Draft:Progflow

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Draft:Progflow

Progflow is a free and open‑source command‑line tool for managing software development environments. It allows developers to define a "flow" – a collection of settings that include a working directory, an editor command, web resources (URLs), environment variables, and background services – and then initialise or terminate that entire environment with a single command. The tool is designed to reduce the cognitive overhead of context switching between projects by automating repetitive setup tasks.

Progflow
Developer(s) Devfor(username: rehanasharmin)
Initial release 2026
Written in Rust
Platforms Linux, macOS, Termux
Type Command‑line utility
License MIT
Website progflowcli.netlify.app
Repository github.com/Rehanasharmin/Progflow

History

Progflow was first announced in early 2026. The initial releases focused on core workspace management for Linux and the Termux environment on Android. Subsequent updates added support for macOS and introduced a fully non‑interactive mode for scripting and automation. Later versions incorporated features such as session analytics, smart flow switching, integrated logging, persistent context notes, and shell alias generation. The project is actively maintained and has a growing user base among developers who frequently work across multiple projects.

Features

Environment orchestration

When a user activates a flow, Progflow can perform multiple actions concurrently:

State persistence

Progflow maintains context across sessions:

  • Context notes: A note can be saved when stopping a flow; it is displayed when the flow is started again, helping to resume work where it was left off.
  • Session analytics: The tool tracks cumulative development time, average session duration, and usage frequency for each flow, which can be reviewed with a dedicated command.

Process and log management

  • Integrated logging: The standard output and standard error streams of background processes are captured and can be viewed on demand.
  • Graceful termination: When stopping a flow, Progflow sends a SIGTERM signal to all associated processes, waits up to three seconds, and then uses SIGKILL to forcefully terminate any remaining processes, preventing orphaned or zombie processes.

Programmatic interface

All major commands support non‑interactive operation via command‑line flags. The status and list commands can output JSON, making the tool suitable for integration into scripts and CI/CD pipelines.

Shell integration

Progflow can generate POSIX‑compliant shell aliases for each flow. By adding eval "$(progflow aliases)" to a shell configuration file, users can start a workspace simply by typing flow-<name> in their terminal.

Core commands

The following table lists the primary commands provided by Progflow:

Command Description
progflow new <name> Creates a new flow, optionally with flags for non‑interactive configuration.
progflow on <name> Starts the specified flow – opens the editor, launches URLs, sets environment variables, and runs background commands.
progflow off <name> Stops the flow, terminates all associated processes, and prompts for a context note.
progflow list Lists all available flows.
progflow edit <name> Edits an existing flow's configuration.
progflow status Shows which flows are currently active.
progflow stats <name> Displays session analytics for a flow.
progflow logs <name> Shows the captured output from background processes.
progflow aliases Generates shell aliases for all flows.

Design and architecture

Flow configurations are stored as JSON files, typically in ~/.config/progflow/. A separate lock file tracks active processes and session notes. When a flow starts, Progflow spawns the editor and any background services as child processes and records their PIDs. This design allows the off command to reliably terminate all associated processes.

The tool also includes a network readiness check that attempts to connect to localhost URLs (e.g., http://localhost:3000) with a short timeout before opening them, warning the user if the service does not appear to be responsive.

Cross‑platform operation is handled through platform‑specific backends:

  • On Linux, the tool uses xdg-open to open URLs.
  • On macOS, it uses the open command.
  • On Termux (Android), it uses termux-open-url with a fallback to am start.

Use cases

Progflow is particularly useful in the following scenarios:

  • Project initialisation: A developer can define a flow for a web project that starts a development server, opens a browser to the local URL, and launches a code editor – all with one command.
  • Context switching: When moving between multiple projects, a developer can stop one flow and start another without manually closing tabs and terminals.
  • Automated environments: In CI/CD pipelines or test scripts, Progflow can be used in non‑interactive mode to bring up a controlled environment for testing.
  • Mobile development: For developers using Termux on Android, Progflow provides a consistent workflow that mirrors desktop environments.

Comparison with similar tools

While there are other workspace managers and session savers (e.g., tmux with session save scripts, or IDE‑specific workspace features), Progflow differentiates itself by being:

  • Language‑agnostic and editor‑agnostic: It works with any editor or toolchain.
  • Lightweight: Written in Rust, it has no runtime dependencies and starts quickly.
  • Cross‑platform: It provides consistent behaviour across Linux, macOS, and Termux.
  • Process‑aware: It actively manages background processes and provides built‑in logging and termination.

Reception and community

Since its initial release, Progflow has been striving to reach more people and help them. Contributors are welcome! As a new project, it doesn't have an established community yet, but we hope you will help us build one.

References

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