GuideParallel agents or one room
Run multiple AI agents in parallel, or in one shared room?
There are two ways to use several AI coding agents at once. Parallel runners give each agent its own copy of the code and its own task, and you merge the results. A shared agent room puts the agents on one task together, with one memory, so they hand work to each other and check it. Lunchbox is a shared agent room.
ASide by side
| Parallel runners | A shared agent room | |
|---|---|---|
| How agents work | Each in its own window and copy of the code | Together in one room on one task |
| Memory | Each agent knows its own session | One memory the whole crew shares |
| Moving work | You copy context from one agent to the next | Agents hand parts to each other by name |
| Checking | You review each result yourself | Agents check each other; "tests pass" needs a test that ran |
| At a usage limit | That agent's task stops | The next agent carries on with the same memory |
| Best for | Many separate tasks at the same time | One task that needs several skills |
BWhen to pick which
Pick a parallel runner
When you have many independent tasks, such as ten bugs to fix at once, and you want each agent isolated on its own branch. Tools like Conductor, Superset, Claude Squad and Nimbalyst work this way.
Pick a shared agent room
When one piece of work needs several kinds of help: research, code, tests and writing, or a second opinion, and you want it to keep going when one plan runs out.
CLunchbox
Mac, Windows and Linux
Many agent tools start on the Mac. Lunchbox runs on all three, with a one line install and updates that install themselves.
Free, on your plans
Lunchbox is free and runs Claude Code, Codex, Grok and Gemini on their own logins, plus local models and 16 API providers.
Spend up to 90% less on tokens
Every room is set up for prompt caching, so tokens the provider has already seen cost about a tenth of the price. The Savings page shows the result per agent and per room.
DQuestions
How do I run multiple AI coding agents at once?
Either with a parallel runner, which gives each agent its own copy of the code and its own task, or with a shared agent room like Lunchbox, where the agents work on one task together with one memory.
What is the difference between running agents in parallel and a shared agent room?
Parallel agents work alone on separate tasks and you combine the results. In a shared agent room the agents share memory, hand work to each other and check each other on the same task.
Is there a multi agent app for Windows?
Yes. Lunchbox runs Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Gemini and local models together on Windows, macOS and Linux, for free.