Orca: coordinate coding agents without losing track of their work
Try Orca with one disposable worktree
Check task identity, terminal location and a small diff before experimenting with parallel agents or remote access.
What you will learn
- Install an identified desktop build
- Inspect before accepting
- Close the trial deliberately
Before you start
- Basic command-line and configuration reading
- Ability to work in a disposable authorized environment
Create a learning tool that records host, worktree and acceptance evidence without automating merges or deleting unfinished work.
Key takeaways
- A task terminal should match its intended worktree.
- Completion needs a diff and acceptance check.
- Cleanup should follow inspection of uncommitted changes.
Install an identified desktop build
The README links desktop builds for macOS, Windows and Linux. Select an audited release matching the machine and record it. A latest download link moves over time and does not guarantee the package version inspected in this article.
Use the existing approved configuration of one coding agent. Do not paste credentials into a task prompt or screenshot. Keep the first repository synthetic and avoid startup scripts that can touch unrelated files.
Inspect before accepting
Open the repository and create a bounded task using the installed app’s worktree workflow. In its terminal, check the current directory and git worktree list. Verify the branch and location before asking the agent to edit a file.
Ask for a short documentation correction with an explicit acceptance condition. Read the diff and run the repository’s relevant checks. An agent reporting completion is a claim to verify, not a substitute for the changed file.
Close the trial deliberately
Save or commit useful changes through the normal review process before removing a task or worktree. Do not assume deleting a UI item preserves every uncommitted file. Inspect Git state first and keep a recoverable copy when uncertain.
If the agent cannot start, distinguish missing CLI installation, credentials and terminal-runtime errors. This walkthrough was not executed in Orca; it specifies what a first-run record should contain.
Decision guide
| Criterion | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | You need predictable behavior and easy auditing | You need adaptive optimization and have reliable telemetry |
| Main risk | May leave performance on the table | Can become difficult to explain or debug |
Implementation steps
- 1
Record the desktop build and approved agent.
- 2
Check directory and branch in the task terminal.
- 3
Review the diff and preserve changes before closing the task.
Copy-ready example
pwd
git branch --show-current
git worktree list
git diffFrequently asked questions
Should the first trial use production code?
Use a disposable repository with no secrets.
What if the agent fails to launch?
Check the agent executable, account access and terminal runtime as distinct causes.
Sources
- Orca / README.mdSource checked 2026-09-18
- Orca / .github/CONTRIBUTING.mdSource checked 2026-09-18