The Dynamic Island for AI Coding Agents

Codex_Dynamic island for AI coding agents. Monitor Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode from the macOS Dynamic Island

By developers, for developers.

Stay in flow while your AI coding agents work.

Monitor, approve, and jump back.

Right from the macOS notch.

Download for Free Learn More

brew install --cask bluedusk/xisland/x-island

All versions

Why I built it. Why you shouldn't.

Why I built it

  • I work with Claude, Codex, and other agents 10+ hours a day. 10+ sessions open at once. I needed something that actually keeps up.
  • I want tools that fit how I work — fast, keyboard-driven, no friction. If it slows me down, I won't use it.
  • I use this thing all day. The DX has to be good because I'm the one suffering when it's not.
  • I choose what to support carefully. Some tools claim to support every agent and terminal under the sun. None of them do it well. I'd rather do fewer things perfectly.

Why you shouldn't

  • It's free. I spend hours every day on this and burnt out my Claude Max plan doing it. You don't have to.
  • It's actually really hard. Even with Opus 4.6, agents are terrible at Swift compared to other languages. Integrating with different agents and terminals is a pain in the ass.
  • If you still want to build your own — go ahead and have fun. I mean it.

Two display modes for your dynamic island.

Notch or pill.

Choose your style. Switch anytime.

Notch Mode

The dynamic island sits in your macOS notch. Expands when your AI coding agent needs attention. Collapses when it doesn't.

Pill Mode

Floating pill on your menu bar. Compact, always visible — monitor your AI coding agents without losing focus.

Supported AI coding agents.

Works with Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode.

Agents

  • Claude Code - Best experience
  • Codex - Supported
  • VS Code - Supported
  • Cursor - Supported
  • OpenCode - Supported
  • Gemini CLI - Supported

Terminals

  • Ghostty - Best experience
  • iTerm2 - Best experience
  • Terminal.app - Supported
  • Warp - Limited
  • WezTerm - Supported
  • Kaku - Coming soon
  • Cmux - Supported

Monitor every agent at a glance.

See what matters. Act when needed. Skip the noise.

Monitor Sessions

Every AI agent session at a glance from your dynamic island. Status, progress, what they're up to — all from the macOS notch.

Approve Actions

Intercept file edits, commands, and deletions before your AI coding agent runs them. Right from the dynamic island, you stay in control.

Answer Questions

Your AI agent has a question. Answer from the dynamic island popup, no window switching required.

Jump to Terminal

One click to return to the right terminal, right tab, right session. 7 terminals supported.

Keyboard First

Full keyboard support with vim-style navigation. hjkl to move, enter to act. No mouse needed.

Native Swift

Built in Swift with SwiftUI + AppKit. No Electron. Runs light, stays fast, feels right.

FAQ

Which terminals are supported?

iTerm2, Terminal.app, Ghostty, Warp, Alacritty, Kitty, and VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf integrated terminals. Precise jump — including split panes and tmux sessions — works with iTerm2, Ghostty, Terminal.app, Warp, and IDE terminals.

What AI coding tools does xisland support?

Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode. All sessions appear in one unified notch panel so you can monitor everything at a glance.

Can I approve permissions without switching to the terminal?

Yes. When your agent requests permission to run a tool, the notch panel expands with Allow and Deny buttons. Approve or reject directly from the notch without leaving your editor.

Does my data leave my machine?

No. All communication between xisland and your CLI tools happens locally on your Mac. No data is sent to any server.

How does zero-config setup work?

On first launch, xisland auto-configures each supported CLI tool. Everything is set up locally — no API keys, no cloud accounts, no manual editing.

Does it use a lot of resources?

No. xisland is a native Swift app built for Apple Silicon. It typically uses under 50 MB of RAM and near-zero CPU when idle.

Does it work on external monitors?

Yes. On Macs with a built-in notch, the panel sits in the notch area. On external displays or older Macs without a notch, it appears as a compact floating bar at the top center.

Is xisland free?

Yes. xisland is completely free. Download it from the website or install via Homebrew.

Why use a dynamic island for AI coding agents?

A dynamic island for your coding agent keeps you in flow. Instead of switching windows or checking terminals, you see everything that matters — approvals, questions, progress — right in your notch. Stay focused on your code while xisland monitors your AI agents in the background.