Crystal was an open-source Electron app by Stravu for running Claude Code and Codex sessions in parallel using git worktrees.
Crystal was deprecated on February 26, 2026 (v0.3.5). Its successor is Nimbalyst, a different product. Pane is actively maintained.
| pane | crystal (deprecated) | |
|---|---|---|
| status | actively maintained | deprecated (feb 2026) |
| platform | windows + mac + linux | mac + linux only (no windows) |
| agents | any CLI agent | claude code + codex only |
| open source | yes (AGPL-3.0) | yes (MIT) — no longer updated |
| diff viewer | built-in, syntax-highlighted | built-in (Monaco editor) |
| git workflow | commit, push, rebase, squash, merge — all keyboard | worktrees, rebase, squash, commit modes |
| keyboard-first | every action has a shortcut. command palette (⌘K) | not documented |
| session persistence | yes — survives restarts | yes — conversation continuity |
| session organization | panes — one per feature | projects → folders → sessions (hierarchical) |
| successor | n/a — actively developed | nimbalyst (different product) |
crystal is deprecated
Crystal's last release was v0.3.5 on February 26, 2026. Stravu recommends migrating to Nimbalyst, their successor product. Crystal will not receive any future updates, bug fixes, or security patches. Pane is actively maintained.
windows support
Crystal never supported Windows. Pane supports Windows, Mac, and Linux with identical features. The developer on a Surface Pro deserves the same tool as the developer on a MacBook Pro.
agent-agnostic
Crystal only supported Claude Code and Codex. Pane supports any CLI agent — Claude Code, Codex, Aider, Goose, or anything that runs in a terminal. A new agent ships tomorrow? Just run it.
keyboard-first
Crystal didn't publicly document keyboard shortcuts. Pane is built around the keyboard — every action has a shortcut, the command palette puts everything one keystroke away.
hierarchical organization
Crystal organized work into projects, folders, and sessions — a deeper hierarchy than Pane's flat pane list. For developers managing many projects, this was useful.
commit modes
Crystal had structured commit modes (AI-generated messages, checkpoint-style timestamped commits, or disabled). Pane gives you full git control and lets you write your own commit messages or use whatever workflow you prefer.
Crystal is no longer maintained. If you were using Crystal or considering it, Pane is the actively maintained alternative that adds Windows support, agent-agnostic design, and a keyboard-first workflow. Nimbalyst (Crystal's successor) is a different product with a different focus.
Is Crystal still maintained?
No. Crystal was deprecated on February 26, 2026 (v0.3.5). Stravu recommends migrating to Nimbalyst, their successor product. Crystal will not receive future updates, bug fixes, or security patches.
What is Nimbalyst?
Nimbalyst is Crystal's successor, built by Stravu. It's a different product with a different focus — it adds WYSIWYG markdown editing, drawing/diagrams, planning/tracking, and SOC 2 certification. It's not a direct replacement for Crystal's parallel agent workflow.
Did Crystal support Windows?
No. Crystal was available on macOS and Linux only. Pane supports Windows, Mac, and Linux with identical features.
Can I migrate from Crystal to Pane?
Yes. If you used Crystal to run Claude Code or Codex in parallel with git worktrees, Pane does the same thing — plus it supports any CLI agent, works on Windows, and has a keyboard-first workflow. Your repos and API keys work the same way.
Why did Crystal get deprecated?
Stravu shifted focus to Nimbalyst, a broader product. Crystal's last release was v0.3.5. The GitHub repo remains available under MIT license but will not be updated.