Two things are required regardless of how you run Orkestra: Git and an AI agent CLI (Claude Code or OpenCode). The rest depends on whether you’re using the desktop app or building from source.
Desktop App (Default)
The Orkestra desktop app is the recommended way to get started. Download and install it from the GitHub Releases page. No Rust or Node.js required.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| macOS, Windows, or Linux | Orkestra ships platform-specific builds for all three. macOS 10.15+, Windows 10+, and major Linux distributions are supported. |
| Git | Must be installed and on PATH. Orkestra uses git worktrees — each Trak runs in an isolated branch and directory. |
| Claude Code or OpenCode | At least one must be installed, on PATH, and authenticated. See Agent CLIs below. |
ork CLI (Build from Source)
If you prefer the terminal or want to build the binary yourself:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Rust (latest stable) | Required to compile the binary. Install via rustup.rs. |
| Git | Same as above. |
| Claude Code or OpenCode | Same as above. |
Node.js and pnpm are not required for CLI-only builds — they are only needed when building the full desktop app from source.
Agent CLIs
Orkestra spawns AI agents as subprocesses. The binary must be on PATH and authenticated before you run Orkestra.
Claude Code (default) — invoked as claude. Install at claude.ai/code. Authentication uses OAuth; run claude once and follow the login prompt.
OpenCode — invoked as opencode. Install at opencode.ai. Follow OpenCode’s auth setup instructions.
You only need one. The default workflow uses Claude Code. To use OpenCode, set the model field in your workflow.yaml — see Agents for configuration details.
Verify Your Setup
Before installing Orkestra, confirm the requirements are in place:
git --version # Git is installed
claude --version # Claude Code is installed
# or
opencode --version # OpenCode is installed
Constraints
PATH must be set correctly. Agent CLIs must be on PATH in the environment where Orkestra runs. If you installed claude via a version manager, ensure the shell that launches Orkestra picks it up. The desktop app uses your login shell’s PATH on macOS and Linux, so GUI-launched apps should resolve it correctly.
Your project must be a Git repository. Running ork trak create in a directory without a Git repo will fail. Run git init first if needed.
One agent is enough. You do not need both Claude Code and OpenCode. Install whichever you plan to use.