Getting Started

What is Pythinker Code

Pythinker Code is an AI agent that runs in the terminal, helping you complete software development tasks and terminal operations. It can read and edit code, execute shell commands, search and fetch web pages, and autonomously plan and adjust actions during execution.

Pythinker Code is suited for:

• Writing and modifying code: Implementing new features, fixing bugs, refactoring code
• Understanding projects: Exploring unfamiliar codebases, answering architecture and implementation questions
• Automating tasks: Batch processing files, running builds and tests, executing scripts

Pythinker Code supports the following usage modes:

• Interactive CLI (pythinker): Chat with AI in the terminal using natural language or execute shell commands directly
• Browser UI (pythinker web): Open a graphical interface in your local browser, with session management, file references, code highlighting, and more
• Agent integration (pythinker acp): Run as a service and integrate with IDEs and other local agent clients via the Agent Client Protocol

Tip

If you encounter issues or have suggestions, please provide feedback on GitHub Issues.

Installation

Run the native installation script to complete the installation. The canonical endpoint serves the shell script directly and installs the PyInstaller-built binary by default:

# Linux / macOS
curl -fsSL https://pythinker.com/install.sh | bash

# Pin a specific version
curl -fsSL https://pythinker.com/install.sh | bash -s -- --version 0.51.0

# Custom prefix (defaults to $HOME/.local)
curl -fsSL https://pythinker.com/install.sh | bash -s -- --prefix /opt/pythinker

On Windows, run the PowerShell bootstrap. It downloads the native installer, verifies its SHA-256 file, and runs the per-user install:

# Windows (PowerShell)
irm https://pythinker.com/install.ps1 | iex

You can also download PythinkerSetup-0.58.0.exe manually from the latest release.

Verify the installation:

pythinker --version

TIP

Due to macOS security checks, the first run of the pythinker command may take longer. You can add your terminal application in "System Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Tools" to speed up subsequent launches.

If you need the legacy Python package fallback, use:

pip install pythinker-code

Upgrade and uninstall

Upgrade to the latest version:

pythinker update

Uninstall a curl-bash install:

rm ~/.local/bin/pythinker

If you installed through a platform package manager, uninstall with the same tool: Homebrew (brew uninstall pythinker-code), Debian/Ubuntu (sudo dpkg -r pythinker-code), or RPM (sudo rpm -e pythinker-code).

First run

Run the pythinker command in the project directory where you want to work to start Pythinker Code:

cd your-project
pythinker

On first launch, you need to configure your API source. Enter the /login command to start configuration:

/login

After execution, first select a platform. We recommend Pythinker, which automatically opens a browser for OAuth authorization; selecting other platforms requires entering an API key. After configuration, Pythinker Code will automatically save the settings and reload. See Providers for details.

Now you can chat with Pythinker Code directly using natural language. Try describing a task you want to complete, for example:

Show me the directory structure of this project

TIP

If the project doesn't have an AGENTS.md file, you can run the /init command to have Pythinker Code analyze the project and generate this file, helping the AI better understand the project structure and conventions.

Enter /help to view all available slash commands and usage tips.