TUI Quickstart
Launch the Codebolt terminal UI and run your first agent task without leaving the terminal.
The TUI requires the CLI to be installed. If you haven't installed it yet, see CLI Quickstart first — the sign-in and provider setup there applies here too.
1. Launch the TUI
cd my-project
codebolt
The TUI starts, connects to the local server, and attaches to the current directory. You'll see the main layout: a chat panel on the right, a file tree on the left, and a status bar at the bottom.
2. Navigate the interface
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Tab | Move focus between panels |
↑ / ↓ | Navigate lists |
Enter | Select / confirm |
Esc | Go back / cancel |
? | Show help overlay |
q | Quit |
The status bar shows the active panel name and available shortcuts for the current context.
3. Send your first message
Focus the chat panel (Tab until the input box is highlighted). Type a task and press Enter:
Explain what this codebase does in 3 bullet points.
The agent's response streams into the chat panel. Tool calls (file reads, searches) appear as they happen.
4. Make a change
Type a follow-up that writes something:
Add a .editorconfig with 2-space indentation for JS/TS.
When the agent finishes, the file tree updates to show the new file. Press Tab to move to the file tree, navigate to .editorconfig, and press Enter to preview it in the editor panel.
5. Roll back or keep
Press c to open the checkpoint list. You'll see a snapshot created before the agent ran. Options:
r— rollback to the selected checkpoint (restores all files instantly)Esc— dismiss and keep the changes
To commit what you like:
# Switch to a regular terminal (don't quit the TUI — just open another tab)
git add .editorconfig && git commit -m "add editorconfig"
Key panels
| Panel | How to open |
|---|---|
| Chat | Tab to focus, or press 1 |
| File tree | Press 2 |
| Terminal | Press 3 |
| Agent list | Press a |
| Settings | Press s |
| Checkpoint list | Press c |
Next: TUI Overview · Navigation & Keybindings