Add support for apps natively

[bhadraagada]

It's really good concept but one thing whuihc can make this application the next thing could support for application where i can use my current stack ie.:

• warp for terminal
• cursor for ide and agent
• opencode for ai agent
• zen for browser
• helium for browser

so i will be able to open these custom windows and not stuck to limited set of options provided by u guys which is limiting initial testing and exploring of this application.

if u want we can connect for this feature and work this thing together and make this happen

[PaulHorn]

Thanks for the suggestion! This is an interesting direction.

Embedding native app windows into the canvas is technically feasible — the approach would be to launch the app as a child process, grab its window handle, and reparent it into Electron's window (SetParent on Windows, NSWindow addChildWindow on macOS, XReparentWindow on Linux/X11).

We already have some of the building blocks in place (native addons, the panel/canvas system, process management via node-pty), so a NativeAppPanel type that wraps reparented windows isn't out of reach.

The main challenges:

• Window handle discovery — reliably mapping a launched PID to its window handle varies by platform
• Position sync — the embedded window needs to follow canvas pan/zoom/resize without flicker
• Focus management — native windows and Electron compete for focus
• Platform coverage — each OS needs its own native code path (Wayland on Linux is especially tricky)

We're putting together a feature timeline over the next few days, and this will definitely be on it to explore feasibility. We'll reach out!

[bhadraagada]

i feel like we have an headless wrapper or something for this where we can just drop in the windows tht we want to include in the infinite space.

ig for custom windows this will the best approach this way wont have to deal with wired interactions tht u mentioned earlier

@PaulHorn

[galori]

+1 to this concept - this is what I was hoping Cate would do when I installed it.

I can't even log in to my work's github through the built in browser because it requires an Okta extension and network communications just to auth, and I would want a browser where I can open dev-tools when I need to.

[robinwettstaedt]

I also thought this was the main feature of Cate, essentially an endless canvas for all apps. Exciting concept, will check back every once in a while to see if you added that!

[PaulHorn]

@galori @robinwettstaedt we noticed that too, and it’s definitely something we want to focus on more.
A better browser experience, devtools, auth flows like Okta, and eventually bringing more apps onto the canvas are all very relevant for where Cate should go.
The last few weeks were mostly about making the general experience more stable, polished, and professional first. But I agree, the “canvas for more than just built-in panels” direction is a big part of the vision.

[bhadraagada]

i feel now the main focus of this should be how can the native apps can be supported.

once this is done then possibilities are endless truly since each dev have their own workflows and set of tools tht they like to use.

• prolly u guys can something like extensions or plugins system where users can themselves contribute towards this which would also accelerate the process and implementation of this feature

@PaulHorn

[Anton-Horn]

I am currently working on an extension system. Not as far scoped as vscode extensions but it'll allow custom panels and interaction with cate's core features. Will push a version to a seperate branch and open the pr for it later today. Happy to receive some feedback or contributions

[Anton-Horn]

Update: the extension system is live. It gives you a plugin path for custom panels (your own tools, MCP servers, diagrams, etc.), each served in its own isolated webview, with access to Cate's core APIs. That covers the plugin/BYO-panel direction a few of you raised here. Repo to browse and build: https://github.com/0-AI-UG/cate-extensions

What it does not yet do is reparent a real native OS window (WezTerm, Cursor, a full external browser with your extensions/devtools) into the canvas. That is a separate, harder piece and still on the list. Keeping this open to track native window embedding specifically.

[bhadraagada]

sounds yall waiting for more give this extension suite a try and will give any feedback tht i have

[keyuchen21]

a native support like chrome will be super helpful!!!!! otherwise we have to keep login in broswer and we can not access extension like lastpass......