Spotlight by Backplanes: Illuminate Your AI Agent Sessions

Overview

Spotlight by Backplanes is a tool designed to help developers understand what their AI agents are actually doing. It reads sessions from tools like Claude Code and Codex to create detailed reports. These reports help teams improve their workflows over time. The tool is currently free for individuals and teams and does not require a credit card to start using.

Benefits

Spotlight offers several key advantages for developers who use AI agents. First, it shines a light on every session by monitoring agent activity in real time. If an agent runs for 47 minutes while a developer is in a meeting, Spotlight tracks every move. It then provides quick feedback on what actions are worth keeping, what needs to be fixed, and where time can be saved on future runs.

The tool is built by experienced practitioners from companies like Valimail and Algolia. This ensures the software is reliable and practical. Another major benefit is its easy setup. Users only need to install the command-line interface once. After that, the tool works in the background without interrupting their daily work. It also prioritizes privacy by removing personal information and credentials locally before any data leaves the user's computer. There is no need for OAuth integration with AI providers, which keeps the workflow smooth and uninterrupted.

Use Cases

Spotlight is ideal for developers who want to audit and improve their AI agent usage. It works well for teams that run long agent sessions and need to review what happened afterward. For example, a report might flag an agent that opened a system file like /etc/passwd when it was not part of the task. This helps developers catch security risks early.

The tool is also useful for identifying successful actions. Reports can show clean code refreshes, verified signatures, or successful database migrations. This helps teams celebrate good work and learn from it. Since the interface helps users prioritize which reports need immediate attention, it is perfect for busy development teams who need to manage their time wisely. The tool supports macOS, Linux, and WSL 2, making it accessible for most modern development environments.

Pricing

Spotlight is free for individual developers and the teams they work on. There are no seat limits or trial periods. If a large organization needs specific controls for attribution or volume management, Backplanes can set those up directly with the company. This flexible approach ensures that teams of any size can use the tool without worrying about hidden costs.

Vibes

While there are no specific customer reviews or testimonials in the provided information, the tool has generated interest in the developer community. Its focus on privacy and ease of use suggests it is well-received by those who value security and simplicity. The fact that it is free and requires no credit card to start makes it an attractive option for early adopters who want to test AI agent workflows without commitment.

Additional Information

Spotlight is backed by HF0, a notable funding source. The tool is built by leaders from companies such as Valimail and Algolia, which adds credibility to the project. The future roadmap indicates that Backplanes plans to expand Spotlight's capabilities. Over time, the platform aims to help organizations see and shape the actions of every agent used by their team. This suggests a growing focus on enterprise-level AI management and collaboration.