Kiwi Code DocsTerminal User: Kiwi TUI
Get started with Kiwi Code using the full-screen terminal interface.
Terminal User: Kiwi TUI
The TUI (Terminal User Interface) is the recommended way to use Kiwi Code. It gives you a full-screen chat experience with the AI, complete with file attachments, slash commands, and real-time streaming.
1. Install
pip install kiwi-aipipx installs Kiwi Code in an isolated environment and makes kiwi and kiwicli available globally.
pipx install kiwi-aiuv pip install kiwi-ai2. Launch the TUI
kiwiYou'll be prompted to log in on first launch. Enter your email and password — after that, you're in.
The full-screen terminal interface shows:
- Chat area — your conversation with the AI
- Input bar — type messages, slash commands, or
@to attach files - Status bar — current action, run ID, and processing status
Runtime auto-connects
When you launch the TUI, a local kiwi-runtime process starts automatically in the background. This lets the AI read and write files, run shell commands, search your codebase, and execute tests — no manual setup needed.
3. Send Your First Message
Type a message and press Enter. For example:
Explain the architecture of this repositoryThe AI will respond in the chat area. Status indicators like "Thinking" or "Analyzing" will appear while the AI processes your request.
What You Get
- Full-screen interactive chat with the AI
- Slash commands (
/role,/mode,/rewind,/worktree, etc.) - File attachments with
@or/upload - Checkpoint and rewind support
- Worktree mode for isolated AI experiments
- Keyboard shortcuts and customizable themes