Exclusive 1-Month Free Preview

The Dual-Engine
Codebase OS.

Stop relying on AI that blindly reads files and breaks your syntax. Backbencher uses surgical AST precision and a local SQLite Brain to navigate, understand, and modify your codebase with mathematical accuracy.

No credit card required. Preview ends in 30 days.

26+ Languages Supported
100x Faster Context
100% Local and Private

How the Brain Engine Works

When you first run bb in your project, something magical happens. Your entire codebase becomes a queryable, semantic graph.

1

JIT Brain Index

Backbencher parses every file through Tree-sitter AST parsers and compiles a local SQLite database containing every function, class, variable, and their relationships. No code leaves your machine.

$ bb
[Brain] Indexing 2,385 files...
[Brain] 69,813 symbols mapped
[Ready] SQLite brain online
2

Surgical Context Extraction

Instead of reading entire files and wasting tokens, the AI queries the brain to extract only the exact byte-boundaries of the symbol it needs, along with its callers and callees.

bb_select getUserById
// Extracts ONLY lines 142-167
// + 3 callers, 2 dependencies
Tokens saved: 94%
3

The AST Scalpel

When modifying code, Backbencher does not use primitive line-replacements. It surgically injects logic into the exact AST node boundaries, guaranteeing perfect syntax and indentation.

bb_update processOrder
// Replaces bytes 4,521 - 4,892
// Syntax validated via Tree-sitter
Zero collateral damage

The Dual-Engine Architecture

Two engines working in perfect harmony. The Brain indexes. The AI reasons. The result is precision.

ENGINE 1

The SQLite Brain

A local, blazing-fast relational database storing every AST node, symbol location, and cross-file relationship in your codebase.

REALTIME SYNC
ENGINE 2

The AI Agent

Your chosen LLM (Claude, GPT, Ollama, etc.) equipped with native AST tools that query the Brain instead of blindly reading files.

Native Brain Tools

Forget grep,cat, andsed. These are the precision instruments the AI uses instead.

bb_search

Semantically search symbols, functions, and patterns across the entire codebase.

bb_select

Extract exact byte-bounded code snippets with caller/callee context.

bb_update

Surgically replace functions or classes using AST coordinates.

bb_relationships

Query the dependency graph: who calls what, and what calls whom.

bb_patterns

Detect orphaned code, architectural violations, and complexity.

bb_security

Scan for vulnerabilities, secrets, and taint flows across languages.

See It In Action

Watch how Backbencher handles a real modification request with surgical precision.

bb ~ my-project
you@dev:~/project$bb "Add retry logic to the fetchUserProfile function"
[Brain] Searching AST index for fetchUserProfile...
[Brain] Found: src/api/user.ts:142 (FunctionDeclaration)
[Select] Extracting symbol with context...
[Select] Byte range: 4,521 - 4,892 (371 bytes)
[Select] Callers: ProfilePage.tsx, useAuth.ts, syncService.ts
[Update] Generating retry wrapper...
[Update] Validating AST integrity via Tree-sitter...
[Update] Injecting at exact byte boundaries...
[Success]src/api/user.ts updated. 0 syntax errors. 3 callers verified.

Get Started in Seconds

One command. No dependencies. The Brain builds itself on first run.

curl -fsSL https://backbencher.cc/install.sh | bash
iwr https://backbencher.cc/install.ps1 -useb | iex

First run will trigger bb_refresh to build your local SQLite brain. Takes around 10 seconds for a 50k LOC project.

Questions and Answers

What models can I use?

Bring Your Own Key (BYOK). Use Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, or even local models like Ollama and LMStudio. Backbencher is model-agnostic.

Is my code sent to the cloud?

Never. The SQLite Brain is built and stored 100% locally on your machine. Only your prompts are sent to your chosen LLM provider.

What languages are supported?

26+ languages including TypeScript, Python, Rust, Go, Java, C++, Ruby, PHP, Swift, Kotlin, and more via Tree-sitter parsers.

What happens after the preview?

You will have the option to subscribe for continued access. Preview users get priority pricing and lifetime benefits.

Ready to experience surgical precision?

Join the preview and see why developers are calling Backbencher the future of AI-assisted coding.