Who OpenBug is for#
Developers debugging local services
OpenBug fits developers who need a faster way to connect logs, code, and AI reasoning while a service is running.
Skip if:
You only need static code review without runtime logs.
Support engineers reproducing bugs
OpenBug can help support-facing engineers gather runtime evidence and ask targeted questions during reproduction.
Skip if:
Your debugging workflow requires approved enterprise incident tooling.
The problem it solves#
Debugging production-like issues usually means switching between terminal logs, code search, stack traces, and issue notes. The context is fragmented, so developers spend time gathering evidence before they can reason about the failure.
AI can help, but only when it sees the running process and relevant code. A generic chat prompt without logs or repository context produces guesses rather than useful debugging steps.
How it solves it#
Automatic log capture
OpenBug captures runtime logs so the AI assistant can reason about current application behavior instead of relying on pasted snippets.
Natural-language code search
The README describes searching the codebase in natural language, which helps developers find relevant files during an investigation.
Terminal debugging assistant
OpenBug runs as a command-line workflow, with npm installation and a debug command used to start the assistant.
Strengths and trade-offs#
Strengths
- Keeps debugging in the terminalDevelopers can inspect logs, ask questions, and search code without moving the investigation into a separate hosted dashboard.
- Focused on live application contextThe tool is built around running applications, which makes it more practical for debugging than a detached code-only assistant.
Trade-offs
- -Beta maturityThe README labels OpenBug as beta, so teams should expect rough edges and validate it on non-critical workflows before relying on it.
Install and self-host#
Install the CLI globally, then use `debug` to start the assistant or prefix an app command with `debug`.
```bash
npm install -g @openbug/cli
debug
debug npm run dev
```What it's built on#
- Languages
- JavaScriptTypeScript
- Frameworks
- ExpressReact
- Databases
- SQLite
FAQ#
What does OpenBug do?
OpenBug is a command-line AI debugging tool that captures logs, searches code, and helps investigate running applications.
How do you install OpenBug?
The official README shows npm install -g @openbug/cli as the installation command.
Is OpenBug stable?
The README marks OpenBug as beta, so teams should test it carefully before using it for critical debugging workflows.
Similar open-source tools#
Leantime
Focus-first project management designed for neurodivergent teams
Kanri
Local-first Kanban board that stores all data in a JSON file
Taiga
Agile project management for Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid teams
Focalboard
Open source project management: Kanban, Scrum, and lists
Task Bert
AI assistant that turns text messages into actionable tasks
AFFiNE
Local-first workspace combining docs, whiteboards, and notes