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Goose 1.56.0 adds subagent resume, concurrency limits and a JS runtime

Updated Goose

Summary

Goose v1.56.0, published October 23, 2026, lets failed subagents resume, caps concurrent subagents, adds a Windows installer and swaps its code mode to the Boa JavaScript runtime.

Tool
Goose
Category
Coding agents
Date
Open source
Yes
License
Apache-2.0
Pricing
Not stated in the sources we cited.
Sources

The Goose project published v1.56.0 on October 23, 2026, a week after 1.55.0. Most of the release is about subagents: failed or cancelled delegate subagents can now be resumed, a new environment variable caps how many run at once, and the desktop app links to subagent sessions. It also adds a Windows installer and replaces the code mode runtime.

Release facts

FactDetail
ProductGoose
Versionv1.56.0
Release dateOctober 23, 2026
LicenseApache-2.0, as reported by the GitHub API
Where to get itGitHub release v1.56.0

What changed

  • Resume subagents. Delegate subagents that failed or were cancelled can be resumed instead of restarted (#13015).
  • Concurrency cap. GOOSE_MAX_CONCURRENT_SUBAGENTS limits how many subagents run at the same time (#12946). The global turn limit is now also the fallback turn limit for subagents.
  • Subagent sessions in the UI. The desktop app links to each subagent's session, opened as view-only (#12998).
  • Automatic thinking level. Goose can set the model's thinking level automatically (#12237).
  • Code mode runtime. The PCTX code mode is replaced with the Boa JavaScript runtime (#12952).
  • Windows installer. The desktop app ships an NSIS installer for Windows (#12869).
  • Providers. An IO Intelligence provider is added, providers can define cache prices, and OpenAI Responses requests now send the session id as prompt_cache_key.
  • MCP. MCP tools get provider-safe public names (#12875).
  • CLI. The CLI reports session status through OSC 7501, so terminals that read it can show what Goose is doing (#12928).

Fixes worth knowing

The release fixes a Windows build error, keeps ! in npx arguments on Windows, bounds rendering of long conversations in the desktop app, uses the context length that OpenRouter reports, and stops showing compaction countdowns to models. Bedrock users get a fix for blank text blocks sent in place of tool confirmation requests.

Questions

How do I stop Goose from running too many subagents at once? Set GOOSE_MAX_CONCURRENT_SUBAGENTS. The release notes add it as the limit on concurrent subagents.

Can I continue a subagent that crashed? Yes. Goose 1.56.0 can resume failed or cancelled delegate subagents, according to the release notes.

Is there a native Windows installer now? Yes. The desktop app adds a Windows NSIS installer in this release.

For more, see the Goose tool hub, the Coding agents category, the earlier Goose 1.55.0 launch and Goose vs Cline.

Alternatives

Goose compared with its alternatives
ToolLicensePricing note
GooseThis launchApache-2.0 agent from Block. The repository describes Goose as an open-source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions.
Apache-2.0Apache-2.0 client. Provider access is separate.
ClineApache-2.0 coding agent published as an SDK, IDE extension, or CLI assistant in the cline/cline repository.
Apache-2.0The repository license is Apache-2.0. Model access is separate.
AiderApache-2.0 terminal pair programmer. The project describes Aider as AI pair programming in your terminal.
Apache-2.0Apache-2.0 software. Model access is separate.
OpenCodeOpen-source coding agent from the anomalyco/opencode repository, MIT-licensed, with a terminal client and a site at opencode.ai.
MITThe client is MIT-licensed. Model access is separate; this page does not quote a hosted plan.

More from Goose

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Questions

What is Goose?

Goose is an open-source AI agent maintained in the block/goose repository. GitHub's description is an open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions. The LICENSE file is Apache-2.0, copyright 2024 Block, Inc.

What are Goose alternatives?

OpenCode, Cline, and Aider are the coding-agent alternatives linked here.

Filed on Agent Radar. Claims in this note are limited to the sources above.