Desktop Local Tools and Terminal

LatchLoop Desktop local agents, local IDE, and terminal

The LatchLoop desktop app can work with on your project in the cloud or locally. Here we will cover what you can do with a mapped local repository. This unlocks local editor workflows, an integrated terminal, and a constrained local command runner for agent verification.


Mapping a repository

Local desktop features require a repository mapping. A mapping connects a GitHub repository to a local folder on your machine.

Once mapped, LatchLoop can:

  • open files in the local editor
  • switch branches for tasks
  • pull task branch changes after agent runs
  • show local repository changes
  • run approved local verification commands
  • open a terminal in the mapped folder

Push All from the desktop editor

When the desktop editor detects local changes, it can show a Push All action.

The push dialog lets you:

  1. review changed files
  2. choose which files to include
  3. edit the suggested commit message
  4. commit and push selected changes

This is useful when you make small local edits and want to send them back to the task branch without leaving LatchLoop.


Integrated terminal

The desktop terminal opens a real shell in a mapped repository.

You can open it from:

  • the main desktop app shell
  • a task status bar when a repository is available
  • desktop editor windows or panes

The terminal is user-driven. The agent cannot type into your interactive terminal. The LatchLoop can however interact with its own sandboxed terminal as described below.


Local verification commands

In local mode, the agent may request constrained verification commands such as lint, tests, typecheck, or builds.

These commands run through a policy layer auto approves safe commands, allows you to approve commands you might want to review, and hard denies commands that would be unsafe.


Command approvals

Some commands are not allowed automatically but may be eligible for your approval. When that happens, LatchLoop shows an approval card in the task timeline and pauses the run.

You can approve or reject the command. If approved, the command runs once with that approval. If rejected or expired, the agent receives a controlled denial and continues.


Troubleshooting

The terminal will not open

  • Confirm you are using the desktop app, not the web app.
  • Confirm the repository is mapped locally.
  • Restart the desktop app if native terminal dependencies were recently rebuilt or updated.

The agent says local checks are unavailable

  • Confirm the task is running in local mode, not cloud mode.
  • Confirm the desktop app is online and connected to the mapped repository.

A command was denied

  • Read the denial reason in the task timeline.
  • If the command is approval-eligible, approve it only if you understand what it will run.
  • If it is hard-denied, ask the agent to use a safer verification command.