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Use Firstbeam from your terminal

Install once, refresh your terminal environment and check your engine.

Firstbeam · 2 min read · 12 October 2026

Desktop or CLI-only installation

The Windows desktop installer includes the CLI and registers its current-user directory. For CLI-only installation on Windows x64 with Node.js 20+, run the npm command below. The packaged launcher verifies its native executable. A PowerShell installer is also available on the download page.

Terminal
npm install -g https://firstbeam.xyz/cli/package.tgz

Refresh the terminal host

Fully close Windows Terminal, PowerShell or your terminal host after installation. A new tab inside a running host can inherit the old PATH. Reopen CMD and check where firstbeam resolves before launching a conversation.

Terminal
where firstbeam
firstbeam --version

Start a conversation or task

Run firstbeam for the interactive launcher, choose an engine and enter a task. Use help to inspect available commands and options. Existing engine authentication is used; a working launcher does not imply the provider account is authenticated.

Terminal
firstbeam
/engine

Choose the right surface

The CLI supports provider conversations and individual tasks. Desktop team orchestration and bidirectional desktop-feed synchronization are separate capabilities and are not currently available in the CLI. Use Desktop when you need the shared team editor and visual project tools.

If CMD cannot find the command

Check the installed executable directly before changing PATH. If the executable reports its version, the binary is present and the remaining problem is command lookup. Run install-path to register that directory, close the terminal host completely and try where firstbeam again. Do not replace an installed working executable with an unrelated archive.

Terminal
"%LOCALAPPDATA%\Firstbeam\cli\firstbeam.exe" --version
"%LOCALAPPDATA%\Firstbeam\cli\firstbeam.exe" install-path

Read the doctor result

Doctor checks engine installation and account bindings. Treat the selected engine, account and project as separate inputs. A provider error should be investigated in its native runtime; a CLI input or rendering issue should be reported with terminal size and reproduction steps. Keep the exact help output close to hand because supported commands can change between releases.