Orchestrate multi-repo workspaces
with scoped permissions for AI agents

Define your workspace topology once. Let AI understand where it can—and can't—make changes.

$ npm install -g binder-cli

What is Binder?

Binder is a CLI tool for managing multi-repository workspaces with AI assistants. When you work across multiple repos, AI doesn't know which ones you own vs. which you're just referencing. Binder solves this by generating a CONTEXT_MAP.md file that gives AI agents a semantic map of your workspace with explicit permissions.

Three Scopes. Clear Boundaries.

Binder uses three permission levels to tell AI exactly what it can do in each repository.

OWNER

Your domain. Full authority.

Full read/write access
Refactor freely
Make breaking changes

PLATFORM

Guest contributor. Tread carefully.

Limited write access
Follow existing patterns
Minimal changes only

REFERENCE

Read-only. For context.

No modifications
Read for understanding
Never suggest changes

How It Works

Step 1

Define

Create a binder.yaml that maps your workspace topology.

name: my-workspace

repos:
  - name: my-service
    url: git@github.com:org/my-service.git
    scope: owner

  - name: shared-platform
    url: git@github.com:org/platform.git
    scope: platform

  - name: legacy-api
    url: git@github.com:org/legacy-api.git
    scope: reference

Step 2

Pull

Binder clones all repositories idempotently.

$ binder pull
✔ Cloned my-service (owner)
✔ Cloned shared-platform (platform)
✔ Cloned legacy-api (reference)

Step 3

Generate Context

Generate CONTEXT_MAP.md for your AI assistant.

$ binder context
✔ Generated CONTEXT_MAP.md

What AI Sees

The generated CONTEXT_MAP.md gives AI clear instructions about each repository.

# WORKSPACE TOPOLOGY & SCOPE DEFINITIONS

**Workspace:** my-workspace

## SCOPE: OWNER (Full Authority)

- my-service at ./repos/my-service

Permissions: Full read/write access. Refactor freely.

## SCOPE: PLATFORM (Restricted)

- shared-platform at ./repos/shared-platform

Permissions: Limited write. Follow existing patterns only.

## SCOPE: REFERENCE (Read-Only)

- legacy-api at ./repos/legacy-api

Permissions: Read-only. Do NOT modify.

Quick Start

# Install
npm install -g binder-cli

# Initialize workspace
binder init

# Edit binder.yaml to add your repos...

# Clone everything
binder pull

# Generate AI context
binder context

# Check status anytime
binder status

Works With Your AI Tools

Binder generates markdown context that works with any AI tool that accepts system prompts or context files.

Cursor GitHub Copilot Claude Code Windsurf Cody Aider

Orchestrate multi-repo workspaces with scoped permissions for AI agents