Getting started with Kai
Install Kai, start your first session, and connect your AI coding tools.
Install Kai Terminal
Kai is distributed as a standalone, native desktop application for macOS, Linux, and Windows. No account registration or cloud sign-up is required.
macOS
Apple Silicon (M1–M4) disk image (.dmg). Drag into Applications.
Linux
Debian/Ubuntu package (.deb) or portable .AppImage for x86_64 and ARM64.
Windows
Standard Windows installer (.exe) or system package (.msi).
Launch Kai Terminal
From any shell, run kai open to launch Kai. It opens on your current folder.
kai openTo open a specific folder instead, add the path: kai open /path/to/project.
Run Your AI Coding Tool
Inside Kai, start your coding tool. Kai connects it to your code and updates the map when it finishes.
kai claude .Supported agents: claude, cursor, codex, gemini, opencode, aider, windsurf, cline, copilot, and agy.
You can also run kai setup all inside Kai Terminal to configure all detected agents at once.
Essential Shortcuts
Default key combinations. App shortcuts are remappable in Settings; copy, paste, zoom and tab-jump keys are fixed.
- Command paletteCtrlShiftP
- Copy selectionCtrlShiftC
- PasteCtrlShiftV
- Select all outputCtrlShiftA
- Clear terminalCtrlShiftK
- Scroll to top / bottomCtrlShiftHome / End
- Zoom in / out / resetCtrl= / - / 0
- Jump to tab 1–8 / lastCtrl1–8 / 9
- New tabCtrlShiftT
- Close tabCtrlShiftW
- Split horizontalCtrlAltS
- Split verticalCtrlAltV
- Close split paneCtrlAltW
- Find in outputCtrlShiftF
- Next / prev tabCtrlShift][
- SettingsCtrlShift,