Photon

Photon is an open-source TypeScript runtime designed to enable the creation of agent workflows and applications that operate across multiple user and agent interfaces. ts file, which can then be deployed as MCP tools, CLI commands, Beam applications, embedded chat UIs, web routes, scheduled jobs, and webhooks. Photon aims to simplify the process of building tools that can be accessed by both agents and humans on a variety of surfaces.

Key features of Photon include support for retries, verifiable runtime contracts, state management, scheduled tasks, webhooks, locks, authentication, and OAuth integration. The system can render embedded applications inside chat clients and supports integration with ChatGPT developer mode through a public HTTPS MCP endpoint, as well as Claude Desktop via a local MCP server. Photon emphasizes a low cognitive load for developers by allowing methods, comments, tags, state, settings, and surfaces to be defined in a compact and composable manner. The platform is intended for use cases where developers want to turn TypeScript code into trusted tools, applications, routes, schedules, and workflows that agents can use reliably.

Photon is delivered as a TypeScript runtime and is available as an npm package. It is released under the MIT License, making it free and open source for both personal and commercial use. The tool is part of the Portel ecosystem and is developed by Portel Dev. Photon is positioned as a framework for building agentic applications that can be easily composed and verified, supporting a range of deployment targets and operational requirements.