CLI Manager vs diagram-design: Features, Pricing & Which Is Better (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of CLI Manager and diagram-design — features, pricing, and ideal use cases — to help you decide which AI tool fits your workflow.
CLI Manager
solhun
Free, open-source macOS app that manages Claude Code, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI sessions, projects and worktrees from one dashboard.
Key features
- Unified Agent Dashboard: Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI and plain shells run side by side in one sidebar, grouped into project folders and named by role.
- AI Control API: Lets Claude Code, Codex or a script open visible terminal sessions, send prompts and read the screen over a local, token-protected connection; off by default.
- In-App Diff Review: Open the diff for any workspace, select lines and send a comment with file and line numbers straight back to the agent's terminal.
- Hook-Based Session Status: Uses official Claude Code and Codex hooks so a permission prompt is never mistaken for a finished task, plus usage alerts before the 5-hour or weekly limit.
- Built-In Git Worktrees: Each worktree becomes its own workspace with its own sessions, and a Source Control panel handles stage, commit, push and history.
- Session Memos: Per-session notes saved as you type that persist across restarts and can be read by an AI working through the Control API.
- Loop Dashboard: A dedicated window to watch Claude Code /loop sessions per project, showing iteration count, status and timing.
Best for
- Multi-Agent Development: Running Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLI on different tasks in parallel while keeping every session visible in one sidebar.
- Agent Orchestration: Having a primary coding agent open and drive other CLI agents in watchable terminals through the AI Control API.
- Code Review of Agent Output: Reviewing diffs from an agent's worktree and sending line-level feedback back without leaving the app.
- Parallel Feature Branches: Using Git worktrees as separate workspaces so several features progress at once, each with its own agent session.
- Usage Limit Monitoring: Tracking Claude Code and Codex usage so long-running agent work is not cut off unexpectedly.
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diagram-design
Cathryn Lavery
Open-source agent skill that draws editorial diagrams as a single self-contained HTML and SVG file, in your brand's style.
Key features
- 45 Diagram Types: Architecture, quadrant, sequence and many other diagram types chosen by the agent from a plain-language request.
- Self-Contained Output: Each diagram is one HTML file with inline SVG that opens with a double-click and needs no build step.
- Brand Onboarding: Point it at a website and it pulls your palette and fonts so every later diagram matches.
- Import From Other Tools: Convert existing draw.io, Mermaid or Excalidraw diagrams into the editorial style.
- Export to PNG and SVG: Export commands produce images for docs and slides.
- Cross-Agent Support: Installs into Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Cline, Windsurf and Amp via the skills CLI.
Best for
- Architecture Documentation: Generating a frontend, backend, database and cache diagram for a README or design doc.
- Project Prioritisation: Drawing an impact versus effort quadrant of upcoming projects.
- API Flow Explanation: Producing a sequence diagram of a token refresh on 401 for developer docs.
- Brand-Consistent Visuals: Keeping all technical diagrams in the company's colours and fonts.
- Migrating Old Diagrams: Restyling Mermaid or draw.io diagrams into a cleaner editorial look.