Quickstart with CLI

What you’ll learn

• How to sign in for the first time
• How to check that everything works
• How to have your first chat
• How to get a one-time answer with print mode
• How to leave the chat

This guide takes about 10 minutes. It assumes you have already installed BoldCreate CLI.

Step 1: Sign in

Run:

boldcreate login

Your browser opens. Sign in with your account, then close the tab when it shows Signed in to BoldCreate. The terminal confirms:

Signed in as <your name> <your email> (production).

You only need to do this once. BoldCreate remembers your sign-in.

Tip: If the browser does not open, copy the link printed in the terminal and open it in a browser on the same computer. For other sign-in options, see Signing in.

Step 2: Check that everything works

Show your account and settings:

boldcreate status

List the AI models you can use:

boldcreate --list-models

Each line shows a model ID, its name, and its context size. A * marks the gateway default model. Use a model ID with --model.

Send a small test request. Replace <MODEL_ID> with an ID from the list:

boldcreate status --check --model <MODEL_ID>

The last line should say that the gateway accepted the credentials.

Step 3: Start your first chat

1. Go to a project folder:

   macOS:

   cd ~/code/my-project

   Windows (PowerShell):

   cd $HOME\code\my-project

2. Start the chat:

   boldcreate

3. Type a question and press Enter, for example:

   What does this project do?

The assistant reads your files and answers. The chat header shows the BoldCreate name, version, and shortcut hints. The status line shows the folder, approval mode, model, reasoning effort, and token usage.

Try typing / to see commands, /hotkeys to see shortcuts, or press Esc to stop a long response.

Note: By default, the assistant edits files and runs commands without asking. To be asked first, type /mode manual. See Approvals and safety.

Tip: You can include your first request on the command line: boldcreate "explain the build steps".

Step 4: Leave the chat

Use any of these:

• Press Ctrl+D when the input box is empty.
• Type /quit and press Enter.
• Press Ctrl+C twice.

Your conversation is saved. To continue it later from the same folder:

boldcreate -c

Step 5: Get a one-time answer

Print mode runs once, prints the answer, and returns to your terminal:

boldcreate -p "summarize README.md"

The answer is printed, followed by a line telling you how to continue:

continue: boldcreate -c, or boldcreate --session <session id>

See Print mode and automation for scripts, JSON output, and CI use.

Common mistakes