Poly: Multiplayer Claude Code for Collaborative Development

Research context and background

Poly is a shared coding environment built for teams to steer a single AI coding agent together in real time. It functions as a shared room where every prompt, code change, and cost is visible to all participants. The platform eliminates the need for screen sharing or taking turns, allowing teams to collaborate on code generation and debugging simultaneously. Poly is currently in open beta, and no Anthropic API key is required to get started. The platform covers AI costs during this period, though there is a per-account usage limit while in beta.

Benefits

Poly offers several key advantages for development teams. It removes the friction of asking for error logs or taking turns on a screen share, which is especially helpful during emergency production fixes. New team members can watch an agent walk through a subsystem and see the actual reasoning and real files rather than a summarized overview. Team members can drive their own agents on their own branches simultaneously, and merging occurs only when branches are ready. The platform handles sensitive code and commands with strict safety measures, including isolated sandboxes and restricted internet access. Users can dictate the agent's level of autonomy, from approving every command to requiring the agent to plan first before acting. Rooms are private and invite-only, ensuring that only invited individuals can access the room, its files, or the live preview.

Use Cases

Poly is built for specific collaborative scenarios. It is ideal for emergency production fixes when production breaks at 1 AM, allowing a cofounder and team member to be in the same room steering one agent. It is also useful for onboarding new team members, who can watch an agent walk through a subsystem and see the actual reasoning and real files. Team members can drive their own agents on their own branches simultaneously, and merging occurs only when branches are ready. The platform supports Opus 5, Sonnet 5, Haiku 4.5, and Fable 5 models. Each person in the room can pick their own model and thinking effort, and the chosen settings apply to the turns they run. Prompts, approvals, agent questions, and chat are live for everyone in the room, and any participant can steer or stop a turn mid-flight.

Pricing

Poly is currently in open beta, and no Anthropic API key is required to get started. The platform covers AI costs during this period. There is a per-account usage limit while in beta, which the team will manage once reached.

Vibes

Poly is designed to be a collaborative and efficient tool for development teams. It eliminates the need for screen sharing or taking turns, allowing teams to collaborate on code generation and debugging simultaneously. The platform is secure and safe, with strict safety measures in place to handle sensitive code and commands. Users can dictate the agent's level of autonomy, from approving every command to requiring the agent to plan first before acting. Rooms are private and invite-only, ensuring that only invited individuals can access the room, its files, or the live preview. The platform is easy to use and supports a wide range of models, making it a versatile tool for development teams.

Additional Information

Poly is currently in open beta, and no Anthropic API key is required to get started. The platform covers AI costs during this period. There is a per-account usage limit while in beta, which the team will manage once reached. Poly supports Opus 5, Sonnet 5, Haiku 4.5, and Fable 5 models. Each person in the room can pick their own model and thinking effort, and the chosen settings apply to the turns they run. Prompts, approvals, agent questions, and chat are live for everyone in the room, and any participant can steer or stop a turn mid-flight.