Project OS is a free setup that turns Claude Code and Codex into a small, disciplined dev team: a PM role that writes tasks, a developer that makes changes, a QA role that checks them, and you approving anything that touches Git. Progress lives in files, so a new session picks up exactly where the last one stopped.
Project OS at a glance
Price | Free (MIT) |
|---|---|
Works with | Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, or both |
Requirements | Node.js 22+; no npm packages |
Roles | PM, Developer, QA, Reviewer, plus security review when needed |
How it works
The PM role records decisions, writes tasks and assigns work.
The Developer role makes the change; only one writer works in a repository at a time.
QA checks the result against the task's acceptance criteria before it comes back to you.
Security and QA share a limit of two failed review cycles. A third failure needs a new plan and your approval, which stops runaway review loops.
Approving code doesn't approve a commit, push or deployment. Each needs its own sign-off.
How to install
Clone the repository and run node scripts/init.mjs with --target, --runtime (claude, codex or both) and --name for your project. The target folder must be new: the installer doesn't touch existing repositories or your global client settings. Then open the folder in your client and ask it to read START.md. Add --example to generate a sample project first.
What to know
It sets up new projects; it doesn't retrofit an existing repo.
It's a workflow, not an app, so you still need Claude Code or Codex subscriptions.
Our take
The hardest part of letting agents build software isn't the code, it's keeping them from looping, overreaching or committing things you didn't approve. Project OS bakes those guardrails into plain files both Claude and Codex understand. A smart, lightweight starting point if you've had an agent go rogue on you.
Project OS alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch between Claude Code and Codex?
Yes, between steps, since both use the same planning files.
Will it change my existing repo?
No. The installer only writes to a new target folder.
As featured in World of AI
DeepSeek puts its whole app into the API (Nov 13, 2026)
Facts checked against the official Project OS repository on November 13, 2026.
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