> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.heard.dev/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.heard.dev/_mcp/server.

# Heard documentation

<p>
  <strong>Heard is a macOS voice layer for coding agents.</strong>

   It turns useful agent activity into concise spoken updates, so you can follow progress, decisions, failures, and completed work without watching every terminal.
</p>

<p>
  Heard does not replace your coding agent. It adds an ambient voice layer to Claude Code, Codex, or another compatible command line workflow.
</p>

macOS 14 or later

Claude Code and Codex support

Apache 2.0 engine

## Start here

#### [Install Heard](/quickstart)

Download the managed app or build the open source engine, then hear your first useful event.

#### [Connect an agent](/claude-code)

Set up Claude Code, Codex CLI, the Codex app, or another command line agent.

#### [Choose a listening mode](/listening-modes)

Decide whether Heard should give short signposts, fuller briefings, or only important interruptions.

#### [Understand the data path](/privacy-and-data)

See what stays on your Mac and what optional hosted services receive.

## What Heard does

Heard is built around three ideas:

1. **Judgment instead of a transcript.** Routine tool activity can stay quiet while decisions, blockers, failures, and completed work get airtime.
2. **Parallel work you can follow by ear.** Heard ranks active sessions and gives them distinct voices so you can tell them apart.
3. **A full voice loop with Power.** Listen to your agent, answer out loud, and dictate into any text field.

## Choose a setup path

#### Use the managed app

Download Heard, sign in, and choose an integration. Heard manages the voice and narration services, so you do not need provider keys.

#### Build the open source engine

Clone the Apache 2.0 repository when you want your own provider keys, local Kokoro speech, configurable personas, and direct control of the runtime.

#### Verify one agent first

Run a small task and confirm Heard speaks a clearly attributed question, blocker, or result before connecting more sessions.

The managed app and open source engine are different setup paths. Choose one for your first session, then expand after the basic connection works.

## Supported integrations

| Integration               | Support         | How it connects                             |
| ------------------------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Claude Code               | First class     | Local Heard hooks                           |
| Codex CLI                 | First class     | Local Heard hooks that you approve in Codex |
| Codex app                 | First class     | Local session observer on the same Mac      |
| Other command line agents | Compatible path | The `heard run` universal wrapper           |

Continue with the [quickstart](/quickstart), or go directly to [Claude Code](/claude-code) or [Codex](/codex-cli).