Needlecast
A Swing-based desktop project launcher for developers — organizes projects into color-coded groups, embeds a terminal, editor, and file explorer, and auto-detects build tools and AI CLI tools.
Needlecast
A desktop project launcher written in Kotlin. Keeps all your development projects accessible from one window with a unified terminal, editor, and file explorer per project.
Requires Java 21 or later. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Alpha software. Core functionality is working. Expect breaking changes between releases.
What can Needlecast manage?
- Tree-style sidebar with color-coded groups
- Fuzzy switcher for quick project navigation
- Per-project environment variables
- Dockable, resizable panels
What build tools does Needlecast detect?
Auto-detects build configuration on open: Maven, Gradle, npm, .NET, IntelliJ, and APM projects.
Does Needlecast have a terminal?
Embedded JediTerm with multiple tabs per project. Terminal colors inherit from the active FlatLaf theme.
What editor features are included?
Syntax-highlighted text editor with find/replace. Font size adjustable from 6pt to 72pt with multiple syntax themes.
What does the file explorer support?
Context-menu file operations, image viewer (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF, ICO), and SVG viewer with zoom from 6pt to 3200%.
AI Integration
Prompt library (17 built-in templates) and command library (37 entries covering Git, Maven, Gradle, npm, Docker, and general utilities). Auto-detects installed AI CLI tools including Claude and Gemini.
How is Needlecast customized?
Keyboard shortcut rebinding for all actions.
Tech Stack
Kotlin · Swing · JediTerm · FlatLaf · Maven
FAQ
What is Needlecast?
Needlecast is a Swing-based desktop project launcher written in Kotlin. It organizes development projects into color-coded groups and provides a unified terminal, editor, and file explorer per project. Projects are navigable via a tree-style sidebar or a fuzzy switcher.
What build tools does Needlecast detect?
Needlecast auto-detects Maven, Gradle, npm, .NET, IntelliJ, and APM project configurations when a project is opened. It also detects installed AI CLI tools including Claude and Gemini.
Does Needlecast have an embedded terminal?
Yes. Needlecast embeds JediTerm with multiple tabs per project. Terminal colors inherit from the active FlatLaf theme. Each project maintains its own set of terminal sessions.
What platforms does Needlecast run on?
Needlecast runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It requires Java 21 or later. The UI is built with Swing and FlatLaf for consistent cross-platform appearance.