Getting started

When to read this: You are installing Chatty for the first time and want to send your first message.

Chatty is a desktop and terminal AI agent that runs on your own machine: your keys, conversations and files stay local, and the model only reaches what you switch on. Why it exists: the landing page.

1. Install

Download the latest release from GitHub Releases:

On Linux, make the AppImage executable and run it:

chmod +x chatty-linux-x86_64.AppImage
./chatty-linux-x86_64.AppImage

AppImages need FUSE 2. If it fails with error loading libfuse.so.2, install it: sudo apt install libfuse2t64 on Ubuntu 24.04+, sudo apt install libfuse2 on Ubuntu 22.04 and Debian, sudo dnf install fuse-libs on Fedora. Without FUSE, ./chatty-linux-x86_64.AppImage --appimage-extract-and-run works too.

Chatty checks for new releases in the background and offers them in the status footer. Details: Advanced.

2. Connect a provider and add a model

1. Click the gear icon in the title bar to open Settings, then Models & Providers.
2. Manage keys — paste an OpenRouter key, point at a local Ollama, or connect Azure OpenAI. Press Test to check it.
3. Add model — search the provider’s catalogue, tick the models you want, then Add.

Ollama models appear on their own once Ollama is running. Azure fields, the roster, favourites and troubleshooting: Providers & models.

3. Send a message

Close Settings and type. A new conversation opens on a start screen that shows what is switched on — modules, MCP servers, agents, file access, memory and whether a workspace is set — so you know what the agent can reach before you ask. Switch models with the selector at the bottom of the chat.

• Type / for the command picker (↑/↓, Enter).
• Type @ to mention a file from the working directory.

Rendering, attachments, artifacts, cost tracking and search: Chatting.

4. Turn on tools (optional)

Tools are off by default, so at this point Chatty is a chat window. To let the agent read and edit files, run commands and use extensions, open Settings → Code Execution, set a Workspace Directory, switch on Enable Code Execution and choose an approval mode. Walkthrough: Agents & tools. What each approval mode does and how the sandbox works: Security & sandboxing.

Tip

Web access is a separate switch (Settings → Internet) and is on by default, so the agent can fetch pages and search the web even before you enable code execution.

Desktop or terminal?

Both share the same providers and models. Install the terminal app from the desktop app: Terminal interface.

Next

• Providers & models
• Chatting
• Agents & tools