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A terminal interface for Nanocodex

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# tact

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`tact` is a terminal interface for [Nanocodex](https://github.com/gakonst/nanocodex).

<https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5c634ae8-5c74-47c9-bb8c-9c18cb7fc97d>

## Execution environment

Tact does not sandbox agent commands by default. The agent can read and modify files and run
processes with the same permissions as the user running Tact. For a containerized, credential-
isolated setup, see the example [development environment](docker/dev/README.md), which keeps real
OpenAI credentials outside the development container while mounting the workspace and Tact state
read-write.

## Installation

The release installer supports x86-64 and ARM64 glibc-based Linux, as well as Intel and Apple
Silicon Macs:

```sh
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf \
  https://tact.clab.by/install.sh | sh
```

It verifies the release checksum and installs `tact` in `~/.local/bin` without `sudo`. Set
`TACT_INSTALL_DIR` to another absolute directory if you prefer a different location.

You can also install the published crate with Cargo:

```sh
cargo install tact --locked
```

To build the current source instead:

```sh
git clone https://github.com/clabby/tact.git
cd tact
cargo install --locked --path bin/tact
```

### Updates

Official release binaries can update themselves:

```sh
tact update
```

The updater verifies both the release checksum and signature before replacing a release-installer
binary. If Cargo owns the installation, tact instead prints `cargo install tact --locked` so
Cargo's records stay accurate, and builds declared through `TACT_PACKAGE_MANAGER` defer to the
named package manager. Automatic update notifications are shown by every installation except
development builds.

### Packaging

Distribution packagers can declare the package manager that owns the installation at build time:

```sh
TACT_PACKAGE_MANAGER=nix cargo build --release
```

Such builds keep update notifications and the managed review interface, but `tact update` points
at the owning package manager instead of replacing the binary in place. When building from a
source archive without the git repository, the metadata reported by `tact --version` can be
provided through the `TACT_GIT_SHA`, `TACT_GIT_BRANCH`, `TACT_GIT_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP`, and
`TACT_GIT_DIRTY` environment variables.

## Authentication

By default, tact uses the ChatGPT session stored by Codex in `$CODEX_HOME/auth.json` or
`~/.codex/auth.json`. If that file does not exist, it looks for `OPENAI_API_KEY`.

To sign in with a ChatGPT subscription:

```sh
tact auth login
tact auth status
```

`tact auth logout` removes the shared credential file, which also signs Codex out. If you want to
require API-key authentication, pass the key through the environment:

```sh
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-api-key"
tact --auth api-key
```

API keys are never written to tact's configuration or shown in status output.

## Non-interactive use

For scripts and integrations, `tact run` submits one prompt and streams Nanocodex events as JSONL:

```sh
tact run "inspect the workspace"
```

## Configuration

The configuration file is optional. Tact reads `$TACT_HOME/config.toml`, or
`~/.tact/config.toml` when `TACT_HOME` is unset. Select another file with `--config PATH` or
`TACT_CONFIG`.

Use `config show` to discover every available field and inspect the complete effective
configuration after file, environment, command-line, and default values have been applied:

```sh
tact config path
tact config show
```

The default effective configuration looks like this (paths depend on your environment):

```toml
[auth]
mode = "auto" # auto, chatgpt, or api-key
file = "/path/to/.codex/auth.json"

[agent]
workspace = "/path/to/workspace"
thinking = "medium" # low, medium, high, xhigh, or max
reasoning_mode = "standard" # standard or pro
fast_mode = false
max_subagents = 32
instructions = ""
append_instructions = ""
web_search = true
image_generation = true
websocket_url = ""
api_base_url = ""
completion_hook = ""

[mcp_servers]

[skills]
enabled = false
roots = []

[memory]
enabled = false

[subagents]
enabled = true
allow_luna = true

[theme]
mode = "auto" # auto, light, or dark

[theme.light]
text = "reset"
border = "dark-gray"
muted = "dark-gray"
accent = "blue"
code_text = "#262626"
code_background = "#EEEEEE"
thinking_low = "dark-gray"
thinking_medium = "#007878"
thinking_high = "#9A6700"
thinking_xhigh = "red"
thinking_max = "magenta"

[theme.dark]
text = "reset"
border = "dark-gray"
muted = "dark-gray"
accent = "blue"
code_text = "#D7D7D7"
code_background = "#262626"
thinking_low = "gray"
thinking_medium = "cyan"
thinking_high = "yellow"
thinking_xhigh = "red"
thinking_max = "magenta"
```

Set `agent.completion_hook` to a shell command to run after each conversation turn finishes. Tact
runs the command in the configured workspace and ignores its output and exit status. Interactive
sessions start the hook asynchronously so it does not block the UI; `tact run` waits for the hook
before exiting.

The workspace defaults to the directory where tact starts. Relative paths in the configuration are
resolved from the configuration file's directory; relative command-line paths are resolved from the
current directory. Command-line options take precedence over environment variables, which take
precedence over the file.

New sessions append concise built-in guidance for orchestrating related tool calls in code mode.
When subagents are enabled, they also append guidance for delegation and multi-agent pipelines.
Configured `append_instructions` follow that guidance.

Tact loads global instructions from `AGENTS.override.md` or `AGENTS.md` in `CODEX_HOME`, which
defaults to `~/.codex`, followed by project instructions from the Git repository root through the
configured workspace.

The main agent options can also come from the environment. For example, `--workspace`,
`--thinking`, and `--resume` correspond to `TACT_WORKSPACE`, `TACT_THINKING`, and `TACT_RESUME`.
The prompt for `tact run` can be supplied through `TACT_PROMPT`. Run `tact --help` for the complete
command-line reference.

The `/subagents` panel shows the current concurrency limit. Use `-` and `+` there to update it.

Use **Reload config** in the Actions menu after editing the file. Theme and UI changes apply immediately.
Most agent settings apply when a session starts or is restored, while effort and fast mode can also
be changed during a session. Workspace changes require restarting tact.

### Themes

All theme options can be set directly under `[theme]` to apply to both palettes:

```toml
[theme]
mode = "auto" # auto, light, or dark
text = "reset"
border = "dark-gray"
muted = "dark-gray"
accent = "blue"
code_text = "#D7D7D7"
code_background = "#262626"
thinking_low = "gray"
thinking_medium = "cyan"
thinking_high = "yellow"
thinking_xhigh = "red"
thinking_max = "magenta"
```

Put any of the color options under `[theme.light]` or `[theme.dark]` to override that palette. Colors
may be Ratatui names, indexed values such as `239`, or RGB values such as `"#AABBCC"`. Auto mode
follows the operating-system theme while tact is running.

### Custom Endpoints

Advanced deployments can set `agent.websocket_url` and `agent.api_base_url`, or use the
`--websocket-url` and `--api-base-url` options. Leave them unset to use Nanocodex's defaults for the
selected authentication method.

## Features

### Subagents

Subagents are enabled by default. Disable their tools and built-in delegation instructions with:

```toml
[subagents]
enabled = false
```

The reusable runtime and Nanocodex tool surface are published as the `tact-subagents` crate.

This setting applies when a session starts or is restored. Reloading the configuration does not
change the tool surface of an already-running session. `agent.max_subagents` controls concurrency
when the feature is enabled; setting it does not enable or disable subagents. See the
[subagent design](docs/subagents.md) for the tool, lifecycle, messaging, and authority contracts.

By default, agents may choose Luna for straightforward delegated work where latency matters more
than reasoning capability. Require every subagent to use the session's selected model with:

```toml
[subagents]
allow_luna = false
```

### Memory

Tact's bounded cross-session memory is disabled by default. Opt in explicitly:

```toml
[memory]
enabled = true
```

Local memory is global to the selected Tact configuration, not scoped to a workspace. Tact stores
it in `memory/v1.sqlite3` beside the selected `config.toml`. Agents access the selected local or
remote backend only through explicit memory tool calls, and the corpus is never inserted into
prompts automatically. For later user messages and in-flight steers, Tact adds a fixed,
content-free checkpoint asking the agent to review the conversation and update memory when it
finds a durable conclusion. See the
[global memory design](docs/memory.md) for the tool contract, limits, privacy model, and evaluation
criteria.

To share memory with a team, configure an authenticated remote backend. Each person uses a distinct
namespace and may receive either writer or read-only credentials. Tact chooses exactly one backend
for each runtime: remote inside a configured workspace root or a linked worktree from one, and local
outside all configured roots.

```toml
[memory.remote]
endpoint = "https://memory.example.com/"
namespace = "alice"
bearer_token = "replace-with-a-secret-token"
workspace_roots = ["/path/to/team-projects"]
```

Keep the configuration file private with mode `0600`: it contains the bearer token directly. Remote
memory with a direct token currently requires Unix so Tact can verify the file permissions.
`tact config show` and debug output redact the token. An in-scope remote error is returned to the
caller and never falls back to local memory. Runtime operations never push local records.

Use `tact memory push [--dry-run]` from any directory to reconcile the complete global local
store to the writer's personal namespace. Use `tact memory pull --all` or repeat
`--namespace NAME` to non-destructively merge remote records into the local schema v1
store. The [memory guide](docs/memory.md#remote-memory) includes the selection and transfer
contracts, the remote HTTP contract, and an in-memory server walkthrough.

Config reload applies memory-browser availability immediately. Like other agent tool and prompt
settings, the agent-facing memory setting applies when a new session starts or is restored; an
already-running agent retains the tool surface and instructions with which it was created.

### Reflection

Choose **Reflect on session** from the Actions menu while the session is idle. The composer accepts
optional instructions for the reflection; press Enter with an empty composer to use the default
scope, or press Escape to cancel. Tact submits the reflection to the existing agent so it can use
the conversation already in context.

The transcript shows a muted **Reflection started** marker instead of the internal prompt, followed
by the agent's report as a normal assistant response. Reflection is read-only: the report ends with
findings and recommended actions for discussion, and memory updates or other durable actions require
a later explicit request.

The built-in workflow starts with the current conversation, uses `find_sessions` to discover a
bounded set of relevant historical sessions, then uses `read_session` to inspect only the strongest
candidates. Parent-session lineage helps the agent avoid counting related forks as independent
evidence. It checks supported lessons against existing memories and active instructions, and
recommends whether each lesson belongs in memory, always-on configuration, or nowhere. Additional
instructions can narrow the topic or expand the workspace and task-family scope. The report states
the coverage and uncertainty of its evidence; it does not apply its recommendations.

### Review

Enter `/review` while no agent work is active to open a browser-based human review tool for
workspace changes. Tact shows the full branch from trunk by default; you can narrow the range,
inspect the diff, leave overall or inline feedback, and approve or request changes. Tact converts
your review to Markdown and inserts it into the composer so you can edit it before passing it to the
agent. Inline selections can also open a private question thread with the agent; those conversations
help you understand the code but are not included in the rendered review feedback. The browser can
also generate an agent-authored visual overview of the selected range on demand.

Reloading or closing the browser does not cancel the review. Agent question threads remain available,
and an answer already in progress continues in the background. Reopen the live URL shown by Tact,
or cancel explicitly from the browser or Tact.

The review tool requires a separate browser bundle. The first `/review` from each official Tact
version asks for confirmation, then lazily downloads and verifies the matching release artifact.
The bundle is downloaded once per Tact version and stored under `~/.tact/review` by default.

#### Developing the review interface

Development builds do not download browser assets. Install Bun, then build and link the assets into
the development Tact directory:

```sh
cd web/review
bun install --frozen-lockfile
just install-dev
```

To work on the interface in a browser with sample review data, run:

```sh
just dev
```

`TACT_REVIEW_ASSETS=/absolute/path/to/web/review/dist` remains available as a manual override. The
development server watches browser sources, rebuilds them, and reloads connected pages.

### Session Forking

Press `Ctrl+T` or choose **Fork session** from the Actions menu to open an independent session next
to the current one. The fork starts from the stable conversation history available at that point;
new prompts, model responses, and transcripts then remain independent in each pane.

Tact supports one open fork at a time. Close the fork before creating another. Forked sessions are
persisted separately and can be resumed like other sessions.

### Resume

Tact checkpoints each completed turn and keeps an append-only transcript. Open **Resume session**
from the Actions menu to search sessions for the current workspace, or resume a known ID directly:

```sh
tact --resume SESSION_ID
```

Tact prints the active session's resume command when it exits. Session files live beside the
selected configuration in private, versioned `checkpoints` and `transcripts` directories.
Checkpoints contain the complete model-visible conversation and are not redacted, so treat them as
private data.

### Skills

Skills are local `SKILL.md` files containing instructions the model can choose to follow. They are
disabled by default to avoid adding their catalogs to every session's persistent context. Skills
can also direct tool and shell execution, so enable only directories you trust:

```toml
[skills]
enabled = true
roots = ["skills", "/path/to/shared-skills"]
```

Type `$` at a token boundary in the composer to search the active session's skills. Enter or Tab
inserts the selected `$skill-name` into the prompt.

When enabled, tact also searches `$CODEX_HOME/skills` (or `~/.codex/skills`) and
`~/.agents/skills`. A new session discovers the current set of skills. Restored sessions keep the
skill catalog they started with so their instructions remain stable.

### MCP Servers

Tact supports local stdio servers and remote Streamable HTTP servers. Add a local server with:

```sh
tact mcp add filesystem -- \
  npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/workspace
```

Use `--cwd PATH` to set its working directory. To pass a secret from tact's environment, put
`--env NAME` before `--`; tact copies the value into that server's configuration without placing it
in shell history or process arguments:

```sh
tact mcp add --env API_TOKEN private-server -- command --flag
```

The resulting TOML contains the copied value. `tact config show` redacts it, but you should still
protect the configuration file as you would any credential file.

Remote servers refer to environment-variable names instead of storing their values:

```sh
tact mcp add docs --url https://example.com/mcp \
  --bearer-token-env-var DOCS_MCP_TOKEN \
  --header-env X-Tenant-ID=DOCS_TENANT_ID
```

Remote URLs must use HTTP or HTTPS and cannot contain embedded credentials. Each server starts
independently, so a broken server does not prevent the session or other servers from working.

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