FocusFork

Free & open source · macOS, Windows, Linux

Open source contributions, without the tab maze.

FocusFork is a free, open-source desktop app for the path from GitHub issue → local branch → pull request: discovery, fork & clone, a built-in editor and terminal, and AI that knows which issue you are on. Bring your own AI key — no account or subscription required.

Coming soon — Get notifiedSee the product →View sourcev0.1.0 · Apache 2.0
FocusFork
Backend synced
Discover
Find issues that match your skills and time
Search issues by keyword, language, or label…
TypeScriptgood first issuebug
vercel/next.js#58421
Fix hydration mismatch in app router
buggood first issueTypeScript
facebook/react#29103
Add aria-description support to Tooltip
accessibilitygood first issueJavaScript
tailwindlabs/tailwindcss#14207
Support container queries in JIT mode
enhancementTypeScript
denoland/deno#21455
Improve error message for missing permissions
good first issuedxRust

The problem

Contributing should not feel like project management.

Most developers want to help on open source. The friction is coordination—remembering which repo, which issue, which branch, and which AI chat was about this fix.

×Twelve GitHub tabs for the issue, fork, clone instructions, and PR template.
✓One desktop session that remembers the repo, issue, and branch you are on.
×Generic ChatGPT thread with no idea which files you actually changed.
✓Agent context tied to the open issue, file tree, and git status in that repo.
×Accidental push to upstream because the terminal history was from another project.
✓Approval gate before fork, clone, commit, push, and PR—every time.

What you get

Built for the contribution loop, not another chat window.

⌕
Discover with intent
Search issues by language, labels, and repo scope. Save candidates, read the thread in context, and run an AI fit check before you invest an evening.
⚙
Edit here or in your IDE
A built-in editor with tabs, file tree, and a real terminal for quick fixes — or one click to open the repo in VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf while FocusFork keeps issue context and git state beside you.
✦
Agent with guardrails
Summarize issues, map likely files, draft commit messages, and shape PR descriptions. Destructive git operations wait for an explicit approve or reject.
↗
Ship and show the work
Commit, push with upstream, open the PR, and log the contribution to a timeline you can point to in interviews or on your profile.

Workflow

Four steps you can finish in a weekend.

Screens show the next action. AI helps when you ask—it does not drive the car.

01
Pick an issue that matches your week
Filter good-first issues, inspect labels and activity, and ask the agent whether the scope fits your skills and time.
02
Fork and clone with confirmation
FocusFork prepares the fork and local folder. You approve before anything touches GitHub or your disk.
03
Edit locally, chat with context
Use the workspace file tree, embedded terminal, and issue-aware agent while you code in the IDE you already trust.
04
Commit, push, open the PR
Generate a conventional message, push the branch, and file the pull request without leaving the guided flow.

Architecture

Six agents, one job each.

FocusFork splits the workflow across purpose-built agents instead of one model trying to do everything. Half call an LLM for judgment calls; the rest are deterministic checks that never touch a model.

AUTOMATED
Discover
Searches issues by language and label, forks the repo, and clones it locally. Wraps the GitHub API directly—no model in the loop.
AI-POWERED
Fit Check
Reads the issue and repo, summarizes what’s being asked, and flags likely files and risks before you commit an evening.
AI-POWERED
Chat
The in-app conversation. Proposes file edits with full context of the issue, open files, and current git state.
AI-POWERED
Code Review
Reviews every diff for bugs, security issues, and style drift—and can hard-block a commit until they’re addressed.
AI-POWERED
Ship
Drafts the commit message, commits, pushes the branch, opens the PR, and tracks its status until merged.
AUTOMATED
Reviewer
Runs continuously in the background, confirming auth, clone, and branch state before the next step is allowed to start. Pure logic, no model.
PRINCIPLES

What we refuse to ship.

—No paywall on the core product. Bring your own API key and every feature works — forever, no account needed.
—No hidden client. The desktop app is open source (Apache 2.0), so you can read exactly what touches your repos and keys.
—No silent git writes. If it changes remotes or history, you confirm it.
—No key harvesting. Your API key is encrypted with your OS keychain and only ever sent to your chosen provider.

“I built FocusFork because my first OSS PRs wasted hours on context switching—not on code.”

Atikur Satter Mondal
@atikur0786 · solo builder

Pricing

Free forever with your own key.

Every feature works with your own AI provider key — no account, no quota, no catch. Prefer not to manage keys? Optional Pro and Max subscriptions give you built-in models, managed from Usage & Billing in the app.

Compare plans →

Coming soon

The desktop app is almost ready.

Free and open source builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Sign up to get notified when the first release is live.

Get notified

Contact

Bug, idea, or partnership?

Send a note with what you were trying to do. Replies go to email—include your OS and app version if something broke.