Parallax

A coding agent for the terminal, with deterministic control over every side effect.

Parallax combines a Claude Code-style interface with typed tools, approval prompts, provider choice, and local session persistence. The model proposes; the runtime decides what can run.

Download from npm View source

parallax — coding agent

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✻ Welcome to Parallax · v0.1 beta

a secure, extensible coding agent

openai:gpt-5 · workspace

~/your-project

› inspect this repo and run the tests

✓ Read project instructions

✓ Inspect relevant files

? Run test command approval required

Installation guide

From npm to your first agent session.

Parallax requires Node.js 22.18 or newer because it uses the built-in SQLite module. pnpm is only required when developing the source repository.

01 · Install globally

Add the `parallax` command

Install the current public release from npm, then confirm that the executable is available.

$ npm install --global @singularitycolabs/parallax@latest
parallax --version

Alternative · No global install

Run directly with npx

Use the same published package without keeping a global command on your machine.

$ npx --yes @singularitycolabs/parallax@latest --help

02 · Configure a model

Choose a provider

Set the provider and its API key. This example uses OpenAI; the provider table below lists the supported alternatives.

$ export PARALLAX_PROVIDER=openai
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here

03 · Start the agent

Interactive or one-shot

Bare `parallax` opens the terminal UI. `parallax run` executes a single goal while preserving the same approval policy.

$ parallax
parallax run "Inspect this repository, run the tests, and fix the failure."

How it works

A real agent loop, not a shell shortcut.

Every turn follows the same order: model response, input validation, policy decision, approval when required, bounded execution, session persistence, and the next model step.

Typed tools

File, shell, planning, task, web-search, and web-fetch tools validate their inputs before execution.

Workspace safety

Filesystem operations stay inside the selected workspace and deny symlink or path escapes.

Visible approvals

Edits show a diff; shell and network actions can require explicit approval.

Provider choice

Use Anthropic or OpenAI-compatible services without changing the runtime or policy layer.

Model switching

Use /m or /model to switch provider and model without losing the conversation.

Durable sessions

Sessions persist in local SQLite and can be listed, replayed, or resumed interactively.

Permission modes

Decide how much authority the agent receives.

Workspace

Default

Reads run immediately. Writes, shell commands, and network access ask for approval.

Plan

Research only

Reads are allowed; side effects stay blocked until an approved plan moves the session to workspace mode.

Read-only

Locked down

Workspace reads are allowed and every side effect is denied.

Bypass

Use deliberately

Side effects are auto-approved, but paths outside the workspace root remain denied.

Press Shift+Tab in the terminal UI to cycle workspace → plan → read-only → bypass.

Models and providers

Bring the model endpoint you trust.

Anthropic uses its native API. The other built-in providers use the OpenAI wire format, including custom local or hosted endpoints.

Anthropic

Native Messages API

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

OpenAI

OpenAI-compatible API

OPENAI_API_KEY

NVIDIA NIM

OpenAI-compatible API

NVIDIA_API_KEY

OpenRouter

OpenAI-compatible API

OPENROUTER_API_KEY

Moonshot / Kimi

OpenAI-compatible API

MOONSHOT_API_KEY

Custom endpoint

Set PARALLAX_API_BASE_URL

PARALLAX_API_KEY

Useful interactive commands

/providers                 list configured providers
/models                    list models for the active provider
/m                         open provider-first model selection
/provider openai           switch provider
/theme light               switch terminal theme
/sessions                  list saved sessions

Sessions and local state

Stop now. Resume later.

Conversation and tool history are stored under `~/.parallax`. Provider, model, and theme choices persist locally; credentials entered through the model picker are written with mode 0600.

$ parallax sessions

$ parallax resume <sessionId>

$ parallax resume <sessionId> --print

Install the coding agent. Keep the final say.

$ npm install --global @singularitycolabs/parallax@latest

Open npm See the infrastructure agent