Getting Started

August 14, 2026 · View on GitHub

This page takes you through five minutes of setup: install, connect an LLM provider, open the interfaces, send your first message, and install your first ready-made agent program.

Step 1: Install

Install the complete release runtime with its managed Python on macOS or Linux:

curl -fsSL https://openprogram.io/install | sh

The installer supplies its own Python and includes the Web UI, so Node.js is not a runtime requirement. Git is required for session and Memory history; openprogram doctor reports whether it is available. macOS desktop users use the DMG attached to GitHub Releases. Linux users use the complete CLI/server runtime with its Web UI or TUI; no Linux desktop package is currently published. Platform scope and development-checkout instructions are in Install.

Step 2: First run — connect a provider

openprogram

The first run enters a setup wizard that walks you through provider configuration — import credentials from a logged-in Claude Code / Codex / Gemini CLI, or paste an API key — then drops you straight into the terminal chat. Re-run the wizard any time with openprogram setup.

You can also skip the wizard with environment variables:

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...     # Claude
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...            # GPT
export GEMINI_API_KEY=...               # Gemini (GOOGLE_API_KEY also works)

Sanity check: openprogram providers lists the detected credentials.

Step 3: Open the web UI

openprogram web

This starts the background worker and opens your browser at http://localhost:18100 — a single port serving the web UI, the API, and the WebSocket. Change it with openprogram ports --port <p>.

Step 4: Send your first message

Type directly into the terminal chat or the web input box. To quickly verify from the command line:

openprogram --print "Introduce yourself in one sentence"

It sends one message, prints the reply, and exits. Resume an earlier session with openprogram --resume <session_id> — ids come from openprogram sessions list or the web sidebar.

Step 5: Use the included agent programs

Every release includes the GUI, Research, and Wiki Programs. They appear in the Web UI and function list without a separate installation step. Use openprogram programs available to inspect their registration status.

The Program installer is reserved for third-party Programs and developer source overlays. It does not define a reduced or expanded end-user edition.

Next steps