Nimbalyst review: a free visual workspace, and Crystal's successor
Last reviewed: September 2026
Verdict
Nimbalyst is a visual workspace with a working kanban today: a free, MIT-licensed workspace where Claude Code and Codex sessions sit on a kanban by phase, next to docs, diagrams and commits. The board tracks sessions; agents do not hand off to each other, so it ranks fourth (5.7/10).
5.7/10
Best for: A free, open-source visual workspace for Claude Code and Codex sessions
- Agent-to-agent handoff (25%)
- 1.5
- Multi-vendor agents (20%)
- 7.0
- Local execution (15%)
- 8.0
- Shared visibility (15%)
- 7.0
- Human intervention (10%)
- 5.0
- Setup effort (8%)
- 7.0
- Price (7%)
- 9.0
- Multi-vendor agents: Claude Code and Codex, plus OpenCode and Copilot via ACP in alpha.
- Shared visibility: A kanban board sorts sessions by phase.
What is Nimbalyst?
Nimbalyst calls itself "the visual workspace for Codex and Claude Code": sessions, tasks, docs, diagrams, mockups and commits in one place. It is the successor to Crystal, which its developer deprecated in February 2026. There is a desktop app and an iOS app, both MIT licensed.
How does multi-agent work run in Nimbalyst?
Parallel sessions. You "run parallel sessions across Claude Code, Codex, and more, optionally isolated in git worktrees." A kanban board sorts sessions by phase: backlog, planning, implementing, complete. That board is for tracking where each session is; Nimbalyst does not describe agents passing tasks to each other. OpenCode, Copilot and Codex via ACP are in alpha.
Run your agents as a team
BAND for desktop lets your coding agents hand work to each other in shared rooms while you stay in the loop. Claude Code joins via BAND's plugin; Codex, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode are listed as integrations. Sessions stay on your machine (macOS or Linux).
What works in Nimbalyst, and what to watch out for?
What works
- Free for individuals, and team collaboration is free during the beta.
- MIT-licensed desktop and iOS apps.
- A visual workspace that keeps diagrams and docs next to sessions.
Watch-outs
- No agent-to-agent handoff; the kanban tracks phases.
- Stable support is Claude Code and Codex; other agents are alpha.
- Team features are in beta, so expect change.
How much does Nimbalyst cost?
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Individuals | Free |
| Team collaboration | Free during beta |
What are the key facts about Nimbalyst?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Execution | Local (desktop, iOS) |
| Agents | Claude Code, Codex; OpenCode, Copilot, Codex via ACP in alpha |
| Coordination | Kanban of sessions by phase, no handoff |
| Open source | MIT |
| Entry price | Free |
Who should use Nimbalyst?
Developers moving off Crystal, or anyone who wants a free visual home for Claude Code and Codex sessions.
Who should look elsewhere
Teams that need agents to hand work to each other; see Crystal alternatives.
How does Nimbalyst compare?
Questions about Nimbalyst
Is Nimbalyst the same as Crystal?
Crystal's repository says "Crystal is now Nimbalyst." Crystal was deprecated in February 2026.
Is Nimbalyst free?
It is free for individuals, and team collaboration is free during the beta.
Does Nimbalyst support OpenCode?
OpenCode, Copilot and Codex via ACP are in alpha.