Which Coding Agents Actually Run on Your Machine?

The landscape of software development is shifting toward automation, yet many developers are hesitant to send their entire codebase to a remote cloud environment. Understanding which coding agents run locally is essential for maintaining privacy, security, and low latency during the development process. A local-first approach ensures that your source code, configuration files, and sensitive environment variables remain on your hardware, even when leveraging powerful large language models for assistance.

The Architecture of Local Coding Agents

When we talk about an agent running locally, it is important to distinguish between the execution environment and the inference source. The execution environment refers to where the agent performs actions, such as running terminal commands, creating files, or analyzing directory structures. The inference source refers to where the actual model processing happens.

Most modern agents follow a hybrid model. The agent software itself lives on your machine, interacting directly with your file system and shell. However, the heavy lifting of the neural network often happens via an API call to a provider. Even in these cases, the agent is considered local if the logic that drives your terminal and manages your files never leaves your machine.

CLI Driven Local Agents

Command line interface agents are currently leading the way for developers who want a minimal footprint. These tools function as a layer over your standard shell. They have permission to read your files, execute tests, and suggest fixes based on the output of those tests.

1. Claude Code: A recently released tool that operates entirely within your terminal. It allows for complex reasoning over local repositories without needing a heavy IDE wrapper.
2. OpenCode: An open source alternative designed to provide a transparent look at how agents interact with your local environment.
3. Codex CLI: A focused tool for quick command generation and execution within a local session.

Why Local Execution Matters for Privacy

Security is the primary driver for the adoption of local-first tools. In corporate environments, uploading proprietary code to a third party cloud for processing can be a violation of compliance policies. When an agent runs locally, you have granular control over what information is shared.

By keeping the agent logic on your machine, you ensure that the context provided to the AI is limited to what you explicitly allow. You can see every command the agent intends to run before it executes. This transparency is a core tenet of the local-first philosophy, where the user maintains ownership of the development lifecycle.

Integrating Agents into Your Workspace

While CLI tools are powerful, they can become difficult to manage when you are working across multiple files or need to see a browser preview simultaneously. This is where an integrated environment becomes valuable. Instead of switching between different terminal windows, you can use a unified canvas to organize your agent interactions.

Deska provides an infinite canvas where you can place different agents as individual panels. This allows you to run Claude Code, Codex CLI, and OpenCode side by side. You can observe how each agent approaches the same problem, comparing their outputs in real time without losing track of your terminal history.

The Deska Workspace Approach

Deska is a free desktop app available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It does not replace your existing tools but rather organizes them into a visual layout. Within a Deska workspace, you can manage several components:

• Terminals for running local scripts and agents.
• A Monaco based code editor for quick adjustments.
• Browser panels for testing web applications.
• Notes for documenting your progress.

For developers who want a more hands-off experience, the Ask Deska assistant can drive the workspace. It can open new panels, run commands, and check existing sessions through voice or chat. This assistant acts as a coordinator for your other agents, keeping the entire workflow local to your machine.

Comparing Local Agent Implementations

Not all agents handle local resources the same way. Some are designed for specific tasks like refactoring, while others are general purpose assistants. The following table highlights the differences in approach for common local-focused agents.

Managing State Across Devices

One challenge with local-first tools is how to maintain productivity when you are away from your main workstation. If your files and agent sessions are tied to your desktop, you traditionally lose access once you leave your desk.

Modern solutions address this through secure relays. For instance, the Deska mobile app allows you to monitor your local sessions from a phone. The devices pair directly, meaning no ports are exposed to the public internet and your data does not reside on a central server. This allows you to check the status of a long running test suite or an agent task while you are on the move, maintaining the security of a local-only setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do coding agents run locally without internet?

Most agents require an internet connection to reach the large language model via API, even if the agent logic and file execution happen on your machine. However, the actual code analysis and command execution are performed locally. Some specialized tools can use local models if you have the hardware to support them.

Is Claude Code free to use locally?

The agent software itself can be installed on your machine, but interacting with the underlying model typically requires a subscription or API credits. Tools like Deska allow you to use a BYOK model where you provide your own API keys for the agents you run within the canvas.

How do I secure my local files from AI agents?

You should always review the permissions requested by any CLI tool. Local-first platforms like Deska ensure that your files remain on your machine. Using a tool that shows you the commands before they are executed is the best way to prevent unwanted changes to your file system.

Start Building with Local Agents

Choosing the right environment for your agents can significantly impact your productivity and peace of mind. By utilizing a local-first desktop application, you retain control over your data while gaining the benefits of modern AI assistance. You can experiment with different agents and organize them in a way that fits your specific project needs.

Download the Deska desktop app at /download to start building your own infinite workspace with local agents today.