# How to Run the Kimi-Code Application: Installation, CLI Commands, and TUI Walkthrough

> Learn to run the Kimi-Code application easily. Install via script, authenticate, and master TUI for interactive coding or CLI for quick tasks. Get started with Kimi-Code today.

- Repository: [Moonshot AI/kimi-code](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-14

---

**Run the `kimi` binary after installing via the official script, authenticate with `/login` on first launch, then use the TUI for interactive sessions or CLI flags for one-off tasks.**

The **kimi-code** application from MoonshotAI/kimi-code is a terminal-based AI coding assistant that ships as a self-contained binary. This guide explains how to install, authenticate, and run the application using both its interactive TUI and command-line interface, with references to the actual source implementation in `apps/kimi-code`.

## Installation: Get the Kimi-Code Binary

Kimi-code distributes pre-built binaries through install scripts. Choose your platform:

### macOS and Linux

```bash
curl -fsSL https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.sh | bash

```

This script downloads the appropriate binary and places it on your `PATH`【source 5†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/README.md#L14-L20】.

### Windows (PowerShell)

```powershell
irm https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.ps1 | iex

```

Verify the installation:

```bash
kimi --version

```

This prints the current version and confirms the binary is executable【source 6†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/README.md#L32-L34】.

## Running Kimi-Code: Two Modes

The application supports **interactive TUI sessions** and **one-off CLI commands**. The entry point is [`apps/kimi-code/src/main.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/main.ts), which parses arguments and routes to the appropriate handler.

### Interactive TUI Mode (Default)

Navigate to your project directory and run:

```bash
cd /path/to/your/project
kimi

```

This launches the **TUI** (Terminal User Interface) built on `pi-tui`【source 1†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/tui-state.ts】. The main loop in [`src/main.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/main.ts) initializes the runtime environment, resolves the data directory (`~/.kimi-code`), loads bundled binaries, and hands control to [`src/tui/tui-state.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/tui/tui-state.ts)【source 3†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/main.ts】.

#### First-Time Authentication

On initial launch, run this command inside the TUI:

```

/login

```

Choose **OAuth** or **API-key** authentication. The session token persists to the data directory for subsequent runs【source 8†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/README.md#L47-L51】.

### One-Off CLI Commands

Skip the TUI for quick tasks using `run-prompt` or sub-agents:

**Execute a single prompt:**

```bash
kimi run-prompt "Explain the main directories of this repo"

```

This command is implemented in [`src/cli/run-prompt.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/cli/run-prompt.ts) and processes the request without loading the full UI【source 9†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/cli/run-prompt.ts】.

**Use a specialized sub-agent:**

```bash
kimi coder "Add a unit test for my new function"

```

Sub-agents (`coder`, `explore`, `plan`) are dispatched from the TUI's command palette and execute focused tasks【source 10†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/utils/foreground-task.ts】.

## Runtime Architecture: What Happens When You Run

Understanding the three-layer architecture helps troubleshoot issues when running kim-code:

| Layer | Purpose | Key Source File |
|-------|---------|---------------|
| **Bootstrap** | Detects platform, resolves `$KIMI_CODE_HOME`, prepares `~/.kimi-code` data and binary directories | [`src/utils/paths.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/utils/paths.ts)【source 2†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/utils/paths.ts】 |
| **Core CLI** | Parses `--agent`/`--agent-file` flags, routes commands (`run-shell`, `run-prompt`, etc.) | [`src/main.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/main.ts)【source 3†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/main.ts】 |
| **TUI / Runtime** | Manages interactive UI, event handling, plugin execution, and feedback loops | [`src/tui/tui-state.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/tui/tui-state.ts)【source 4†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/tui-state.ts】 |

The **native asset manager** ([`src/native/native-assets.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/native/native-assets.ts)) locates bundled executables like `fd` and `rg` in `dist-native/bin`, enabling tool-augmented responses without external dependencies【source 1†https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/apps/kimi-code/src/tui/tui-state.ts】.

## Advanced: Running from Source

For development or customization, build and run from the repository:

```bash

# Clone and install dependencies

git clone https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code.git
cd kimi-code
npm install

# Build the binary

npm run build

# Run the development build

node apps/kimi-code/dist/main.js

```

The build process compiles TypeScript and bundles native assets into the `dist-native/bin` directory.

## Platform Support

Kimi-code runs on:

- **macOS** (Intel and Apple Silicon)
- **Linux** (x86_64, ARM64)
- **Windows** (via Git Bash or native PowerShell)

The bootstrap layer in [`src/utils/paths.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/utils/paths.ts) handles platform-specific path resolution and directory creation automatically.

## Summary

- **Install** with the official curl/PowerShell scripts, then verify with `kimi --version`
- **Authenticate once** using `/login` inside the TUI; credentials persist to `~/.kimi-code`
- **Run interactively** with bare `kimi` command in any project directory
- **Execute one-off tasks** with `kimi run-prompt "<query>"` or `kimi coder "<task>"`
- **Architecture**: Bootstrap ([`paths.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/paths.ts)) → CLI routing ([`main.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/main.ts)) → TUI runtime ([`tui-state.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/tui-state.ts))

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need to authenticate every time I run kimi-code?

No. Run `/login` once inside the TUI on first launch. The session token persists to `~/.kimi-code` as handled by the authentication flow in [`src/tui/tui-state.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/tui/tui-state.ts). Subsequent launches use the cached credentials automatically.

### Can I use kimi-code without the interactive TUI?

Yes. Use `kimi run-prompt "<your question>"` for single queries, or invoke sub-agents directly like `kimi coder "<task description>"`. These commands execute via [`src/cli/run-prompt.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/cli/run-prompt.ts) without initializing the full terminal interface.

### Where does kimi-code store its data and bundled binaries?

Runtime data lives in `~/.kimi-code` (or `$KIMI_CODE_HOME` if set). Bundled native binaries like `fd` and `rg` are managed by [`src/native/native-assets.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/native/native-assets.ts) and extracted to `dist-native/bin` within the application directory. Platform detection and path resolution occur in [`src/utils/paths.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/utils/paths.ts).

### What sub-agents are available when running kimi-code?

The main sub-agents include `coder` (code generation/editing), `explore` (repository exploration), and `plan` (task planning). These are dispatched through the foreground task system in [`src/tui/utils/foreground-task.ts`](https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code/blob/main/src/tui/utils/foreground-task.ts) and can be invoked directly from the CLI or selected in the TUI command palette.