Norn exposes the same local-first review model through three interfaces. You can install and use more than one on the same machine.
Desktop app
Choose the desktop app when visual inspection is central to the review. It provides unified and side-by-side diffs, image previews, local comment drafts, AI review controls, repository management, and explicit publication actions.
Best for:
- reviewing large or visual diffs;
- moving between multiple repositories and pull requests;
- drafting and publishing inline comments;
- configuring integrations and local preferences through a graphical interface.
Terminal UI
Choose the TUI when you want an interactive workspace without leaving the terminal. It supports repository and pull-request browsing, diff navigation, draft comments, AI review, and publication through keyboard-driven controls.
Best for:
- terminal-first development;
- interactive review over SSH or in a lightweight environment;
- switching between PR details, diffs, and AI output quickly.
Headless CLI
Choose norn review when the result will be consumed by a person, script,
agent, or CI job without an interactive UI. It supports working-tree, branch,
and pull-request scopes, Markdown or JSON output, severity thresholds, profiles,
and optional analyzer execution.
Best for:
- pre-push review gates;
- AI-agent workflows;
- CI pipelines and structured output;
- reviewing local work before opening a pull request.
Shared behavior
All interfaces load the repository’s .norn.yaml policy, resolve credentials
outside the repository, and retain reviewer control over publication. A
headless review reports findings but does not publish remote comments.