OpenWork

Overview

OpenWork is an open-source desktop application and workflow platform that serves as "the open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and Codex." Developed by different-ai and powered by OpenCode, OpenWork lets users create AI workflows once and reuse the same skills, MCPs, and connected services across tools, teammates, and machines.

With 17,400+ GitHub stars in its first days of launch, OpenWork is rapidly establishing itself as the leading open ecosystem for multi-agent workflow orchestration. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

OpenWork represents a significant shift: where Cowork was previously a closed Anthropic offering, OpenWork brings the same workflow-sharing, skills-marketplace paradigm to the open-source community.

Features

• Workflow Sharing: Define AI workflows once; share with teammates and reuse across different AI tools (Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, Pi, etc.)
• Desktop Application: Dedicated cross-platform workspace with agent-native setup — install via prompt like "Install OpenWork on my computer"
• MCP Integration: One OpenWork MCP connects to any compatible agent at https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent
• OpenWork Den: Control plane for managing OpenWork deployments across a team or organization
• Enterprise Inference: Provisions inference at scale for team usage
• Skills & Plugin Marketplace: Publish and discover skills, MCPs, and plugins from the community
• Agent-Native Installation: No manual setup — AI agents install and configure OpenWork for you

Installation

Option 1: Desktop Download

Download from openworklabs.com for macOS, Windows, or Linux.

Option 2: AI Agent Installation

Ask your AI agent:

Install OpenWork on my computer, set up my first workspace, and open it ready to use

Option 3: MCP-Only (No Desktop)

Connect OpenWork to your existing agent via MCP at:

https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent

Quick Start

1. Install OpenWork via desktop download or AI agent prompt
2. Create a workflow — define skills, MCPs, and connected services in a single workspace
3. Share the workspace — teammates can import and use the same workflow in their own AI tools
4. Connect via MCP — add one OpenWork MCP to Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, or any compatible agent

Core Concepts

• Workspace: A self-contained collection of skills, MCPs, and connected services. Workspaces are portable and shareable.
• Workflow: A reusable sequence of agent actions that can be triggered and reused across tools.
• OpenWork Den: The organizational management layer — handles provisioning, access control, and inference scaling.
• Marketplace: A publishing platform for skills and plugins, enabling community-driven workflow extension.

Examples

Cross-Tool Skill Sharing

A developer defines a "code-review" skill in OpenWork. That skill is immediately available in Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor — no reconfiguration needed.

Team Workflow Deployment

An organization uses OpenWork Den to provision a shared "security-review" workflow. Every developer on the team has access to the same pipeline in their preferred AI tool.

Pros

• ✅ Open-source alternative to Claude Cowork
• ✅ Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux)
• ✅ Works across multiple AI tools via MCP
• ✅ Enterprise-ready with OpenWork Den control plane
• ✅ Agent-native installation — no manual setup
• ✅ Skills and MCP marketplace

Cons

• ❌ New project (early-stage)
• ❌ Workspace app optional but recommended — adds friction for headless users
• ❌ Marketplace ecosystem still building out
• ❌ Dependent on OpenWork API for remote MCP connectivity

When to Use

OpenWork is ideal for:

• Teams that want a Cowork-like workflow platform without vendor lock-in
• Multi-tool users who work across Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, and other AI agents
• Organizations that need centralized skill and workflow management
• Open-source advocates who want a community-driven alternative to closed agent platforms

Resources

• Official Website
• GitHub Repository
• MCP Endpoint