Kaku Puts Claude Code and Codex Side by Side in a Single Terminal

Hey everyone, I'm Brother Er.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have Claude Code running on the left side of a terminal window and Codex on the right, with both agents working for us simultaneously?

Recently, I discovered a new AI terminal called Kaku.

It's really great to use, and I recommend everyone give it a try.

I like both the dark and light modes.

Personally, aside from handling some images and videos where I'm used to Codex or Claude's desktop Agent, I prefer to stay in the terminal for everything else.

In coding scenarios, I hardly review code anymore now, so I basically don't touch IDE tools.

01. Installing Kaku

Two installation methods: download the DMG from the official website and drag it into the Applications folder, or use a single Homebrew command:

brew install tw93/tap/kaku

Kaku is written in Rust, deeply customized based on WezTerm, and starts up instantly.

It's under the MIT license and completely free.

After installation, it looks very geek-chic.

Press the enter key to configure.

After authorizing the installation, the font, color scheme, and zsh plugins are all pre-configured: JetBrains Mono font, macOS native rendering.

Those who have used iTerm2 know that its power is built up through configuration—after installation, you pick a color scheme, choose a font, and set up Oh My Zsh. Kaku's approach is the opposite: it makes these decisions for you in advance, and does so with good taste. If you want to change things, kaku config opens a configuration TUI where you can adjust transparency, fonts, and shortcuts.

Next, enter kaku ai to configure the Codex/Claude Code models. Authentication supports codex login.

02. Kaku AI

After configuration, use the shortcut command + L to enter AI mode.

Press shift + tab to quickly switch models.

Type @ in the input box, and Kaku will display:

• @cwd: Attach the current project overview.
• @tab: Attach the current terminal screen.
• @selection: Attach the terminal text selected before entering AI mode.

Prompt:

@cwd First, scan the current project.

Please complete:
1. Determine the project type, core directories, and entry files.
2. Explain the relationships between the main modules.
3. Find the build, test, and local startup methods.
4. List the 10 most worthwhile files to read first, and explain why.

This round is read-only; do not modify any files. Conclusions must be based on actual files and command results.

Or, first select error text in the terminal, then press Cmd + L:

@selection Analyze this error.

Locate the root cause; do not just explain the surface error.
Check the relevant configuration and source code in the current project, and provide a minimal fix.
Do not modify files in this round.

If there are many errors, you can use @tab Check the current terminal output and find the root cause of the last command failure. instead.

Kaku AI is well-suited for terminal error analysis, project understanding, code review, and small to medium bug fixes.

For large cross-module changes, long-duration autonomous development, or complete Git/PR workflows, the full Codex CLI or Claude Code is more appropriate.

Besides AI, it also has essential tools for terminal veterans built right in:

① Lazygit, summoned with Cmd+Shift+G, for fully visual staging, committing, branching, and rebasing—no need to memorize git commands.

② Yazi file manager, opened with Cmd+Shift+Y, also written in Rust, with fast image and code previews.

③ z proj-style directory jumping: type a fragment of a directory name you've visited before to jump there, no need to cd layer by layer.

④ Cmd+Opt+I broadcast input: type once, and all split panes execute simultaneously. It's very satisfying when managing multiple servers or directing multiple agents at once.

⑤ SSH remote file mounting: browse files on a remote machine directly in your local file manager.

I've organized the commonly used shortcuts into a table, which I recommend bookmarking:

Action	Shortcut
New Tab / Split Right	Cmd+T / Cmd+D
AI Chat Panel	Cmd+L
Paste AI Fix Command	Cmd+Shift+E
Lazygit / Yazi	Cmd+Shift+G / Cmd+Shift+Y
Find Tabs and Panes	Cmd+Shift+O
Broadcast Input to All Panes	Cmd+Opt+I
Switch AI Model	Shift+Tab
Settings Panel	Cmd+,

03. Kaku Case

Cmd+D to split left and right: start Claude Code on the left; start Codex on the right.

Feed the same prompt to both sides, letting the two strongest current agents duel live in the same terminal.

Prompt:

You are a senior Creative Frontend Engineer and Interaction Designer.

Please implement a "Pluckable Chinese Character Beaded Curtain Digital Artifact Exhibition" website from scratch in the current directory.

Reference effect:
- GitHub: https://github.com/aigc17/Chinese-PhoenixCrown
- Online demo: https://chinese-phoenixcrown.vercel.app

The reference project is only for understanding the interaction principle and visual direction. Please implement independently, without directly copying its source code, brand name, copy, or image assets.

I. Overall Goal

Create a full-screen immersive digital exhibition:

- Midnight blue-black background with an extremely light paper or lacquer texture.
- The center of the page displays a PNG of a traditional Chinese artifact with a transparent background.
- A large number of Chinese character beaded curtains naturally drape down from the bottom contour of the artifact.
- When the mouse or touch pointer brushes over the character curtain, the character chains are parted, swing, and rebound.
- The faster the pointer moves, the greater the character swing amplitude.
- Generate slight cloth friction sounds and metal wind chime sounds via the Web Audio API when plucked.
- Support two views: Scene (single artifact exhibition) and Gallery (three artifacts display).
- Use smooth shared-element/magic-move transitions when switching artifacts and views.

The prompt is very long; due to space constraints, I will share the full version on the tech forum later.

Codex took 15 minutes.

Let's look at the final effect.

Isn't it very cool?

Here's another tip for reverse-engineering prompts: give Codex the effect you want for a case, and let it help you work backward.

04. Ending

One thing to note: Kaku currently only supports macOS. It already has 5.6k stars on GitHub, and the official guide is here:

https://kaku.fun/docs/guide

In the past, coding was mainly done in an IDE, but with the evolution of Codex and Claude Code, the terminal has become a substitute.

Basically, as long as my computer isn't shut down, the terminal is always open. So it's worth taking it seriously for once.

[A tool's quality isn't measured by how amazing it is, but by how you forget it's there as you use it, blending seamlessly into your daily work.]

I suggest friends who like to hang out in the terminal spend 3 minutes installing it to try. Keep it if it fits your hand, delete it if not—it's free anyway.

See you next time.