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BoldCreate

Using Interactive Chat

Start a terminal chat, send messages, reference files, run commands, and manage long conversations in BoldCreate CLI.

What you’ll learn

  • How to start an interactive session and read the chat screen
  • How to send, queue, and edit messages
  • How to reference files and attach images
  • How to run commands from the chat
  • How to handle long conversations and errors

Start a chat

Run boldcreate in the project folder:

boldcreate [PROMPT...] [@file...] [options]
  • PROMPT is an optional first message sent as soon as the chat opens.
  • @file attaches a text file (up to 256 KB) or image to the first message.
  • --cwd DIR uses DIR instead of the current folder.
  • --model ID[:LEVEL] selects a model and optionally its reasoning effort.
  • --thinking LEVEL sets reasoning effort.
  • --agent NAME starts with the agent, plan, or ask agent.
  • -y or --yes starts in auto approval mode.
  • -n NAME or --name NAME names the session.

Examples:

boldcreate
boldcreate "why does the login test fail?"
boldcreate "review this file" @src/app.ts
boldcreate --cwd ~/code/other-project
boldcreate --model <MODEL_ID>:high

The chat opens only in a real terminal window. If you pipe input into boldcreate or redirect its output, it runs in print mode.

The chat screen

AreaWhat it shows
HeaderBoldCreate name and version, plus shortcut hints. Press Ctrl+O to see startup hints and loaded files, external tools, and skills.
ConversationYour messages, the assistant’s answers, and actions such as file edits and commands.
Input boxWhere you type. Its border color shows the reasoning effort.
Status lineThe folder, Git branch, session name, approval mode, token usage, context gauge, model, reasoning effort, and agent.

The context gauge turns yellow above 70% and red above 90%. When it gets high, use /compact.

Type and send messages

To…Do this
Send a messagePress Enter.
Add a new linePress Shift+Enter or Ctrl+J.
Stop the assistantPress Esc.
Send a follow-up while the assistant worksType it and press Enter. It is queued until the current answer finishes.
Edit queued messagesPress Alt+Up.
Reuse an earlier messagePress Up / Down at the top or bottom edge of the input box.
Write a long message in your editorPress Ctrl+G. BoldCreate uses VISUAL, EDITOR, or the externalEditor setting.

On macOS, Alt is the Option key. Configure your terminal to send Option as Meta for Option shortcuts.

Refer to files

Type @ followed by part of a file name. Press Tab to complete it:

Example:

explain @src/utils/date.ts

The path goes into your message so the assistant knows which file to read. For attachments and images, see Files, images, and clipboard.

Run your own commands

Start a line with ! to run a command on your computer yourself, without asking the assistant:

  • !git status runs the command and sends its output to the assistant with your next message.
  • !!git status runs the command and shows its output only to you.

While a command runs, press Esc to stop it. After a ! command, the result is included with your next message. Type /new, or press Esc with an empty input box, to discard it.

These commands run without approval because you typed them.

Note: On Windows, ! commands run in Command Prompt (cmd.exe). Use !dir, not PowerShell commands such as !Get-ChildItem. Change the shell with the shellPath setting.

Long conversations and errors

BoldCreate summarizes older parts of a long conversation automatically. To compact it yourself, enter:

/compact

You can add a focus, for example, /compact keep the database decisions. The full conversation remains saved; only the context sent next is shortened.

For temporary service or connection errors, BoldCreate retries automatically. If a run fails, use /retry. Errors appear with a hint, and the chat stays open.

Use /tasks to view and control background work. See Background tasks.

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