> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mains.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Workspaces

> Isolated development environments for AI agent sessions

A workspace is an isolated development environment linked to a Git repository. Each workspace gets its own Git worktree, so multiple sessions can run in parallel on the same codebase without file conflicts.

## **Creating a Workspace**

Press **Cmd+N** or click **Add Workspace** in the sidebar. You can import a repository in two ways:

* **Remote URL** -- paste a Git remote URL and Mains clones the repo and creates a worktree
* **Local path** -- select an existing local repository and Mains creates a worktree from it

Mains automatically groups workspaces into [projects](/projects) based on the repository's remote origin. If no project exists for the remote, one is created automatically.

## **Workspace Status**

Each workspace has a status that tracks where it is in your development workflow:

| **Status**      | **Description**                                     |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Backlog**     | Queued for future work                              |
| **Todo**        | Ready to start (default for new workspaces)         |
| **In Progress** | Agent is actively working or changes are being made |
| **In Review**   | Changes are ready for review                        |
| **Done**        | Work is complete and merged                         |
| **Canceled**    | Work was abandoned                                  |
| **Duplicate**   | Workspace duplicates another                        |

You can update the status manually from the workspace sidebar. Some transitions happen automatically -- for example, starting an agent run moves the workspace to **In Progress**.

## **Workspace Components**

Each workspace provides access to:

| **Component**                       | **Description**                                                         |
| ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Agent input**                     | Send prompts to Claude Code, Copilot, or Codex                          |
| [**File explorer**](/file-explorer) | Browse and select files to include in agent context                     |
| [**Diff viewer**](/diff-viewer)     | Review all changes made by the agent                                    |
| [**Terminal**](/terminal)           | Built-in shell for manual commands                                      |
| [**Linked tasks**](/linked-tasks)   | Connect issues from GitHub, Linear, Jira, Asana, GitLab, Trello, Sentry |
| [**Reviews**](/reviews)             | Structured code review with findings                                    |

## **Git Worktree Isolation**

Each workspace creates a separate Git worktree from the repository. This means:

* Every workspace has its own working directory and branch
* Changes in one workspace don't affect any other
* All worktrees share Git history and remote connections
* You can run multiple agent sessions on the same repo simultaneously

When worktrees are enabled (the default), Mains manages worktree creation and cleanup automatically. You can disable worktrees in **Settings** if you prefer to manage branches manually.

## **Archiving**

When you're done with a workspace, archive it from the workspace menu. Archiving:

* Hides the workspace from the sidebar
* Cleans up the Git worktree to free disk space
* Preserves all workspace data (runs, diffs, reviews) in the database

Archived workspaces can be restored later if you need to revisit them.

## **Deleting**

Deleting a workspace permanently removes it along with all associated data. This is irreversible -- use archiving if you might need the workspace later.