Crystal for Claude Code: Nimbalyst is the Successor

For Crystal users

Crystal was the first GUI for managing multiple Claude Code sessions in parallel. Nimbalyst is the direct successor: same idea, more tools, and it works for both Claude Code and Codex. Every Crystal feature is here, plus a session kanban, visual editors for markdown, mockups, and diagrams, and an iOS companion app.

What changed

From Crystal to Nimbalyst

Crystal started as an internal tool to manage parallel Claude Code sessions with git worktrees. It worked so well we shipped it publicly and called it the first Integrated Vibe Environment (IVE). Nimbalyst is what that idea grew into: a full visual workspace for building with Claude Code and Codex.

Everything Crystal did

Run multiple Claude Code sessions in parallel
Isolate each session in its own git worktree
Resume any session with full conversation history
Review diffs and run build/test scripts per session
Rebase, squash, and inspect git state without leaving the app

What Nimbalyst adds

Codex support alongside Claude Code
Session kanban board with backlog → complete phases
Visual editors for markdown, mockups, diagrams, and data models
Inline AI diffs you can approve or reject in any file
Task tracker and integrated planning docs
iOS companion app for monitoring sessions on the go

Crystal workflows

The Crystal use cases, now first-class in Nimbalyst

If you used Crystal to work this way, Nimbalyst supports the same patterns, with better visibility and review tools.

Several passes at a hard problem

Launch the same prompt across multiple isolated sessions, compare the outcomes in the files sidebar, and keep the winner. Each session lives in its own git worktree so they never collide.

Work multiple features at once

Ship feature A while reviewing feature B. With the kanban board you can see which session is waiting for input vs. still running.

Idea generation

Run multiple "explore my codebase and suggest improvements" prompts in parallel. Keep the good ideas as tracker items and drop the rest.

UX experimentation

Spin up several "improve the look of..." sessions, then review the mockup and diff in the visual editors without leaving the app.

Crystal FAQ

Is Crystal still maintained?

The original Crystal project is no longer actively developed. The same team built Nimbalyst as the successor so all the Crystal work goes somewhere that continues to grow.

How do I switch from Crystal to Nimbalyst?

Download Nimbalyst, point it at your project folder, and your Claude Code sessions and git worktrees appear in the session list. There is no migration step. Nimbalyst uses the same Claude Code CLI under the hood.

Does Nimbalyst support Codex too?

Yes. Nimbalyst supports Claude Code (Anthropic) and Codex (OpenAI). You can run Claude Code and Codex sessions side by side in the same workspace.

Is Nimbalyst free?

Yes. Nimbalyst is free for individual use with no feature limits.

Nimbalyst: the open-source visual workspace for building with Codex, Claude Code, and more

Download Nimbalyst

Free for individuals. Works with your existing Claude Code or Codex subscription or API key.

Nimbalyst Teams is multiplayer. Your whole team, Codex, and Claude Code in one shared workspace.