Welcome to BLACKBOX CLI! This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in just a few minutes. By the end, you’ll understand how to use BLACKBOX CLI for common development tasks.

​
Before you begin

Make sure you have:
  • A terminal or command prompt open
  • A code project to work with (optional)
  • A BLACKBOX AI account to login

​
1. Install BLACKBOX CLI

​
For Unix/Linux/macOS (Bash)

curl -fsSL https://shell.blackbox.ai/api/scripts/omni-cli/download.sh | bash
Installation Command

​
For Windows (PowerShell)

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://shell.blackbox.ai/api/scripts/omni-cli/download.ps1" -OutFile "download.ps1"; .\download.ps1

​
2. Configure BLACKBOX CLI

BLACKBOX CLI requires configuration before first use. Use the configure command to set up your providers: 
blackbox configure
# You'll be prompted to configure providers and enter your API key on first use

​
Select Configuration

Select the configuration that you wish to change. For the initial setup, select Configure Providers. Configuration Step

​
Choose Model Provider

Select your preferred AI model provider from the available options. BLACKBOX CLI supports multiple providers to give you flexibility. Select Model Provider

​
Enter API Key

Provide your BLACKBOX API key when prompted. You can get your API key from the BLACKBOX Dashboard.
  • Navigate to your dashboard
  • Copy your API key
  • Paste it in the terminal when prompted

​
Select Your Model

Choose the specific AI model you want to use from your chosen provider. You can select from the best closed-source or open-source models available. Look at the full list of BLACKBOX AI supported models Here. Select Model
You can reconfigure your settings at any time by running blackbox configure again.

​
3. Start your first session

Open a new terminal window and start an interactive chat session: 
blackbox session
# or use the short alias
blackbox s
Start Agent You’ll see the BLACKBOX CLI prompt ready for your commands: 
BLACKBOX CLI is ready!
Press Ctrl + C to quit.
After configuration, your settings are stored on your system. You can start new sessions or resume previous ones using blackbox session.

​
4. Ask your first question

Let’s start with exploring BLACKBOX CLI’s capabilities. Try one of these commands: 
> what can you help me build today?

> show me what programming languages you support
If you’re in an existing project, you can ask about your codebase: 
> analyze this project and tell me what it does

> what files are in this directory?

> help me understand the project structure
You can also ask for project ideas and guidance: 
> suggest a beginner-friendly web development project

> what's the best way to structure a Python API project?
BLACKBOX CLI reads your files as needed - you don’t have to manually add context. It can analyze your entire project structure and provide intelligent assistance.

​
5. Create your first project

Let’s start by creating a simple project from scratch: 
> create a simple todo list web app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

> build a basic calculator app with a clean interface

> create a personal portfolio website template
BLACKBOX CLI will:
  1. Create the necessary files and folders
  2. Write the complete code for your project
  3. Set up proper file structure
  4. Provide instructions for running the project
BLACKBOX CLI can create complete projects from scratch, including all necessary files, dependencies, and configuration.

​
6. Make code improvements

Now let’s enhance existing code. Try these improvement tasks: 
> add responsive design to my website

> improve the styling of my todo app with modern CSS

> add form validation to my contact form

> optimize my JavaScript code for better performance
BLACKBOX CLI will:
  • Analyze your existing code
  • Suggest and implement improvements
  • Maintain code functionality while enhancing features
  • Explain the changes made

​
7. Debug and troubleshoot

BLACKBOX CLI excels at finding and fixing issues: 
> my website isn't displaying correctly on mobile devices - fix it

> there's an error when I click the submit button - debug this

> my CSS styles aren't applying properly - help me fix this

> optimize my code to load faster
BLACKBOX CLI will:
  • Identify the root cause of issues
  • Provide detailed explanations
  • Implement fixes automatically
  • Test solutions to ensure they work

​
8. Explore advanced features

Discover more powerful capabilities of BLACKBOX CLI: Advanced Project Creation 
> create a full-stack e-commerce website with user authentication

> build a REST API with database integration and testing
Code Generation and Automation 
> generate unit tests for all my functions

> create a deployment script for my web application
Integration and Setup 
> set up a development environment with hot reloading

> integrate a payment system into my e-commerce site
Remember: BLACKBOX CLI is your AI-powered terminal assistant. Describe what you want to achieve in natural language, and it will handle the technical implementation.

​
Essential commands

Here are the most important commands for daily use:
CommandWhat it doesExample
blackbox sessionStart interactive chat sessionblackbox session or blackbox s
blackbox configureConfigure settings and providersblackbox configure
blackbox projectOpen last project directoryblackbox project or blackbox p
blackbox projectsList recent project directoriesblackbox projects or blackbox ps
blackbox runExecute commands from fileblackbox run instructions.txt
blackbox infoDisplay system informationblackbox info
blackbox updateUpdate CLI to latest versionblackbox update
Ctrl+CExit interactive sessionexit

​
Pro tips for beginners

Instead of: “fix the bug”Try: “fix the login bug where users see a blank screen after entering wrong credentials”
Break complex tasks into steps:
> 1. create a landing page with hero section and navigation

> 2. add a contact form with email validation

> 3. make the entire site mobile-responsive
Begin with manageable projects and build complexity:
> create a simple weather app that shows current conditions

> build a basic blog template with multiple pages
Learn while you build:
> explain how this CSS flexbox layout works

> teach me about JavaScript event handling while building this feature

​
What’s next?

Now that you’ve learned the basics, explore more advanced features:

Key Features

Explore all capabilities and use cases

Common Use Cases

See practical examples and workflows

​
Getting help

  • Natural Language: Simply ask “how do I…” or “help me with…”
  • Documentation: Browse these guides for comprehensive information
  • Dashboard: Visit your BLACKBOX Dashboard for account management