Werkbank

Werkbank

Werkbank is a local desktop workbench for AI-assisted conversations, file context, persistent Spaces, MCP connectors, and reusable agent skills. The renderer talks to a project-local Goose process through the Agent Client Protocol; connector configuration and generated work stay in the local project workspace.

What works

• Streaming conversations with stop, permission, and mode controls
• Multiple active and archived conversations stored locally
• Word, PowerPoint, text, CSV, JSON, and image attachments
• Persistent, sandboxed HTML Spaces generated from grounded data
• Session-scoped MCP connector selection and guarded .mcpb imports
• Connector configuration with secret-shaped values stored through Electron safe storage
• Skill install deep links with an explicit in-app confirmation step
• Light, dark, and system appearance settings

Local development

Werkbank currently targets macOS for source-based development. Node.js 22.12 or newer is required.

npm install
cp .env.example .env
# Add OPENROUTER_API_KEY and choose a compatible GOOSE_MODEL in .env
npm run dev

The app uses the repository-local goose-home/ and workspace/ directories. Runtime credentials, selected attachments, generated Spaces, and outputs are ignored by Git. Only the files under workspace/demo-files/ are synthetic fixtures intended for tests.

Using the app store

The current release runs from source, so start Werkbank before using an install button:

1. Complete the local setup above and keep npm run dev running with the Werkbank window open.
2. Open the Werkbank app store in your browser.
3. Choose an MCP server or skill and select Add to Werkbank or Add skill.
4. On the install page, select Open Werkbank and allow the browser to open the werkbank:// link.
5. Review the source and requested configuration inside Werkbank, provide any required credentials, and confirm the installation.

Installed items appear under Connectors & Skills in the app, where connectors can be configured, restarted, or removed. If an install page does not return to the app, confirm that the Werkbank window is still running, reload the install page, and select Open Werkbank again.

Verification

npm run check

This runs the TypeScript check, Node test suite, and production renderer build.

Connectors and skills

Use Connectors & Skills inside the app to import an MCP bundle, configure an installed connector, restart the local agent, or remove a connector or skill. Browser handoffs use the werkbank:// protocol and always stop at an in-app review dialog.

Connector maintainers can use the same button in their own README. Replace the encoded bundle URL and title in the link target; the hosted page validates the HTTPS source and opens Werkbank's guarded in-app confirmation. See site/README.md for the copyable Markdown.

Publication status

The source, static website, and guarded install handoffs are release-prepared. A signed, notarized desktop installer is not included yet; follow the order in site/README.md before publishing the website or advertising binary downloads.

License

Apache License 2.0