Desktop and web UI
caretta provides two interactive UI modes: a native desktop app and a local web server variant. Both render the same interface.
Desktop mode
Launch desktop UI:
Desktop layout
The desktop experience is split into:
Sidebar: agent/model selection, workflow actions, tracker/issues/PR controls, and related configuration.
Editor panel tabs:
Agent Output
Files
Personas
Security
Interview
Chat
Discovery
The Discovery tab is a framing workspace: capture the problem, stakeholders, assumptions, and constraints once, then reuse that context across discovery, planning, and review workflows.
Personas
The Personas tab manages persistent persona JSON files used by UXR workflows. By default, caretta resolves persona storage next to the effective user_personas skill file.
Security
The Security tab runs a scan of the project and lists findings inline. Start a scan from the Security Review action in the sidebar.
Chat
The Chat tab is a free-form conversation with the agent — ask questions or get help without starting a workflow.
Web mode
Serve the embedded web app over HTTP:
Default address is http://127.0.0.1:8080.
Custom port example:
Development helper script
When working from source, scripts/agent.sh offers convenience wrappers:
UI operation tips
Use Follow in event output when you want live scrolling.
Use Expand All to inspect collapsed reasoning/tool output blocks.
Use Stop to request cancellation of active runs.
Switch themes from title bar dropdown in desktop mode.
When to choose desktop vs web
Use desktop when you need local file persistence integration and full panel interactions with OS keychain-backed storage.
Use web when you want lightweight browser access to the same project workflows from a local machine context.