Fresh

Fresh is a terminal-based IDE and text editor for developers who want coding tools alongside a full IDE. Its Orchestrator assigns each task a separate Git worktree, tabs, terminals, and coding agent. It can run Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, or a command you provide, with workspaces running locally, over SSH, in Kubernetes, or in a dev container. For code review, Fresh offers hunk-level staging, unstaging, and discarding, side-by-side diffs, and notes exportable to Markdown. Editing tools include multi-cursor support, keyboard macros, Vim mode, regex search and replace, and project-wide search. Fresh supports multiple language servers per language, with configurations listed for Python, TypeScript, Rust, Go, Java, C/C++, and Ruby, among others. It also includes an integrated terminal and says it can open multi-gigabyte files without blocking the interface. Plugins are written in TypeScript and run sandboxed in its single binary. Fresh is free and open source at no cost, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated.

Fresh combines terminal editing, Git review, workspaces, and coding-agent support in one tool. Telemetry can be disabled, and the listed plan has no paid tiers or usage limits.

Fresh suits developers who want IDE-style features while working in a terminal. Its local and remote workspace options may fit people working across different environments.

Fresh is a terminal IDE and text editor for developers who want agent-driven work and Git review alongside a full IDE. It is strongest for managing parallel tasks across local and remote workspaces; readers seeking a conventional desktop-first environment should look elsewhere.

Overview

Fresh’s Orchestrator assigns each task its own Git worktree, tab, terminal, and agent. That separation gives developers a way to keep concurrent changes organized without leaving a terminal-centered workflow. Fresh is designed to complement a full IDE, so it is a better fit as a focused workspace for terminal-based work than as a default replacement for every development tool.

Workspaces can run locally, over SSH, in Kubernetes, or in a dev container. That breadth suits developers moving between local and remote environments, though the product’s core appeal remains its task-oriented workflow rather than a particular hosting setup.

Key features

Agent workflows and Git review

Fresh can run Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, or a command chosen by the user. The Orchestrator provides a consistent workspace around those options, which is useful for developers who want to keep agent work tied to distinct Git worktrees. If coding agents are not part of your routine, this layer offers less reason to choose Fresh over a simpler editor.

Git review supports staging, unstaging, and discarding individual hunks, side-by-side diffs, and review notes that can be exported to Markdown. Those controls make it easier to inspect changes selectively rather than treating a whole file as one unit, a practical advantage when reviewing agent output or other incremental edits.

Editing and language tools

Multi-cursor editing, keyboard macros, Vim mode, regex search and replace, and project-wide search give Fresh substantial editing flexibility. Multiple language servers per language and configurations for languages including Python, TypeScript, Rust, Go, Java, C/C++, and Ruby make it relevant across a broad range of projects. Compiler diagnostics and Rust navigation add useful support for code-focused work, though the product is still positioned as a terminal companion rather than a complete desktop IDE.

Fresh also includes an integrated terminal with multiple tabs, split placement, scrollback, and keyboard capture mode. The maker says it can open multi-gigabyte files without blocking the interface, which may matter to developers who inspect unusually large files. Plugins are written in TypeScript and run sandboxed inside Fresh’s single binary, a contained approach that avoids requiring a separate plugin runtime.

Privacy and support

Fresh sends anonymous telemetry covering its version, operating system and architecture, and terminal type; the maker says it does not collect personal data, file contents, or usage behavior. Upgrade checks and telemetry can be disabled with fresh --no-upgrade-check or the check_for_updates setting. Developers who prefer to limit telemetry have a direct control, while those who want no telemetry need to turn it off themselves.

Community contact and support are available through Discord, GitHub Issues, and GitHub Discussions. That points users toward community channels rather than a stated commercial support plan.

Pricing

Free and open source: free. The GPL-3.0-or-later plan has no paid tiers or usage limits stated, so individuals and teams can use the same core product without a tier-based feature or quota tradeoff. Its open-source license is a good fit for readers comfortable with GPL terms; it is not a custom-priced commercial offering.

Platforms

Fresh supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can also be self-hosted. The desktop platform range covers the major operating systems, while the self-hosted option and remote workspace support make it a fit for developers who want control over where workspaces run.

Who it's for

Fresh is best suited to developers who already work in a terminal and want per-task Git isolation, integrated terminals, and coding-agent support in one environment. It is particularly compelling for people reviewing changes at hunk level or switching among local and remote workspaces. Readers who want a traditional desktop IDE experience, or who do not need agent orchestration and task-specific worktrees, may be better served by a more conventional editor or IDE.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Each task gets its own Git worktree, tab, terminal, and agent, helping separate parallel development work.
• Pro: Hunk-level Git actions, side-by-side diffs, and exportable review notes support focused change review.
• Pro: Local, SSH, Kubernetes, and dev-container workspaces accommodate varied development environments.
• Pro: The free, open-source plan has no paid tiers or usage limits stated.
• Con: Fresh is designed to work alongside a full IDE, so it is not the clearest choice for someone seeking a standalone conventional IDE.
• Con: Telemetry is enabled by default, although it can be disabled through a command-line option or setting.

Alternatives

For a broader Rust-focused IDE, consider RustRover: its non-commercial plan is free for learning, self-education, qualifying open-source contributions, content creation, and hobby development. Zed is another free editor option, with a Personal plan that includes 2,000 accepted edit predictions and support for external agents or API keys. Choose Qt Creator if its Qt-oriented open-source option suits your work; use of the Qt framework is subject to LGPL/GPL obligations.

For other free editor and IDE options, see Rust IDEs and Text Editors. Huly Code is a free alternative. Kate, Lapce, CodeLite, and GNOME Builder are also alternatives for readers comparing free editors and IDEs.

Verdict

Choose Fresh if terminal-based development, coding agents, and careful Git review belong in the same workflow: its task-specific workspaces and free, open-source plan make that combination unusually direct. Look elsewhere if you want a conventional standalone IDE or do not need agent orchestration; Fresh’s strongest advantages are tied to that terminal-first model.