# Install and first run > Install the terminal app, sign in, and keep it up to date. The terminal app (the TUI) is one command, `zidane`. *Terminal: A chat in the terminal app: the transcript, the prompt and the footer.* ```text ┌ Rate limiting /chat ──── ▢ ─ ~/acme-api 1 user message 4 turns ctrl+shift+x session ┐ │ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ ❯ How is /chat rate limited? │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ↳ ▸ Used find the rate limiter and read it [expand] │ │ │ │ The limiter in src/limits.ts keeps a sliding window per IP: 20 requests a minute on / │ │ chat, then a 429. │ │ │ │ It lives in memory, so each instance counts on its own. Behind a load balancer, move │ │ the counts to Redis. │ │ │ │ ≡ Opus 5.5 3s ↻2 ↑5.2k ↓138 18500 tk/s │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────────────────────── ↵ send shift+↵ newline ↑↓ history ? search ctrl+s messages ┐ │ Ask zidane… │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ shift+tab Build ctrl+m/l Opus 5.5 +1 medium ctrl+shift+x session ctrl+o settings ctx 2.89k / 1.00M (0%) ``` ## Install and run **Install script** ```bash curl -fsSL https://zidane.si/install | sh zidane ``` The script downloads the binary for your machine from `https://zidane.si/dl`, checks its SHA-256 against the release manifest (and the manifest's signature when [minisign](https://zidane.si/docs/verify.md) is installed), and puts it in `~/.local/bin`. Options go after `sh -s --`: `--prefix ` installs to `/bin`, and `--version ` picks the previous release. Run the script again to update. **Homebrew** ```bash brew install tahul/tap/zidane zidane ``` `brew upgrade zidane` updates it. **npm** ```bash npm install -g zidane-tui zidane ``` **bun** ```bash bun add -g zidane-tui zidane ``` **From a checkout** ```bash bun install bun run build bun run tui ``` Every file is also on the [download page](https://zidane.si/download). The npm package pulls one prebuilt binary for your machine. A small launcher runs it on Node 18 or later, so you do not need Bun. | Platform | Package | | - | - | | macOS, Apple silicon | `zidane-tui-darwin-arm64` | | macOS, Intel | `zidane-tui-darwin-x64` | | Linux x64 (glibc) | `zidane-tui-linux-x64` | | Linux arm64 (glibc) | `zidane-tui-linux-arm64` | The launcher checks your C library with `ldd --version`. Alpine and other musl systems have no binary yet, and the launcher says so. With `--ignore-scripts`, the launcher finds the binary on first run. ## First launch On a fresh install, `zidane` opens the setup wizard. It has the steps of the desktop app: Welcome, Connect, Bring your setup, Connectors, Skills, Extensions, Look, Conversation, Autonomy, Features and Ready. A step that does not apply is left out. Full setup takes about two minutes. Quick start asks for a provider and your setup from other agents, and keeps the defaults for the rest. *Terminal: The setup wizard on a first launch, with what zidane found on this computer.* ```text ┌ set up zidane ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1/10 ┐ │ │ │ Welcome Connect Connectors Skills Extensions Look Conversation │ │ Autonomy Features Ready │ │ │ │ Set up zidane │ │ This takes about two minutes. You can change every choice later in Settings. │ │ │ │ ▶ ✓ Full setup │ │ Quick start │ │ │ │ Choose your provider, tools, look and how zidane works. About 2 minutes. │ │ │ │ Found on this computer │ │ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in your environment used in Connect │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ↑↓ choose ↵ continue │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` | Key | Does | | - | - | | `↑` `↓` | Move. On Welcome, Look and the model list of Connect, the move also picks the row. | | `Space` | Pick the row, or turn it on or off | | `Enter` | Continue. On Ready, Start, or go back to the step of a recap line. | | `S` | Skip the step and keep its values | | `Esc` | Go back one step | The terminal app needs a provider, so Connect has no Skip. Pick a provider to set it up, as in the steps below. A provider that is ready shows its model, its effort and a test message that it answers. *Terminal: Connect with a key from the environment, the model, the effort and a live test.* ```text ┌ set up zidane ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 2/10 ┐ │ │ │ ✓ Welcome Connect Connectors Skills Extensions Look Conversation │ │ Autonomy Features Ready │ │ │ │ Choose an AI provider │ │ The provider runs the model that answers you. Your keys stay on this computer, in a │ │ file that only you can read. │ │ │ │ Anthropic │ │ Uses ANTHROPIC_API_KEY from your environment. │ │ ✓ Claude Opus 5.5 answered in 1.2 s. │ │ │ │ Model │ │ Claude Opus 4.7 │ │ Claude Opus 4.8 │ │ Claude Opus 5 │ │ ▶ ✓ Claude Opus 5.5 default │ │ Claude Sonnet 4.5 (latest) │ │ Claude Sonnet 4.5 │ │ 9–14 of 17 │ │ │ │ Effort │ │ off minimal low medium high xhigh max adaptive │ │ More effort thinks longer and costs more. │ │ │ │ │ │ ↑↓ model ←→ effort ↵ continue esc back │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` Skills lists the recommended sources. `Space` opens one, or the last row, where you type a source. In a source, `Space` picks a skill, `A` picks them all, and `Esc` goes back to the sources. Your picks stay when you open another source. *Terminal: Skills with a recommended source open and two skills picked.* ```text ┌ set up zidane ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 4/10 ┐ │ │ │ ✓ Welcome ✓ Connect ✓ Connectors Skills Extensions Look Conversation │ │ Autonomy Features Ready │ │ │ │ Teach zidane how you work │ │ A skill is a folder of instructions. The agent reads one when a task needs it. │ │ │ │ mattpocock/skills 3 skills 2 picked │ │ │ │ ━━● grill-me │ │ ▶ ━━● improve-codebase-architecture │ │ ●── tdd │ │ │ │ Find opportunities for architectural improvement, focusing on testable, deeper │ │ modules. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 2 to install when you continue. │ │ │ │ ↑↓ move space pick a all ↵ continue s skip esc back │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` Connectors, skills and extensions install in the background once you pass their step. Ready lists them. Press `Enter` on a failed one to try again, or on a connector that needs its browser sign-in to sign in. Look shows the theme on the whole app as you move. A provider that an extension adds shows in Connect after you install the extension and start zidane again. *Terminal: Features, each switch with what it does and an example.* ```text ┌ set up zidane ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 9/10 ┐ │ │ │ ✓ Welcome ✓ Connect ✓ Connectors ✓ Skills ✓ Extensions ✓ Look │ │ ✓ Conversation ✓ Autonomy Features Ready │ │ │ │ Turn on what you want │ │ You can change these, and more, in Settings. │ │ │ │ Work │ │ ▶ ━━● Codemode experimental │ │ ━━● Inline autocomplete │ │ ●── Auto-update session titles uses tokens │ │ ●── Spaces │ │ Trust │ │ ●── Load project extensions │ │ In the background │ │ ━━● Check for updates │ │ ━━● Check usage │ │ │ │ The model runs several tool calls at once, in one short script inside a sandbox. │ │ │ │ Gives you Many tool calls in one step. Long tasks take fewer turns, so runs finish │ │ faster and cost less. │ │ Prevents A context full of small tool results. Only what the script prints goes │ │ back to the model. │ │ │ │ For example, to read 12 files, the model writes one script that reads all of them, │ │ instead of 12 tool calls. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ↑↓ move space turn on or off ↵ continue s skip esc back │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` An install from before the wizard never opens it on its own. To open it again, use Run setup again at the end of [Settings › Agent](https://zidane.si/docs/tui-settings.md#action-rows), or Run setup in the command palette. It then starts on Connect, with your current values, and `Esc` on that first step closes it. `ZIDANE_NO_ONBOARDING=1` turns it off at launch. Every step, and what each one writes, is on [setup wizard](https://zidane.si/docs/ui-onboarding.md). ## Sign in With no provider set up and the wizard off, `zidane` opens the provider picker. Connect in the wizard uses the same steps: ## 1. Pick a provider Each provider's needs are on [providers](https://zidane.si/docs/providers.md). ## 2. Pick a method API key, or OAuth in the browser when the provider offers it. A provider with one method skips this step. ## 3. Enter the credential Paste the key, or finish OAuth in the browser. Local LLM asks for a base URL, an optional key, a default model and a context window. OAuth on a provider you already use asks which account to replace or what to name the new one. Keys from environment variables also work. Add or switch providers later in [Settings › Authentication](https://zidane.si/docs/tui-models.md#settings--authentication). The credentials file location is on [files and folders](https://zidane.si/docs/files.md). ## What opens | You launch | You see | | - | - | | First time | The [setup wizard](#first-launch) | | With a provider set up | Your last session (Settings › Agent › Start from last session) | | With that setting off | The [sessions list](https://zidane.si/docs/tui-sessions.md) | `Esc` in a chat opens the sessions list. `Esc` there returns to the open chat, or quits when none is open. When the prompt or an input has selected text, `Ctrl`+`C` copies it and `Ctrl`+`X` cuts it. Text that you select with the mouse goes to the clipboard when you release the button. With no selection in the prompt or an input, `Ctrl`+`C` follows Settings › UI › Ctrl+C behavior: | Choice | Ctrl+C does | | - | - | | Quit (default) | Quits | | Confirm | Asks first | | Stop, then quit | The first press stops the run (or clears the prompt). A second press within 1.5 seconds quits. | ## Command-line switches | Flag | Description | | - | - | | `--no-daemon` | Force the in-process runtime: the kill switch for the daemon setting (sets ZIDANE_NO_DAEMON=1). | | `--no-remote` | Turn remote hosts off (sets ZIDANE_NO_REMOTE=1): refuses --host and ignores ZIDANE_HOST_URL. | | `--host ` | Launch the TUI on a remote zidane server (also ZIDANE_HOST_URL). | | `--token-file ` | Read the server's device token from a file, or from stdin with - (also ZIDANE_HOST_TOKEN). | | `--token ` | The device token itself. It shows in ps and shell history: prefer --token-file. | | `-v, --version` | Print the version and exit. | | `-h, --help` | Print this help and exit. | `--no-daemon`: [the daemon](https://zidane.si/docs/daemon.md). `--no-remote`, `--host` and the token flags: [remote hosts](https://zidane.si/docs/tui-remote.md#open-the-app-on-one-server). Subcommands (`run`, `daemon`, `attach`, `server`, `machine`, `upgrade`): [CLI](https://zidane.si/docs/cli.md). ## Updates The footer checks for a new `zidane-tui` once a day and shows `↑ vX.Y.Z` when one exists. Install it with: ```bash zidane upgrade ``` The chip then turns into `↻ vX.Y.Z`. Restart the app to use the new version. To install new releases in the background, turn on Settings › Agent › Install updates automatically. The app never restarts on its own, and the daemon restarts once nothing runs. A global desktop app install (`zidane-gui`) upgrades in the same run. Flags and exit codes: [CLI](https://zidane.si/docs/cli.md#updating). | To stop the check | Do | | - | - | | In the app | Turn off Settings › Agent › Check for updates | | For a shell | Set `ZIDANE_NO_UPDATE=1` or `NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER=1` | | In CI | Nothing: the check never runs when `CI` is set | ## Same engine as the desktop app The terminal app and the [desktop app](https://zidane.si/docs/desktop.md) run the same chat engine and read the same files: [one engine, two apps](https://zidane.si/docs/apps.md). ## Reference - [`zidane/tui`](https://zidane.si/docs/reference/tui.md): `runTui` and the options to embed the app