Archon
by coleam00
Archon is now a YAML workflow engine for AI coding agents, turning "fix this bug" into a repeatable plan, implement, test, review, and PR pipeline.
Quick install (CLI)
curl -fsSL https://archon.diy/install | bash
About
Archon has moved on from being a knowledge-base-and-task-tracker MCP server. That original Python version is now preserved on the archive/v1-task-management-rag branch. The active project encodes a development process as a YAML workflow: AI nodes handle planning, implementation, and review; bash nodes run deterministic steps like tests; loop nodes repeat a step until a condition like ALL_TASKS_COMPLETE or human APPROVED is met; and approval gates pause the run for a person to sign off. Every run gets its own git worktree, so several fixes can execute in parallel without stepping on each other.
It ships 19 bundled workflow templates for common jobs (issue fixing, feature development, PR review) and runs the same workflow definition from the CLI, a web UI, Slack, Telegram, Discord, or a GitHub webhook. Archon itself isn't a discrete tool-call MCP server. It's an orchestrator that can invoke MCP servers as one of its node types inside a workflow, but doesn't expose MCP tools of its own.
Key features
- YAML workflows encode plan, implement, test, review, and PR as explicit, repeatable phases
- Every workflow run gets an isolated git worktree so multiple fixes can run in parallel
- Mixes deterministic nodes (bash, tests, git operations) with AI nodes (planning, codegen, review)
- Loop nodes iterate until a condition like all tasks complete or human approval is met
- 19 bundled workflow templates cover common jobs like issue fixing and PR review
- Runs the same workflow from CLI, Web UI, Slack, Telegram, Discord, or GitHub
Use cases
- Standardizing how an AI coding agent handles a recurring job like bug triage or dependency bumps
- Running several isolated fix-and-PR workflows in parallel across a repo without them colliding
- Adding a human approval gate before an agent-authored change goes any further
- Kicking off a fix from Slack or GitHub and coming back later to a finished, reviewed PR
Available tools
AI node
A workflow step where an LLM handles planning, code generation, or review based on a prompt.
bash node
A deterministic workflow step that runs a shell command or test suite with no model involved.
loop node
Repeats a step until a stated condition is met, such as all tasks completing or a human approving.
approval gate
Pauses the workflow and waits for interactive human sign-off before continuing.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same Archon that had a knowledge base and task manager?
That was the original Python version, preserved on the archive/v1-task-management-rag branch. The current main branch is a full rewrite focused on deterministic YAML workflows instead.
Does Archon expose its own MCP tools?
No. It's a workflow orchestrator, not a tool-call MCP server. It can call out to MCP servers as one node type inside a workflow, but it doesn't publish MCP tools itself.