Developer anesthetised has released acplause, an experimental Agent Client Protocol (ACP) v2 agent that connects code editors directly to any OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions API. The tool, which defaults to OpenRouter but supports custom base URLs, operates over stdio to facilitate seamless communication between the editor and the model backend. While currently in an early stage, the project emphasizes streaming text, reasoning capabilities, and robust tool execution within the developer's workspace.

Protocol Compliance and Features

Acplause strictly adheres to the pinned ACP v2 specification, validated against the schema in testdata/schema/v2. It distinguishes itself by supporting live bash terminal output with bounded snapshots for session replay, a critical feature for debugging agent actions. The agent implements a permission-based system that requires user approval before modifying files or executing commands, ensuring that autonomous actions do not inadvertently corrupt the workspace. Additionally, it supports structured user questions on clients that advertise ACP form elicitation, allowing for more interactive and guided development workflows.

Installation and Configuration

Users can install acplause via Homebrew, Go, or prebuilt release archives for macOS and Linux on arm64 and amd64 architectures. The Homebrew formula builds the tagged source locally, requiring Go as a build dependency, which avoids the need for a paid Apple Developer ID certificate. Configuration is straightforward: set the ACPLAUSE_API_KEY environment variable and optionally define ACPLAUSE_BASE_URL to point to a local or alternative provider. The tool includes diagnostic commands like acplause doctor to verify local configuration and check provider model catalogs, ensuring the environment is ready before the first prompt.

Session Management and Persistence

A standout feature of acplause is its robust session management. Sessions survive application restarts and can be moved between different editor windows, providing continuity for long-running tasks. The agent supports session list, resume, close, and delete operations, giving developers granular control over their context. Furthermore, it implements per-session Plan/Build modes with enforced tool restrictions, allowing users to switch between high-level planning and low-level execution while maintaining context integrity. The /compact command enables on-demand summarization of older model context, helping to manage token usage effectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Acplause is an experimental ACP v2 agent that bridges editors and OpenAI-compatible APIs via stdio.
  • It supports live bash terminal output, session persistence, and permission-based file modifications.
  • Installation options include Homebrew, Go, and prebuilt binaries for macOS and Linux.
  • The tool defaults to OpenRouter but allows custom base URLs for local or alternative providers.
  • Features include Plan/Build modes, structured user questions, and context compaction commands.

The Bottom Line

Acplause represents a significant step toward standardizing agent-editor interactions through ACP v2, though its experimental status and lack of Apple notarization warrant caution for production use. The focus on session persistence and permission-based execution addresses key pain points in current AI-assisted coding workflows. Developers should monitor the project's release notes for breaking changes, as calendar versions do not promise compatibility.