---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Install Cody CLI, the AI-powered terminal coding assistant from AINative Studio. 9 coding models, 100+ slash commands, MCP tools, and zero-signup onboarding."
canonical: "https://docs.ainative.studio/docs/cody-cli/getting-started"
last-updated: "2026-10-22T17:48:46.689Z"
---

# Getting Started

Source: https://docs.ainative.studio/docs/cody-cli/getting-started

> Install Cody CLI, the AI-powered terminal coding assistant from AINative Studio. 9 coding models, 100+ slash commands, MCP tools, and zero-signup onboarding.

# Getting Started with Cody CLI

Cody CLI is AINative Studio's AI-powered terminal coding assistant. It runs in your terminal and uses AI to help you write, refactor, and understand code — with 9 coding models, 5-level agent nesting, and zero-signup onboarding.

**Current version: v0.11.0**

## Installation

### npm (recommended)

```bash
npm install -g @ainative/cody-cli
```

### npx (no install required)

```bash
npx @ainative/cody-cli
```

### curl installer (macOS / Linux)

```bash
curl -fsSL https://ainative.studio/install-cody.sh | sh
```

### Homebrew

```bash
brew tap ainative-studio/cody
brew install cody
```

## Quick Start — Zero Signup

Cody works immediately after install — no account, no email, no API key required:

```bash
npm install -g @ainative/cody-cli
cody
```

A temporary token (`tmp_` prefix) is auto-provisioned on first run. You get free-tier models instantly. Temporary tokens expire after 72 hours — upgrade to a full account to keep your data and unlock paid models. Once authenticated, all new keys use the `sk_` prefix.

See [Authentication](/docs/cody-cli/authentication) for all auth options.

## First Run

### Interactive mode

```bash
cody
```

### Single prompt

```bash
cody -p "Explain this codebase"
```

### Print mode (pipe-friendly)

```bash
cody --print "What does this function do?"
```

### Specify a model

```bash
cody --model kimi-k2 -p "Fix this bug"
```

### Dry run (preview without API call)

```bash
cody --dry-run -p "Refactor this function"
```

## Key Concepts

- **Tools** — Cody can read/write files, run bash commands, search codebases, browse the web, and more.
- **MCP Servers** — Connect external tools via the Model Context Protocol.
- **Memory** — Cody persists context across sessions via ZeroDB.
- **CODY.md** — Place instructions for Cody in a `CODY.md` file at your project root.
- **Skills** — 11 built-in skills with a marketplace for community skills.
- **Agents** — 5-level nested sub-agents for complex multi-step workflows.

## Essential Commands

| Command | What it does |
|---------|-------------|
| `/goal <condition>` | Work autonomously until condition met |
| `/code-review` | Review git diff for bugs |
| `/security-review` | OWASP Top 10 vulnerability scan |
| `/pr-review` | Review a pull request |
| `/bg <task>` | Run task in background |
| `/auto on` | Enable smart permission classification |
| `/workflow run <file>` | Execute YAML workflow |
| `/agent-view` | List running agents |
| `/model` | Switch models interactively |
| `/config key=value` | Set config inline |

See the full [Commands Reference](/docs/cody-cli/commands) for all 30+ commands.

## Available Models

Cody ships with 9 top coding models — 4 free, 5 paid:

| Model | Tier | Notes |
|-------|------|-------|
| deepseek-4-flash | Free | **Default (free)** — 79% SWE-Bench |
| kimi-k2 | Free | **Default (paid)** — 80.2% SWE-Bench |
| qwen3-coder-flash | Free | Strong agentic coder |
| llama-3.3-70b-instruct | Free | Reliable fallback |
| qwen-coder-32b | Professional | Balanced quality + speed |
| glm-5 | Professional | Strong coding + tools |
| kimi-k2-thinking | Professional | Reasoning model |
| claude-sonnet-4.5 | Enterprise (BYOK) | Premium quality |
| claude-opus-4 | Enterprise (BYOK) | Highest quality |

All 9 models support tool use. See [Model Configuration](/docs/cody-cli/model-config) for details.

## Next Steps

- [Authentication](/docs/cody-cli/authentication) — OAuth, API keys, auto-provisioning
- [Commands Reference](/docs/cody-cli/commands) — All slash commands
- [Features](/docs/cody-cli/features) — Full feature overview
- [Model Configuration](/docs/cody-cli/model-config) — Configure and switch models
- [MCP Servers](/docs/cody-cli/mcp) — Connect external tools
- [Memory](/docs/cody-cli/memory) — Persistent context across sessions