# Built for the work after the prompt.

MAO is the alternative for people who want native performance, remote workspaces, and no artificial ceiling on the projects they can keep in motion.

## Why MAO

**The canvas should keep up with the agents on it.**

### Native by default

MAO is a desktop-native Rust app, not a browser wrapper around terminals. It works with the operating system instead of sitting between you and it.

### GPU-rendered canvas

MAO uses GPUI, the GPU-accelerated framework behind Zed, to give terminals, notes, and connections a responsive spatial surface.

### Remote workspaces

Run the project and agents where the compute belongs, then keep the same visual orchestration surface in front of you.

### Unlimited workspaces

Keep a workspace for every repository, client, experiment, and remote machine. Project context is not a metered resource.

### Real terminal nodes

Claude Code, Codex, Grok, OpenCode, and shell sessions stay real terminals—not abstract task cards.

### Explicit hand-offs

Connect agents so they can ask, delegate, and return work through a graph that you can actually inspect.

## A useful test

**Don’t compare screenshots. Compare a real build.**

Start two agents, give each a role, connect them, and see whether you can understand the work without switching through tabs. Then repeat it on a remote project and across several workspaces. MAO keeps the agents as real terminal sessions while the canvas keeps the coordination visible and fast.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is MAO an alternative to Maestri?

Yes. MAO is an AI agent canvas for developers who want a desktop-native app, remote workspaces and, with a licence, unlimited workspaces. It is written in Rust and renders its canvas on the GPU with GPUI.

### Does MAO run Claude Code and Codex as real terminals?

Yes. In MAO, Claude Code, Codex, Grok, OpenCode and shell sessions are real terminal nodes on the canvas, not task cards, and each agent keeps its own login.

### Can MAO run agents on a remote server?

Yes. MAO opens a workspace on a Linux server over SSH, so the project, terminals and agents run there while the canvas stays native on your desktop. Remote workspaces need a MAO licence.

### How many workspaces can I have in MAO?

With a MAO licence, as many as you want: one for every repository, client, experiment and remote machine. The 7-day free trial includes one workspace with one project.

### How should I compare MAO and Maestri?

Compare a real build in each, not screenshots: start two agents, give each a role, connect them, and see whether you can follow the work without switching tabs. Then repeat it on a remote project and across several workspaces.

## Built in public

**Ask for the feature you need next.**

MAO is built close to the people using it. Send a request directly to Miguel, or bring it to the MAO Discord channel so the community can help shape what comes next.

[Email Miguel](mailto:hello@miguer.com?subject=MAO%20feature%20request) · [Join the Discord](https://discord.gg/TCK664zm92)

Source: https://trymao.dev/mao-vs-maestri