v0.5.0 Open Beta

The AI-Powered
Terminal Native IDE

All the power of VS Code, none of the bloat. Ultra is a blazingly fast terminal-native editor with Claude, Codex and Gemini AI built-in. Works anywhere, even over SSH.

40%
Faster than VS Code
0
Lines of human code
100%
Terminal native
Ultra is a proof-of-concept by Zorz demonstrating strategies for AI to develop reliable, highly-complex applications with large codebases and minimal human involvement. Ultra should not be used for production workloads yet and is purely a demonstration.
ultra ~/projects/my-app
Ultra code editor showing syntax highlighting, file tree, and integrated terminal

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Ultra combines the ergonomics of Sublime Text with the power of VS Code, wrapped in a blazingly fast terminal interface.

🖥️

Terminal Native

Works in any terminal emulator, over SSH, in tmux. No GUI, no Electron, no bloat. Just pure terminal power with 24-bit true color support.

🤖

AI Built-In

Claude, Codex and Gemini are integrated directly into Ultra. Get intelligent code suggestions, explanations, and assistance without leaving your editor.

Ctrl+Shift+A
⚙️

VS Code Compatible

Your VS Code settings, themes, and keybindings work immediately. Migrate in seconds, not hours. Familiar config format with JSONC support.

🔧

LSP Powered

Full Language Server Protocol support. Autocomplete, go-to-definition, find references, hover info, and diagnostics for all your languages.

Ctrl+Space
📦

Git Integration

Stage, commit, and view diffs without leaving the editor. Inline diff markers show changes at a glance. Full timeline view for file history.

Ctrl+Shift+G
💾

Session Persistence

Ultra remembers everything. Open files, cursor positions, pane layouts, terminal sessions, and even AI conversations. Resume exactly where you left off.

Multi-Cursor Editing

Edit multiple locations simultaneously. Select next occurrence, select all, or add cursors manually. Sublime Text-style editing at your fingertips.

Ctrl+D
📐

Split Panes

Split your editor vertically or horizontally. Work on multiple files side-by-side with independent scrolling and cursor positions.

Ctrl+\
🔍

Fuzzy Finding

Quick Open finds files instantly in codebases with 10,000+ files. Command palette, symbol search, and project-wide search all built-in.

Ctrl+P
🗄️

Database Integration

Connect to your database servers directly. Browse schemas, run queries, and insert, update, or delete rows without leaving your editor.

Ctrl+Shift+D
💻

Integrated Terminal

Full PTY terminal sessions with 24-bit color, mouse support, and configurable scrollback. Run commands without leaving your editor.

Ctrl+`
🔌

Flexible Internal APIs

Everything flows through the Editor Command Protocol (ECP). A unified, centralized API that makes extending and automating Ultra straightforward.

Built on the Editor Command Protocol

Ultra's modular architecture routes everything through the ECP, making it infinitely extensible and easy to automate.

Learn more about ECP →
ECP Editor Command Protocol
📄
Document
Buffers, cursors, undo/redo
📁
File System
Read, write, watch files
🔧
LSP
Language intelligence
📦
Git
Version control ops
💻
Terminal
PTY management
🗄️
Database
Query execution
🎨
Syntax
Highlighting & themes
⚙️
Session
Settings & state

Unified API

Every operation goes through the same protocol. Build tools, scripts, or integrations with a single, consistent interface.

Service Isolation

Each service is independent and testable. Swap implementations, add new services, or extend existing ones without breaking changes.

Automation Ready

Script any editor action programmatically. The same commands that power the UI are available for automation and extension.

Claude, right in your terminal

Ultra integrates Claude Code directly into the editor. No extensions, no configuration, no context switching. Just hit the shortcut and start chatting.

  • Full project context awareness
  • Session persistence across restarts
  • Can run terminal commands for you
  • Understands your current file and selection
  • Configurable AI provider (Claude or Codex)
🤖 AI Chat - Claude
Ultra AI chat showing Claude Code integration

Works Everywhere — Even Over SSH

Ultra runs entirely in your terminal, which means it works seamlessly over SSH. Edit files on remote servers with the same experience as local development.

  • No port forwarding or tunneling required
  • Full feature set over any SSH connection
  • Works inside tmux, screen, and mosh
  • Sub-100ms latency even on slow connections
  • Session persistence across disconnects
💻 Terminal
local $ ssh dev@server.example.com
Welcome to Ubuntu 22.04

server $ ultra ~/projects/api
Ultra v0.5.0 — Opening project...
✓ 47 files indexed
✓ TypeScript LSP connected
✓ Session restored

How Ultra Compares

Ultra brings modern IDE features to terminal editing without the learning curve.

Vim / Neovim

The classic modal editor with decades of ecosystem development and infinite customization.

  • Modal editing for speed
  • Massive plugin ecosystem
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Available everywhere

Helix

A modern take on modal editing with LSP and tree-sitter built in from the start.

  • LSP support out of box
  • Tree-sitter highlighting
  • Selection-first editing
  • No plugins needed

Emacs

More than an editor — a complete environment with its own Lisp dialect for ultimate extensibility.

  • Infinitely extensible
  • Org-mode for notes
  • Email, terminal, and more
  • Massive community

Ultra vs. The Competition

See how Ultra stacks up against other popular editors.

Feature Ultra VS Code
Terminal Native
Works over SSH Native Extension
Built-in AI Claude, Codex & Gemini Extension
Startup Time <100ms 2-5s
Memory Usage ~50MB ~500MB
Runtime Bun Electron
LSP Support
Git Integration Built-in Built-in
Theme Compatibility VS Code Native

Ready to try Ultra?

Install Ultra with a single command. Works on macOS, Linux, and WSL.

curl -fsSL https://ultra.dev/install.sh | bash

Requires Bun v1.0+ and a modern terminal with true color support.

Full Setup Guide View on GitHub