Quickstart
Download Nimbalyst
Open a Project
A project is a folder opened in Nimbalyst that maintains its history, context, window state.
If you have GitHub locally, you would choose various GitHub projects
If you don't, create a folder in your filesystem called Nimbalyst Projects
Open a folder into Nimbalyst and work there
You can have multiple Nimbalyst screens open working in different projects at the same time. A consistent color will help you tell them apart.
Project state is automatically saved and restored when you reopen the folder
(Return to this screen from Windows -> Project Manager or Command P to open another project)
You can only view and edit files that are in your Nimbalyst project, but you can have your coding agent read, use, manipulate files elsewhere on your computer if you give permission.
Coding Agents
Nimbalyst works with Claude Code and Codex. At least one must be installed.
If you already have a coding agent installed and running on your desktop, we will use it through its SDK.
If you do not have Claude Code CLI, we will install it for you automatically.
You must install Codex CLI yourself prior to using Nimbalyst.
You must either enter your API Key in the Settings in Nimbalyst or authenticate to OpenAI or Anthropic in their CLIs.
Files Mode
Work with Claude Code and Codex in interactive, WYSIWYG markdown docs, mermaid diagrams, excalidraw drawings, html mockups, data models, csv, sessions and code.
Focus on one file:
Edit the file in the center panel. See red/green diffs from your coding agent and review, accept them.
Work with your agent in the right panel to edit this file or explore other files, research the web.
Navigate and manage your files in the left panel file manager
Edit Markdown
Nimbalyst uses Markdown for everything (content, data, metadata)
Work in native markdown mode or in the WYSIWIG Editor with markdown commands
Open a markdown document from your folder, start editing it manually
Or create a New Document by clicking the icon or ... File > New (Cmd+N) creates a new document
Save with Cmd+S. Documents are saved as standard markdown files
Remember your documents are on disk in your file system and so they can be edited by other AIs or you in other applications
Cmd + Y will give you your file history and let you use it
AI Chat Panel
Leverage the AI Chat panel to edit your documents or do research / chats
Select a provider from the dropdown (See AI Provider Setup and Notifications to set up Claude Code, Codex, and other providers)
The first time you try to use a coding agent, if you are not authenticated, the Agent chat will step you through authenticating.
The AI Agent can see and operate on your current document and your whole project
AI Edits show up as Red/Green Diffs for your approval
Each AI conversation is a session which can be saved and resumed
Edit Mockups
Create a mockup by typing /mockup in the agent panel . Click to open it in the editor.
Edit via modifying the html source or by annotating it (draw on it) or by selecting a div and then ask the agent to make changes
Embed the mockup into your document by typing /
Agent Mode
Session Management: organize, find, and continue your AI conversations. Track the files changed by a session and coordinate your stepping through and approving each one.
Coding support: All the power of Claude Code and Codex plus file tracking, diff visualization, code editing, and / command support with Github status tracking.
You conversation with the agent is in the central panel. Focus on this interaction
The left panel contains the list of your sessions. Group sessions together into workstreams
The right panel contains the files that the agent touched in that session or group of sessions. Click on a file to open it in the center. Right click to open it in files mode.
Mobile App
Manage your AI coding agents on the go with the Nimbalyst Mobile App.
Session Dashboard — see all active, completed, and paused sessions at a glance
Diff Review — swipe through file changes with red/green diffs optimized for mobile
Resume & Reassign — resume stalled sessions with a voice note or typed instruction from your phone
Push Notifications — get notified when sessions complete, hit errors, or need approval
Desktop Sync — changes approved on mobile appear instantly on desktop
All Agents — manage Claude Code and Codex sessions from one app
See the full mobile-app.md docs for details.
Shortcuts
Click Help -> Shortcuts or enter Command / to see a list of shortcuts for Nimbalyst
Cmd+O — Quick Open for recent documents
Cmd+P — Project Quick Open to switch between projects
Cmd+K — Agent Mode
Cmd+E — Files Mode
Cmd+N — New File/Session
Cmd+Shift+N — New AI session from any mode
Cmd+Shift+K — Session Kanban board
Cmd+L — Quick Session Open
Cmd+[ / Cmd+] — Jump between tabs
Cmd+Shift+V — Force-paste as plain text
Tutorial
Learn coding agents and Nimbalyst from this tutorial that uses Claude Code to auto-adjust the curriculum and examples for you based on your interests and experience.
Download the tutorial (it is a markdown document) to your desktop from the Google Drive here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CrGERVGrtqTfs-RHonkWiSEVdk66IFhd/view?usp=sharing
Chat with your coding agent in Nimbalyst and ask it to copy the Tutorial doc so you can use it as a slash (/) command. Then type /cctutorial in Nimbalyst and the tutorial will auto-detect that you are in Nimbalyst and teach you both Claude Code and Nimbalyst together.
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