Archon
The first open-source harness builder for AI coding. Make AI coding deterministic and repeatable.
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What is Archon?
Archon is a workflow engine for AI coding agents that lets you define multi-step development workflows in YAML and run them with a single command. It packages AI coding patterns as shareable YAML workflows for tasks like code review, bug fixes, feature implementation, and testing. Each workflow runs in an isolated git worktree, preventing conflicts and keeping your main codebase clean.
The tool supports multiple platforms including CLI, Web UI, Slack, Telegram, GitHub, and Discord, making it portable across different development environments. Archon works with both Claude Code SDK and Codex SDK, providing multi-provider support. Workflows are composed as DAGs (directed acyclic graphs) with dependencies, loops, and conditional logic, allowing complex multi-agent workflows like comprehensive PR reviews with 5 parallel reviewers.
Archon is designed for software developers, DevOps engineers, and teams who want to automate repetitive AI-assisted coding tasks. It's particularly useful for developers who work with GitHub issues and pull requests, as it can automatically investigate issues, implement fixes, create PRs, and run multi-agent code reviews. The tool requires Git, Bun, and Claude Code CLI as prerequisites, and uses SQLite for zero-setup database storage.
Archon pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Archon appears to be free and open-source. The tool is installed via Bun package manager and requires Claude Code CLI (which has its own authentication). There are no paid tiers mentioned on the website - the core functionality including all 20+ bundled workflows, Web UI, CLI, and adapter integrations are included. Claude authentication is required but uses the existing Claude Code login flow rather than separate API keys.
Archon pros
- Workflow engine specifically designed for AI coding agents
- Define multi-step workflows in simple YAML format
- Runs on CLI, Web UI, Slack, Telegram, GitHub, and Discord
- Works with both Claude Code SDK and Codex SDK
- Each workflow runs in isolated git worktree - no conflicts
- 20+ pre-built workflows for common development tasks
- Auto-selects best workflow based on your message description
- Supports DAG workflows with dependencies, loops, and conditions
- Multi-agent PR review with 5 parallel reviewers
- Fresh context per node prevents context noise accumulation
- Artifacts system passes context between workflow nodes explicitly
- Zero-setup SQLite database at ~/.archon/archon.db
- Windows native support without WSL2 required
- Repo-specific customization via .archon directory
- REST API with OpenAPI 3.0 spec for programmatic access
- SSE streaming for real-time workflow events
- Workflow resume capability after failures
- Interactive approval gates for human-in-the-loop workflows
- GitHub webhook integration for issues and PRs
- Shareable workflows you can package and reuse
Archon cons
- Requires Claude Code CLI installed separately
- Requires Bun runtime (replaces Node.js + npm)
- Must have Git repository - won't work on non-git projects
- Cannot run as root user
- GitHub webhook setup requires public endpoint (ngrok/Cloudflare)
- No built-in authentication - must use reverse proxy for network exposure
- DAG workflow bash nodes need bash executable on Windows
- GitHub PAT mode is legacy - bot comments post under user avatar
- Webhook secret must be identical across all repositories
- Slack adapter is medium difficulty (15 min setup)
- TensorFlow/PyTorch integration not mentioned
- No built-in CI/CD pipeline integration
- Requires manual .env file setup for server mode
- Learning curve for authoring custom YAML workflows
- No official Docker image mentioned in documentation
Frequently asked questions about Archon
What is Archon?
Archon is a workflow engine for AI coding agents. It lets you define multi-step development workflows in YAML—such as code review, bug fixes, feature implementation, and testing—and run them with a single command. You can package your best AI coding patterns as shareable YAML workflows.
How do I install Archon?
Install Archon by first ensuring you have Git, Bun, and Claude Code CLI installed. Then clone the Archon repository and run 'bun install' to install dependencies. For CLI-only usage, install the CLI globally with 'bun install -g @archon/cli'. For server/Web UI mode, run 'bun run dev' which starts both the backend API on port 3090 and Web UI on port 5173.
What prerequisites do I need?
You need Git, Bun (which replaces Node.js + npm), Claude Code CLI, and a GitHub account. Do not run as root—Archon doesn't work when run as the root user. Windows users need Git for Windows and Bun for Windows, but don't need WSL2.
What workflows are available?
Archon includes 20+ bundled workflows: archon-assist (general Q&A), archon-fix-github-issue, archon-idea-to-pr, archon-plan-to-pr, archon-feature-development, archon-comprehensive-pr-review (5 parallel reviewers), archon-smart-pr-review, archon-create-issue, archon-resolve-conflicts, archon-refactor-safely, archon-architect, archon-test-loop-dag, and many more. The router auto-selects the best workflow based on your message.
How does Archon handle context between workflow nodes?
Archon uses artifacts—files written to a shared $ARTIFACTS_DIR that each node can read. When a node finishes, it writes findings to an artifact file. The next node starts with 'context: fresh' (no baggage from previous nodes) and explicitly reads the artifact. This keeps each node focused and prevents context noise accumulation.
Can I use Archon without a server?
Yes. Archon has two paths: CLI-only (Path B) and server/Web UI (Path A). The CLI is standalone—you install it globally and run workflows from any repository with 'archon workflow run <name>'. It auto-detects the git repo and uses SQLite for state tracking without needing a server.
How do I connect Archon to GitHub?
Set up GitHub webhooks by generating a webhook secret, exposing your local server with ngrok or Cloudflare Tunnel (for local dev), configuring the webhook in your repository settings for Issues, Issue comments, and Pull requests events, and setting the WEBHOOK_SECRET environment variable. Interact by @mentioning the bot in issue or PR comments.
What is the difference between CLI and server mode?
CLI mode runs workflows directly from your terminal in any git repository, using your local files. Server mode runs a backend API with Web UI and supports adapters for Slack, Telegram, Discord, and GitHub webhooks. The server reads workflows from cloned repositories at ~/.archon/workspaces/, so you need to commit and push changes for the server to see them.
How do I create custom workflows?
Place YAML files in your repo's .archon/workflows/ directory. Workflows chain multiple commands as DAG nodes, support parallel execution, conditional branching, and carry context between nodes via $nodeId.output substitution. You can copy a default workflow from .archon/workflows/defaults/ and modify it—same-named files override the defaults.
Is Archon free?
Yes, Archon is free. It's installed via Bun package manager and all bundled workflows, Web UI, CLI, and adapter integrations are included at no cost. You only need Claude Code authentication (using existing Claude Code login) and a GitHub account—no separate API keys or paid tiers are required.