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Getting started

From an installed coding tool to your first conversation in Zoltbot.

macOS · Early release

Before you begin

Start with Claude Code or Codex if you already use one. Zoltbot uses your tool’s existing authentication; connecting a coding agent is separate from signing in to a Zoltbot account.

  • A Mac running macOS 13 or later.
  • At least one installed coding-agent CLI, signed in with its own provider account or configured API access.
  • For a source build: Node.js 24, pnpm 11, and Git.

Get the app

Check the download page for a packaged macOS build. If a download is unavailable, build the public checkout from source. The public README currently documents this source-build path.

git clone https://github.com/zoltlabs/zoltbot.git
cd zoltbot
pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
pnpm dev:ui
  • Keep the UI server running. In a second terminal in the same folder, run pnpm dev:desktop. This opens the Mac app.
  • Source builds leave hosted features disabled unless configured. Local agent setup does not require enabling them.

Connect your coding agents

Already skipped setup? Open Settings → Coding agents, then Open workspace setup. This diagnostics screen is also called Doctor.

  1. Choose Get started in workspace setup. Zoltbot checks this Mac for installed coding tools.
  2. On Connect your coding agents, select an installed tool. If sign-in is required, use Sign in, finish in the window that opens, then choose Check again.
  3. Choose Connect for the selected agents. Setup creates starter profiles for the connected tools.
  4. Review the session and MCP-server import steps. Read the consent text and choose what to include; you do not need old sessions to start a new chat.

Send your first message

In a new chat, sending a message starts the coding tool. Connect loads the tool’s commands and modes ahead of time; it is optional before your first message.

  1. On You’re all set, pick a project, or choose No project for a first trial.
  2. Choose an agent and enter a small request in First message, such as: “Explain what you can help me with. Do not change any files.”
  3. Choose Start. If you leave the message empty, Open chat opens the conversation instead.
  4. Read the reply and respond to any question or approval request before continuing.

Work in a code folder

Create a workspace and set its Code folder to the repository you want the agent to work in. Use Choose code folder or enter its absolute path. A workspace without a code folder gives each chat its own private app folder.

Before asking for changes, confirm the folder and the profile’s permissions. If the agent cannot connect, follow Troubleshooting.