stagewise Docs — Open Source Agentic IDE - Docs - stagewise: The Agentic IDE for Open-Source Models

stagewise is a standalone desktop IDE where AI coding agents can read, write, and modify files across your workspaces. It combines a full browser engine with a powerful agent system that understands your project structure, uses your tools, and integrates with your stack.

stagewise desktop IDE showing the agent sidebar, chat input, connected workspaces, and terminal panel

The main stagewise workspace combines agents, connected folders, chat, and browser or terminal tabs in one window.

Bring your own intelligence

stagewise works with models from any provider. You have three options:

stagewise Account — The fastest way to start. Access a large library of pre-configured models through the managed inference service. No API keys needed.
Import your subscriptions — Already paying for Claude, GPT, Gemini, Kimi, Qwen, DeepSeek, GLM, or MiniMax? Bring your existing API keys and use them directly in stagewise.
Custom & local providers — Connect self-hosted models via Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI-compatible endpoints, OpenAI Responses endpoints, Anthropic-style endpoints, or other supported API styles. Full control, zero external API calls.

What is stagewise?

stagewise is not a browser extension or editor plugin. It’s a complete desktop agentic IDE:

AI coding agents operate directly on your filesystem — reading, writing, editing, and searching code across multiple workspaces
Bring your own model — Start instantly with the stagewise Account model library, import existing provider subscriptions, or run local models through Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI-compatible endpoints, OpenAI Responses endpoints, Anthropic-style endpoints, or other supported API styles
Full browser engine — Preview apps, select DOM elements as agent context, and browse while agents work
Multiple workspaces — Connect several project folders at once so agents can work across your full stack
Skills & plugins — Teach agents project-specific patterns with SKILL.md files, and integrate with Figma, GitHub, Supabase, PostHog, Vercel, and more
Design previews — Iterate on visual changes before modifying real code
Diff review — Accept, reject, or undo every agent edit with full inline diffs
Agentic by default — Agents think, use tools, and act in a reasoning loop — not just autocomplete

Who is stagewise for?

stagewise fits best when you need agents that work directly on your codebase with full context and real tools — not just inline suggestions.

Profile	Why stagewise works
Full-stack developers	Connect frontend and backend as separate workspaces, preview in the built-in browser, and let agents work across your entire stack.
Teams with AI subscriptions	Import existing provider API keys — no need to pay twice for the same models.
Privacy-conscious developers	Run models entirely on your machine with Ollama or LM Studio. Zero external API calls, full data sovereignty.
Design-implementation teams	Select elements visually, iterate with design previews, and integrate Figma designs directly into development workflows.
Power users	Create custom skills per project, chain slash commands, run multiple agents in parallel on different models, and extend with plugins.
Open-source maintainers	stagewise is AGPL-3.0 licensed. Self-hostable, auditable, and community-driven.

How the docs are organized

Getting Started

Download, install, and send your first prompt in minutes.

Core Concepts

Understand how agents work, what workspaces are, and the mental model behind stagewise.

Reference

Detailed configuration guides for every feature and setting.

Quick links

Install stagewise

Download for macOS, Windows, or Linux.

Import your subscriptions

Use existing provider API keys.

Local & custom models

Connect Ollama, OpenAI-compatible, OpenAI Responses, Anthropic-style, and other custom endpoints.

Skills & plugins

Extend the agent with custom instructions and integrations.

Your first prompt

Connect a workspace and start building.

​Bring your own intelligence

​What is stagewise?

​Who is stagewise for?

​How the docs are organized