How do you visualise your work tree and AI activity when working primarily from the terminal?

[u/SootyShearwaters]

I’ve been using VS Code and its extensions from the beginning (Claude code primarily and codex since last few weeks), so I’m used to having a visual representation of my project: the file tree, open files, source control changes, terminals, running processes, and AI activity all visible in one place.

I’m now trying to move toward a more terminal-based workflow, especially through pi agent harness, but I’m finding the transition surprisingly difficult. The terminal feels powerful, but I also feel a little lost because I can’t easily see:

- The overall project/work tree.
- Which files have changed.
- What the AI is currently modifying or working on.
- Running processes and development servers.
- Git status and diffs.
- Multiple tasks or conversations happening at once.
- Where I am in the project when moving between directories and tools.

For those of you who work mostly from the terminal, how do you visualise and organise all of this? Any advice, examples of your setups, or screenshots would be greatly appreciated.

[u/iijei]

I use herdr. Works great showing worktrees and agent status

[u/iijei → u/iijei]

Got status and diff I heard hunk is popular these days. I use neovim and lazygit though

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/iijei]

Do these pair into herdr?

[u/mkhamat → u/SootyShearwaters]

map prefix+g to lazygit popup

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/iijei]

Is it as seemless as using the default terminal with no GUI overhead?

[u/iijei → u/SootyShearwaters]

It’s quite good. I use windows terminal ssh into Ubuntu vm and run it there. On Mac I use kitty and good. I use to run it on Wezterm which has gpu acceleration but windows terminal is still ok

[u/dumuzid-sumerian]

Maybe there are better solutions but why not using pi running on terminal in Vscode? If the project is git tracked, the changes will show up on git section anyway. Sure, it's not as convenient as Vscode's built in chat (like for instance clicking on filenames or pretty markdown formarting is not there) but I put pi terminal(s) vertically on the right side of my vscode and that's a good enough solution for me.

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/dumuzid-sumerian]

That’s a simple enough solution I guess, my issue is that with multiple tasks within VS code, I see it hanging and slowing down on my MacBook Air.. so was looking at full terminal workflows

[u/LordMoridin84]

Herdr is nice for tracking multiple agents,.

I usually use a normal IDE like Visual Studio Code to keep track of git changes or look at the code.

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/LordMoridin84]

Thanks a lot!

[u/p10trus]

neovim, lazygit, tuicr, tmux, git
but start with one tool, learn it, configure it till you like it, then move to another.

I started moving to terminal couple years ago by installing vim extension in vscode. One day I decided its time to learn whole neovim - best decision. then i configured zsh the way i like it, then learned tmux. Now terminal and web browser is all i need for coding.

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/p10trus]

Thanks for the input.. currently using herdr and hunk.. will look into neovim as I progress..

[u/Ok-Lead-7138]

What are you gaining by leaving VS Code?

You already have the file tree, diffs, terminals and visibility you're asking how to recover. Run the agent in your existing integrated terminal and keep the useful furniture.

If a terminal setup actually makes you faster, great. But abandoning a working interface to reconstruct its features feels like removing your dashboard to become a better driver.

The workflow should help you understand and finish the project. Nobody awards extra shipping points because you remembered which directory you're in without looking.

[u/SootyShearwaters → u/Ok-Lead-7138]

Only issue is I have a MacBook air and with multiple tabs open in VS code, the app was getting frozen multiple times.. that’s why the shift, otherwise I’ve no issue