Kimi CLI Tutorial: Multi-Mode Terminal Agent with MCP and ACP

Learn how to use MoonshotAI/kimi-cli to run an interactive terminal coding agent with configurable modes, MCP integrations, and ACP-based IDE connectivity.

Why This Track Matters

Kimi CLI combines strong terminal workflows with MCP, ACP, session controls, and automation-oriented modes, making it a high-impact option for agentic development teams.

This track focuses on:

• terminal setup, providers, and first-run flow
• command and mode controls for interactive/non-interactive use
• skills, agents, and MCP extension paths
• IDE connectivity through ACP and production governance

Current Snapshot (auto-updated)

• repository: MoonshotAI/kimi-cli
• stars: about 8.5k
• latest release: 1.42.0 (published 2026-05-11)

Mental Model

flowchart LR
    A[Prompt or Command] --> B[Kimi CLI Core]
    B --> C[Agent + Tools]
    C --> D[MCP / External Integrations]
    C --> E[Session and Context Controls]
    B --> F[ACP / IDE Clients]

Chapter Guide

Chapter	Key Question	Outcome
01 - Getting Started	How do I install and run Kimi CLI quickly?	Working baseline
02 - Command Surface and Session Controls	Which startup flags and session options matter most?	Strong command mental model
03 - Agents, Subagents, and Skills	How do I customize behavior for team workflows?	Better task specialization
04 - MCP Tooling and Security Model	How do I add MCP servers safely?	Extensibility with controls
05 - ACP and IDE Integrations	How does Kimi connect to external clients and IDEs?	Multi-client integration strategy
06 - Shell Mode, Print Mode, and Wire Mode	Which mode should I use for interactive work vs automation?	Mode-selection framework
07 - Loop Control, Retries, and Long Tasks	How do I tune long-running autonomous behavior?	Better reliability under complex tasks
08 - Production Operations and Governance	How do teams standardize Kimi CLI usage safely?	Operational baseline

What You Will Learn

• how to run Kimi CLI across interactive, print, and protocol modes
• how to customize agents/skills for project-specific workflows
• how to integrate MCP tools and ACP clients with proper controls
• how to operationalize Kimi CLI for team-scale development

Source References

• Kimi CLI Repository
• Kimi CLI README
• Getting Started docs
• Command reference
• MCP customization docs

Related Tutorials

• GitHub Copilot CLI Tutorial
• OpenCode Tutorial
• Cline Tutorial
• OpenSkills Tutorial

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Start with Chapter 1: Getting Started.

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• Start Here: Chapter 1: Getting Started
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Full Chapter Map

1. Chapter 1: Getting Started
2. Chapter 2: Command Surface and Session Controls
3. Chapter 3: Agents, Subagents, and Skills
4. Chapter 4: MCP Tooling and Security Model
5. Chapter 5: ACP and IDE Integrations
6. Chapter 6: Shell Mode, Print Mode, and Wire Mode
7. Chapter 7: Loop Control, Retries, and Long Tasks
8. Chapter 8: Production Operations and Governance

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