Chat in the terminal

Ask, attach files and run commands from a terminal, with the same conversations and modes as the web app.

Start the chat

Run elowen in any folder. Interactive chat needs a terminal; a client without credentials asks you to approve it in the browser.

Write a message

• Type your message and press Enter.
• Type / to open the command menu. Read Slash commands for the full list.
• Type @path to attach a file or an image.
• Type /editor to write the current draft in your configured editor.

Tab completes a slash command or a file mention.

If a message is refused, press Enter to retry: already uploaded files are reused. If only some uploads failed, only those files upload again.

Run a shell command

Type !command to run a shell command in the folder the terminal app is in. The command and its output are recorded in the conversation, so the agent sees what it produced.

Your next message is sent as you typed it, not as a request to repeat the command.

While a turn runs

Messages you send while a turn is running wait in a queue.

• Press Esc twice within the interrupt window to stop the turn.
• Press Ctrl+B to move eligible foreground work to the background: delegated work, workflows or shell commands. The work continues; it is not cancelled.
• Press leader x to remove the latest queued message.

Terminal keyboard shortcuts lists every default shortcut and how to change it.

Choose a work mode

/plan, /build and /workflow choose the mode for your later messages in this conversation. Modes do not grant extra permissions.

Move between sessions

Press Ctrl+O to move between the parent conversation and its child sessions.

In a sub-agent view, Esc returns to the parent conversation. Press Ctrl+X, then s to stop the session you are viewing, or Ctrl+X, then k to stop a running sub-agent without leaving the conversation you are reading.

Related guides

• Choose where a conversation runs
• Find and manage conversations
• Send a file or a picture
• When Chetty asks you something or wants approval