Install Coldtea

Install Coldtea when you already have a repo and at least one coding agent you want to run from the desktop app.

Coldtea hosts local CLI agents. If the agent works in your normal terminal, Coldtea can usually launch it once the app can find the binary and the project path.

Before you install

You need:

• The Coldtea desktop app for your operating system.
• A local Git repository.
• At least one supported CLI coding agent: Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, or OpenCode.
• Provider credentials for the agent you plan to use.
• A TeaHouse, your team workspace in Coldtea. Setup requires one; you create or join it during first-run setup, and it holds your tasks, integrations, and Matcha testing.

You do not need to connect every integration on day one. Start with one repo and one agent. Add team surfaces after the local loop feels right.

Install the app

1. Download the desktop app from the distribution channel provided by Coldtea or your team.
2. Move the app into your Applications folder if your operating system asks for it.
3. Open Coldtea.

On first launch the app walks you through account sign-in, creating a TeaHouse, connecting GitHub, and picking a project. See first-run setup for that stepper. If you are evaluating Coldtea alone, you can still start with a local project before inviting anyone else.

Check your agents

Coldtea launches the agent CLIs installed on your machine. Before starting a real task, check the agent from your normal terminal:

claude --version
codex --version
gemini --version
opencode --version

You only need the commands for the agents you actually use. If a command is not found, install or update that agent first, then reopen Coldtea so discovery can run again.

Open a project

1. In Coldtea, add or select a local Git repository.
2. Let the workspace load.
3. Confirm you can see a terminal area and the project files.
4. Review any repo instructions, such as AGENTS.md, before asking an agent to edit code.

Coldtea remembers recent projects, so you can get back to the same repo without adding it again.

Keep the first run small

For the first brew, avoid a sweeping prompt. Ask the agent to inspect the repo, explain the main app structure, or make one safe change you can review quickly.

A good first prompt:

Inspect this repo and explain where the docs app lives. Do not edit files yet.

That proves the terminal, project path, and agent setup work before you hand over code changes.

If setup looks wrong

Check these first:

• The repo is a real Git checkout.
• The agent command works in your normal shell.
• The provider auth for that agent is already configured.
• Coldtea has permission to access the project folder.
• You are in the correct TeaHouse if you expect shared tasks or integrations.

Next: first-run setup to finish onboarding, or run your first brew.