> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bolt-builder-bolt-cli-5b0aab46-mintlify-541a0110.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Started with Bolt in Under a Minute

> Install Bolt, open your project, connect a provider, and run your first AI prompt — all in under 60 seconds with this step-by-step guide.

This guide walks you through installing Bolt, launching it in a project, connecting an AI provider, and running your first prompt. The whole flow takes under a minute.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Bolt">
    The quickest path is the official install script, which works on macOS and Linux:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install | bash
    ```

    Prefer a package manager? Install globally with npm, bun, pnpm, or yarn:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npm i -g @bolt-builder/bolt-cli
    ```

    For the desktop app on macOS (no Gatekeeper detour):

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bolt-builder/bolt-cli/dev/install-desktop | bash
    ```

    See the [Installation guide](/installation) for all methods, including Homebrew, Chocolatey, Scoop, and Windows-specific notes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open your project">
    Navigate to any project directory and launch the interactive TUI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cd my-project
    bolt
    ```

    Bolt picks up your project context automatically — reading your file tree, understanding the stack, and making it available to every agent from the moment you open it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure an AI provider">
    On first launch, Bolt will prompt you to configure a provider if none is set. You can also run this at any time:

    ```bash theme={null}
    bolt providers
    ```

    This opens the provider management flow where you can add API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, and other supported LLM providers. Configuration is saved to `.bolt/bolt.jsonc` in your project root.

    ```jsonc theme={null}
    {
      "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
      "provider": {
        // Provider config goes here
      }
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Type a prompt and explore agents">
    Once inside the TUI, type your prompt and press Enter. Use **Tab** to switch between Bolt's ten built-in agents at any time — the current agent is shown in the status bar.

    You can also run prompts directly from the command line without opening the TUI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    # Non-interactive prompt using the default agent
    bolt run "explain this codebase"

    # Use a specific agent
    bolt run --agent ask "what does this project do?"

    # Attach the TUI to a running server (local or remote)
    bolt attach <url>
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Built-in agents

Switch agents with `Tab` in the TUI, or pass `--agent <name>` to `bolt run`. Each agent has a defined access level to match its purpose.

| Agent         | Access | Description                                                      |
| ------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `code`        | Full   | Default: reads, writes, and runs code                            |
| `plan`        | Read   | Explores the codebase and produces a plan without changing files |
| `ask`         | Read   | Questions and research — no file edits                           |
| `code-review` | Read   | Reviews changes for correctness, style, and security             |
| `debug`       | Full   | Debugs failing tests, crashes, and logic errors                  |
| `refactor`    | Full   | Safe refactoring with test verification at each step             |
| `docs`        | Edit   | Writes and updates documentation and comments                    |
| `security`    | Read   | Security audit: vulnerabilities, secrets, patterns               |
| `migrate`     | Full   | Framework upgrades and dependency migrations                     |
| `perf`        | Full   | Performance analysis and optimization                            |

There are also two built-in subagents for delegation: `@general` for complex multi-step tasks and `@explore` for fast read-only codebase research. You can define your own agents as Markdown files or generate one with `bolt agent create`.

## Common commands to try next

```bash theme={null}
# Review staged changes with a pass/fail exit code
bolt review --staged

# Generate a commit message for staged changes
bolt commit

# List and manage sessions
bolt session list

# View token usage and cost statistics
bolt stats

# Query the local session database
bolt db
```

<Tip>
  Pass `--mini` to `bolt` or `bolt attach` for a compact UI that takes up less terminal space — great for smaller windows or split-pane layouts.

  ```bash theme={null}
  bolt --mini
  bolt attach --mini <url>
  ```
</Tip>

<Warning>
  `bolt run` accepts `--auto`, `--yolo`, and `--dangerously-skip-permissions` flags that auto-approve all permission prompts without asking. Use these only in trusted environments — they allow the agent to read, write, and execute without confirmation.

  ```bash theme={null}
  bolt run --auto "refactor this module"
  bolt run --yolo "refactor this module"
  bolt run --dangerously-skip-permissions "refactor this module"
  ```
</Warning>

<Note>
  Bolt supports shell completions for bash, zsh, fish, and other shells. Generate and install completions with:

  ```bash theme={null}
  bolt completion
  ```

  Follow the printed instructions to source the completion script in your shell config.
</Note>