A desktop app for Muse Code

Helicon is a free, MIT licensed desktop app for Meta's Muse Code CLI, with a Windows installer, Apple Silicon, Intel and universal macOS DMGs and a Linux AppImage. It gives every Muse Code session a home: projects grouped by directory, resume with full history, inline diffs, an approval queue, and cost at published API rates. It runs on your existing subscription.

Last updated 18 October 2026 · Markdown version

What does the desktop app do?

	In the app
Projects	Grouped by working directory, git worktrees badged separately
Sessions	Full history, one click resume, including terminal TUI sessions
Diffs	Inline in the thread, at the turn that made the edit
Approvals	Queued, mapped one to one, never bypassed
Cost	Per thread, day and model at published per token rates
Plan meter	The 5 hour window and weekly cap as Muse Code reports them
Files	Source, Markdown, images, video and PDF beside the thread
Keyboard	Command palette, slash commands, model and effort picker

Which platforms does it run on?

Every build below comes from the same release. To pick one, install Helicon from the page that matches your machine.

Windows: installer with auto update (not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may warn). Native Muse Code, or Muse Code inside WSL2 with two way path translation.
macOS: a DMG for Apple Silicon, one for Intel and a universal one, with auto update. Not Apple notarized yet, so first launch needs System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway.
Linux: an x86_64 AppImage with auto update. No ARM build yet; source works there.
Browser: the same React UI as a web app against a daemon you run.

What do you need before installing it?

The muse CLI, installed and signed in with your own muse login. Download Muse Code has Meta's command for each platform.
A Muse Code subscription. Helicon is free, so there is no second bill and no API key.
Nothing else. The desktop app ships its own Node.js. Running from source needs Node 22 or newer.

How does it work underneath?

A local daemon starts one muse serve host per workspace.
It speaks the Muse Code Session Protocol over JSON-RPC through the official MIT @muse-code/sdk.
All state is local SQLite. There is no account and no sync.
One React codebase ships as the Tauri desktop app and as the web app.

What leaves your machine?

Nothing about your code, prompts, threads or files leaves your machine. The desktop app asks helicon.sh whether a newer version exists, and that request reports the platform, the version and a weekly hash of the IP it came from. There is no account, no sign up and no telemetry inside the app itself.

Not sure a desktop app is the right shape? The Muse Code GUI page compares it with editor extensions and ACP bridges, or you can try Helicon in your browser on sample data first.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a desktop app for Muse Code?

Yes. Helicon is a free, open-source desktop app for the Muse Code CLI, with a Windows installer, Apple Silicon, Intel and universal macOS DMGs and a Linux AppImage, plus a web build against a daemon you run.

Is the Muse Code desktop app free?

Helicon is free and MIT licensed with no paid tier. It runs on the Muse Code subscription you already have.

Does it work on Windows?

Yes, with an installer and auto update (not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may warn: click More info, then Run anyway). It runs Muse Code natively on Windows with PowerShell for shell commands, and uses Muse Code inside WSL2 with path translation when native is not installed.

Do I need an API key?

No. Authentication is your own muse login, held by the CLI. Helicon stores no credentials.

Who makes it?

Harjot Singh Rana and contributors, as an unofficial MIT licensed community project. It is not made, sponsored or endorsed by Meta.