Apache-2.0freeRuns locallyDev & Coding
Headroom: Compress Agent Context
Apache-2.0 context compression layer for AI agents (library, proxy, MCP).
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 76,787 (2026-10-21)
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows, Python, Node
- First seen
- 2026-01-07
TL;DR. Headroom is Apache-2.0 context compression layer for AI agents (library, proxy, MCP). License: Apache-2.0 (verified). Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Python, Node. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to Cursor, Claude Code, ChatGPT.
| Name | Headroom |
|---|---|
| Language | Python |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing | free |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows, Python, Node |
| Runs locally | Yes |
| Stats | 76,787 stars · 5,960 forks (as of 2026-10-21) |
| First seen | 2026-01-07 |
| Repository | https://github.com/headroomlabs-ai/headroom |
Headroom is a context-compression layer for AI agents. Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-21: headroomlabs-ai/headroom, release v0.41.0, and docs.headroomlabs.ai. It hung off Cursor alternatives and Claude Code alternatives because those are the agent hubs, not because Headroom is an IDE.
It was trending on GitHub on 2026-10-21 (last push the same day). It is not a new model checkpoint.
Key facts (2026-10-21)
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stars / forks | 76,787 / 5,960 | GitHub API |
| Created | 2026-01-07T19:58:51Z | same |
| Last push | 2026-10-21T00:47:00Z | same |
| License | Apache-2.0 | LICENSE |
| Language | Python | GitHub |
| Latest release | v0.41.0, 2026-10-14T22:46:09Z | GitHub Releases |
| Surfaces named | Library, proxy, MCP server | README / description |
README (copied labels): compresses tool outputs, logs, RAG chunks, and files before they reach the model. Vendor token-% figures stay vendor. forkalt has not measured tokens.
Related
- Cursor alternatives · Claude Code alternatives
- ChatGPT alternatives
- Orca (same-day trending agent orchestrator)
- Cline · OpenCursor
- Dev & Coding
FAQ
Is Headroom open source?
Yes. LICENSE is Apache-2.0 (checked 2026-10-21). PyPI package name on the README badge is headroom-ai; npm is also named. We have not published those package versions here.
Does it make models cheaper or better?
The README claims token reductions (about 20% for coding agents, 60–95% for JSON) with “same answers.” Those are vendor claims. We have no sourced bake-off.
Why is it on Cursor and Claude Code hubs?
It is a compression layer agents read through, not a Cursor or Claude Code clone. Topics on the repo include claude-code and cursor. See those hubs for the actual agents (Cline, OpenCursor).
Sources & verification
- https://github.com/headroomlabs-ai/headroom
- https://github.com/headroomlabs-ai/headroom/blob/main/LICENSE
- https://github.com/headroomlabs-ai/headroom/releases/tag/v0.41.0
- https://docs.headroomlabs.ai/docs
- https://github.com/headroomlabs-ai/headroom/blob/main/.github/assets/hero.svg
License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.