Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, Amp, Cursor Agent CLI, Factory Droid, Claude Code Router and Qwen Code. Each must be installed and logged in first.

### Is it free?

The code is Apache-2.0. Paid subscriptions were terminated at the April 2026 shutdown; the website still links a pricing page, which an open issue describes as outdated.

## Sources

- [Vibe Kanban GitHub repository](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban)
- [Vibe Kanban homepage](https://www.vibekanban.com)
- [Vibe Kanban documentation](https://vibekanban.com/docs)
- [Goodbye bloop (shutdown announcement, 10 April 2026)](https://www.vibekanban.com/blog/shutdown)
- [Get Started](https://vibekanban.com/docs/getting-started)
- [Workspaces overview](https://vibekanban.com/docs/workspaces)
- [Sessions](https://vibekanban.com/docs/workspaces/sessions)
- [Supported coding agents](https://vibekanban.com/docs/supported-coding-agents)
- [Claude Code setup](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/claude-code)
- [OpenAI Codex setup](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/openai-codex)
- [OpenCode setup](https://vibekanban.com/docs/agents/opencode)
- [Reviewing code](https://vibekanban.com/docs/reviewing-code)
- [Agent profiles and configuration](https://vibekanban.com/docs/settings/agent-configurations)
- [Vibe Kanban MCP server](https://vibekanban.com/docs/integrations/vibe-kanban-mcp-server)
- [PR #3387: Sunset project routes to an export-only page](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/pull/3387)
- [Issue #3433: Website content appears outdated after project sunset](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/issues/3433)
- [PR #3442: unbreak self-host build](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/pull/3442)
- [Vibe Kanban releases](https://github.com/BloopAI/vibe-kanban/releases)

## Unknown fields

protocols.a2a and protocols.agui: no mentions in the README or the docs index (llms.txt); GitHub code search found only lock-file hash matches for 'a2a' and nothing for 'ag-ui'; not listed in the AG-UI README. Several docs pages (getting started, Cloud section, MCP tool list) still describe hosted kanban features that the shutdown notice says were removed; this record describes the local workspace features as current.

Corrections or removal requests: support@multiagentguide.top

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Data as of 2026-09-30. Not affiliated with listed projects. HTML version: https://multiagentguide.top/tools/vibe-kanban