From first install to a working workspace.

Know what you need before you install

PAUITerm is a desktop application, not a Node package. Most developer tools are conditional: install only the tools your project and chosen agents actually use.

Install PAUITerm Desktop

Download the installer from the official PAUITerm site. Do not use an installer for a different operating system or CPU architecture.

1. 1

   Open the Downloads page

   Go to the official PAUITerm Downloads page and confirm the current version.
2. 2

   Choose the correct build

   On macOS, choose Apple Silicon for M-series Macs or Intel for Intel Macs. If you are unsure, run the command below: arm64 means Apple Silicon and x86_64 means Intel.

   macOS TerminalCopy

   uname -m

3. 3

   Install and launch

   Open the downloaded .dmg, move PAUITerm to Applications, then launch it. Windows and Linux builds marked Coming Soon are not downloadable yet; do not substitute the macOS installer.
4. 4

   Approve only the official build

   If macOS blocks the first launch, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and use Open Anyway only after confirming the file came from the official PAUITerm download page.

Install only the developer tools you will use

Do this in your normal system terminal before adding an agent in PAUITerm. Each executable must be installed, available in PATH, and authenticated.

node --version
npm --version

npm install -g @openai/codex

codex --version

curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash

claude --version
claude doctor

npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

gemini --version

ollama --version

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

ollama pull llama3
ollama run llama3

ollama pull qwen3
ollama pull gemma4
ollama pull gemma3:4b
ollama pull deepseek-r1:8b

Verify everything before opening an agent

A version number means the executable is visible. A command-not-found message means the tool is missing or PAUITerm cannot see its PATH yet.

command -v node npm codex claude gemini ollama
node --version
npm --version

Get-Command node,npm,codex,claude,gemini,ollama -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
node --version
npm --version

Optional tools may be absent. Verify only what you plan to use. After a new global installation, fully quit and reopen PAUITerm so the desktop process can rebuild its executable search path.

Create your first project

In PAUITerm, a project is a saved connection to a local folder. The folder remains the source of truth; PAUITerm does not upload or copy it.

1. 1

   Click + Add Project

   Use the orange + button at the bottom of the project rail.
2. 2

   Choose the folder

   Select Browse… and pick an existing codebase or empty folder. The project name fills from the folder name and can be changed.
3. 3

   Set the identity

   Add a short badge of up to four characters and choose an accent color. These make projects easy to recognize in the left rail.
4. 4

   Choose an editor engine

   Select PAUITerm Editor for the built-in Monaco editor. Choose Local VS Code Web only if OpenVSCode Server, code-server, or a compatible VS Code web provider is already available locally.
5. 5

   Create Project

   PAUITerm opens the project and starts watching its files. Nothing is initialized in Git and no GitHub login is requested.

Learn the workspace before you run anything

The interface separates saved items from live panes. Closing a pane hides that view; stopping a session ends its process.

Open and use a terminal

A terminal is an interactive shell that starts in the project folder. Use it exactly as you use Terminal, PowerShell, or another system shell.

1. 1

   Create a terminal

   Click the + beside Terminals. PAUITerm opens the default shell in a workspace pane.
2. 2

   Run project commands

   Install dependencies, run tests, or start the app. The tool behind each command must already be installed.

   Example Node projectCopy

   npm install
   npm run dev

3. 3

   Use a different shell when needed

   Use the + shell selector. PAUITerm detects common shells including zsh, bash, fish, PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, and Git Bash when available.
4. 4

   Manage the lifecycle

   Use Start, Restart, or Stop. Right-click a terminal row for rename and delete actions.

Add and run an AI agent

An agent is a saved CLI launch configuration. PAUITerm runs the real CLI in a PTY; the provider still owns authentication, billing, models, and usage limits.

1. 1

   Test the CLI outside PAUITerm

   Run codex, claude, gemini, or an Ollama command such as ollama run qwen3 or ollama run gemma4 in your system terminal first. Finish authentication for cloud CLIs or confirm the selected local Ollama model responds.
2. 2

   Click + Add Agent

   In the project sidebar, open Agents and click its + action.
3. 3

   Choose a template

   Select an installed CLI and confirm its Executable: codex, claude, gemini, or ollama.
4. 4

   Keep arguments intentional

   Leave Arguments empty for a normal first run. Add flags only when you understand the current CLI documentation. Avoid permission-bypass flags as a default.
5. 5

   Choose shell and lifecycle options

   Auto is correct for most users. Start after save launches immediately. Auto-restart should be reserved for sessions that must return after an unexpected exit.
6. 6

   Save and work in the pane

   Give the agent a focused task, review its proposed changes, and use the sidebar controls to stop or restart it.

Save commands you run often

A saved command turns a long or frequently used shell line into a named project action with its own live output pane.

The Command field suggests entries from the offline catalog and scripts discovered in package.json, composer.json, Makefile, and justfile. A suggestion does not install the underlying program.

Edit and manage project files

The built-in PAUITerm Editor uses Monaco, the editing engine behind VS Code, with a project file tree and multi-file tabs.

• ✓Open a file from Explorer; it appears in an editor tab.
• ✓Create a file or folder from the toolbar or context menu.
• ✓Right-click to cut, copy, paste, duplicate, rename, move, or delete.
• ✓Use the file filter or Quick Open to find files quickly.
• ✓Watch the tab dot for unsaved changes; PAUITerm also auto-saves.
• ✓For outside changes, choose Revert or Overwrite from the banner.

Useful shortcuts

Complete your first daily workflow

This is the shortest practical loop that exercises every core PAUITerm area without adding unnecessary tools.