The operating environment for autonomous engineering.
Ask for the change. Watch it get written. Get the proof it works.
An AI editor built on VS Code. Its agent writes the change, runs your tests and opens your app before it says done, and your keys never leave your Mac.
Describe the change.Watch it get built.Keep what is proven.
An AI editor built on VS Code that proves every change.
Works with what you already use
ClaudeHaiku 4.5, Sonnet 5.5, Opus 5.5
GPTWith your own OpenAI key
MCP serversFrom .vscode/mcp.json
GitHubCommit and PR text written
GitA worktree per agent
VS Code extensionsFrom Open VSX
Node and npmpackage.json scripts as proof
Pythonpytest as proof
Your terminalSandboxed, risky ones ask- Models on your MacOllama and Qwen3, offline
Your editor, one window.
The agent, the proof, three tries at once and every request it sent, all inside the VS Code you know.
Watch it write. Keep what you like. The file opens as the agent works: removed lines turn red and go, new code types itself in, green. Each file it touched waits for Keep or Undo. Cmd+K changes the code you selected, in place, and Tab finishes the line you are typing.
From the ask to the proof.
One request, start to finish, with nothing to copy and paste and nothing to check by hand.
An AI that guesses, or one that proves.
−Most AI editors: Says done before anything has run
+starnode: Runs your tests, type checker and linter first
−Most AI editors: You find the broken test later
+starnode: Opens your app and takes screenshots
−Most AI editors: Your keys go out with your code
+starnode: Keys swapped for stand-ins before anything is sent
−Most AI editors: Commands run on your whole computer
+starnode: Commands run in a sandbox, risky ones ask you
One agent, everywhere you work.
Whichever way you ask, the same agent answers, inside the same walls, and leaves the same proof.
Claude, GPT, free models, or one on your Mac
- Chat panel
- Cmd+K inline edit
- Tab autocomplete
- Background agents
- Proof report
- Replay of the build
- Keep or Undo
- Commit and pull request
Sandbox: your project only, no network, no keys
Not just another AI editor.
Everything you expect from an AI editor, plus the parts that make its work safe to keep.
| starnode | Most AI editors | Chat in a browser | By hand | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writes and edits code in your project | Edits in place, each file with Keep or Undo | Edits in place | Copy and paste | You type it | ||
| Runs your tests before it says done | Tests, type checker and linter, every time | If you ask | No | You run them | ||
| Opens your app and takes screenshots | Starts your app, screenshots each page | Rarely | No | You | ||
| Keys swapped out before anything is sent | REDACTED_SECRET stand-ins, on your Mac | Not built in | No | Nothing is sent | ||
| Commands run in a sandbox | Your project folder only, no network | Varies | Not applicable | Your whole computer | ||
| The price of every answer, shown | Model, cost and why, on every answer | Rarely | A monthly plan | Your hours | ||
| Models on your Mac, offline | Ollama, set up for you | Some | No | Not applicable | ||
Writes and edits code in your project
- starnode
- Edits in place, each file with Keep or Undo
- Most AI editors
- Edits in place
- Chat in a browser
- Copy and paste
- By hand
- You type it
Runs your tests before it says done
- starnode
- Tests, type checker and linter, every time
- Most AI editors
- If you ask
- Chat in a browser
- No
- By hand
- You run them
Opens your app and takes screenshots
- starnode
- Starts your app, screenshots each page
- Most AI editors
- Rarely
- Chat in a browser
- No
- By hand
- You
Keys swapped out before anything is sent
- starnode
- REDACTED_SECRET stand-ins, on your Mac
- Most AI editors
- Not built in
- Chat in a browser
- No
- By hand
- Nothing is sent
Commands run in a sandbox
- starnode
- Your project folder only, no network
- Most AI editors
- Varies
- Chat in a browser
- Not applicable
- By hand
- Your whole computer
The price of every answer, shown
- starnode
- Model, cost and why, on every answer
- Most AI editors
- Rarely
- Chat in a browser
- A monthly plan
- By hand
- Your hours
Models on your Mac, offline
- starnode
- Ollama, set up for you
- Most AI editors
- Some
- Chat in a browser
- No
- By hand
- Not applicable
Who starnode is for.
Solo founders
Ship like a small team: background agents work while you do, and Try it 3 ways hands one task to three models.
- Background agents
- Three ways at once
- Proof on every change
Small teams
One workspace for everyone, a shared credit pool, and live editing with everyone's cursor in their colour.
- Shared workspaces
- Team credit with caps
- Live editing
Privacy-first companies
Keys are swapped out before anything leaves, protected files are never read, and every request is listed word for word.
- Secrets kept back
- Protected files
- Your own API keys
Try it yourself.
These run the editor's own rules, right here in your browser.
starnode wants to run these checks in the open folder:
- Tests:
npm test: vitest run - Type check:
npm run typecheck: tsc --noEmit - Start the app with
npm run devand take screenshots of/,/loginand a short recording, then stop it
Simple, fair pricing.
Free in the beta. Teams get shared credit and a workspace of their own.
What it gives you back
Live ROI AnalysisChanges the agent makes for you each week
Minutes of checking each change no longer needs
What an hour of your time is worth
20 changes × 12 min × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months = 17.3 h
A rough estimate from your numbers: the checking that starnode's proof does for you.
Developer Beta
$0 / invite-only beta
- The starnode editor for Mac, built on VS Code
- Claude Haiku 4.5, Sonnet 5.5 and Opus 5.5 within a 5-hour and a weekly limit
- Secrets swapped for stand-ins before anything leaves your Mac
- Free models that run on your Mac with Ollama, offline
Teams
Custom / talk to us
- Shared workspaces with owners, members and guests
- A team credit pool, with a monthly cap per member
- Live editing together, everyone's cursor in their colour
- Invites by email, with a one-time code
Questions.
Is it really VS Code?
Yes. starnode is built on VS Code, so your extensions (from Open VSX), shortcuts, terminal and git work as before, and the first sign-in can bring your settings over from VS Code or Cursor.
What does the proof actually run?
Your project's own checks: its tests, type checker and linter, or the commands in .starnode/proof.json. For a web app it starts the app and takes screenshots. With no tests, it checks the files it changed and runs your program for a few seconds.
Does my code train anyone's models?
No. Hosted models are not allowed to train on what you send, except the few labelled as such. Keys and passwords are swapped for stand-ins before anything leaves your Mac.
Which models can I use?
Claude Haiku, Sonnet and Opus hosted by starnode, free models every day, your own Anthropic or OpenAI key, or a model that runs on your Mac with Ollama.
What does it cost?
Nothing during the beta, within a 5-hour and a weekly limit. Teams get a shared credit pool with a monthly cap per member.
Which computers does it run on?
macOS for now. The web workspace lets you read your code and chat with the agent from any browser.
Try starnode free.
The beta is invite only for now. Download the app, sign in, and ask for your first change.