Axel

Axel: The Ultimate Accelerated Task Manager for Mac

In the modern development landscape, efficiency is defined by how effectively a developer can orchestrate multiple AI agents and complex workflows. Axel is a native, high-performance Accelerated Task Manager for Mac designed to streamline this orchestration. Built for macOS, iOS, and visionOS, Axel provides a unified interface to manage tasks, agents, and permissions without breaking your flow.

What's Axel?

Axel is a comprehensive task management ecosystem that acts as a bridge between the developer and various AI agents. It is an Accelerated Task Manager for Mac that allows users to queue complex tasks and dispatch them to specific agents such as Claude, Codex, OpenCode, and Antigravity. Unlike standard task managers, Axel is built with a deep understanding of developer workflows, featuring native integration with terminal multiplexers like tmux and iTerm2, and a robust permission system that ensures you stay in control of every file edit and command execution.

Key Features of the Accelerated Task Manager

Advanced Task Queue

The core of Axel is its Task Queue. This feature allows you to add multiple tasks to a centralized list and pick exactly which agent runs each one.

• Parallel Execution: Watch multiple tasks execute simultaneously across different agents.
• Dynamic Reordering: Use drag-and-drop functionality to change priorities on the fly without needing to restart the process.
• Keyboard-Centric Interface: Axel is built for speed, offering keyboard shortcuts for creating new panes, dispatching tasks, reordering the queue, or killing processes instantly.

Portable Skills and Configuration

Axel simplifies the management of agent capabilities through Portable Skills.

• Centralized Skills: Store your skill files in ~/.config/axel/skills. Axel automatically symlinks them to the correct location for each agent upon launch.
• AXEL.md Layouts: Define your entire project workspace—including panes, skills, and grid positions—within a single AXEL.md file using YAML frontmatter.
• Git Integration: Use commands like axel -w feat/auth to instantly spawn a git worktree and a tmux session for a specific branch.

Centralized Approval Inbox

Safety and transparency are paramount when working with autonomous agents. Axel includes a dedicated Inbox where you can approve or deny every action an agent takes.

• Request Context: View full details for every request, including file paths, diff previews, and command arguments.
• Granular Control: Approve or deny file edits, command executions, and API calls from one unified interface.
• Auto-Approve Rules: Set specific rules to automatically handle repetitive, low-risk tasks like read-only operations or small edits below a certain token threshold.
• Native Notifications: Receive macOS notifications the moment an agent is blocked and waiting for your approval.

Native Performance and Tracking

Axel is a SwiftUI app designed specifically for the Apple ecosystem.

• Multi-Platform: Available on macOS, iOS, and visionOS.
• Token & Cost Tracking: Keep a close eye on your budget with real-time tracking of input/output tokens and USD costs per task and session.
• Persistence: With tmux and iTerm2 support, sessions persist even if you close your terminal. You can reattach and continue your work at any time.

Use Case Scenarios

Multi-Agent Software Development

A developer can use the Axel Accelerated Task Manager for Mac to refactor a codebase. They might dispatch a complex logic refactor to Claude, while simultaneously tasking OpenCode with writing unit tests. By using the Task Queue, the developer can monitor both agents, approve their file edits via the Inbox, and ensure the project architecture remains consistent.

Automated Workspace Setup

When starting a new feature branch, a developer can use the command axel -w [branch-name]. Axel will automatically create the git worktree, launch a tmux session, and apply the layout defined in the AXEL.md file, including all necessary agent skills and pane arrangements. This reduces setup time from minutes to seconds.

Security-Conscious AI Orchestration

For projects involving sensitive data, Axel ensures that nothing runs without approval. A developer can review the exact diff of a proposed change to a middleware.ts file or check the arguments of a pnpm test command before allowing the agent to proceed, preventing unintended side effects or data leaks.

FAQ

Q: Which AI agents are compatible with Axel? A: Axel works seamlessly with Claude, Codex, OpenCode, and Antigravity. You can use the same queue to dispatch different tasks to the agent best suited for the specific job.

Q: Does Axel require a specific terminal? A: Axel integrates with tmux and iTerm2. This allows sessions to persist, meaning you can close your terminal and reattach to your active agent sessions later without losing progress.

Q: How does Axel handle agent permissions? A: Every file edit and command requires explicit permission via the Inbox. However, you can streamline your workflow by setting Auto-approve rules for read-only operations or minor edits under a specific token count.

Q: Is there a way to track the cost of using AI agents in Axel? A: Yes, Axel includes built-in Token + cost tracking. You can see the cumulative totals for both input and output tokens, as well as the actual USD cost per task and per session.

Q: What is the purpose of the AXEL.md file? A: The AXEL.md file uses YAML frontmatter and Markdown to define project-specific layouts. It allows you to configure panes, skills, and grid positions in a single file, making your development environment reproducible and portable.