Documentation

Starts a new, empty conversation. The previous one is saved and can be reopened with /sessions.

Opens the list of your saved conversations so you can resume one, with its whole history.

Renames the current conversation so you can find it easily.

Writes the conversation to a Markdown file (automatic name, or the one you give).

Copies Kaivo's last answer to the clipboard.

Asks Kaivo for a short recap: what was done, what is left, the decisions made.

Summarises the conversation and continues in a new session that starts from that summary, to free up room without losing the thread. Kaivo also does it on its own near the limit.

Kaivo analyses the project and writes Kaivo.md: test commands, code style, conventions. It reads it again at every launch.

Asks for a detailed plan before acting. Kaivo reads the project but changes nothing and runs no command that changes anything.

Give a goal: Kaivo splits it into short steps, does them one by one and asks for your approval before each change.

Explains a file, a function or a folder in plain words: what it's for, how it works, the tricky parts. Changes nothing.

Describe a problem: Kaivo looks for the cause by reading the code, explains it in one sentence, then proposes the smallest possible fix.

Kaivo looks at your changes, proposes a clear commit message and only commits if you agree.

Finds every TODO, FIXME and HACK in the project and lists them by file, with a suggested priority.

Shows Kaivo.md, the project's memory, or offers to create it if it doesn't exist.

Quick chat for small scripts (Python, Lua/Luau for Roblox, Bash…). Kaivo answers without tools: it neither reads nor changes your project. A QUICK badge shows in the status bar; /quick again to go back to normal mode.

Connects Kaivo to other tools through MCP servers: Roblox Studio, a browser, library documentation… /mcp add roblox installs it in one command (Node.js required). Restart kaivo after adding one; every tool of a plugin asks for your approval.

Lists the installed skills (in the project's .kaivo/skills and in ~/.kaivo/skills) and reminds you how to add some. Each skill also runs with /skill-name.

You describe what the skill should do, Kaivo writes its folder and SKILL.md. Add --global so it works in all your projects.

Installs an existing skill from a folder, a SKILL.md file or a link (GitHub links work). Add --global to keep it for all your projects.

Attaches the image in your clipboard to your message (screenshot, mock-up, error). Shortcut: alt+v. You can also drop an image file into the terminal. Requests with an image go through a free model that can read images.

Opens the file picker to attach an image to your message.

Kaivo runs git status and git diff, then summarises the current changes file by file.

Reviews your current changes and flags likely bugs, things forgotten and improvements, most important first. Changes nothing.

Security review: hard-coded secrets, injections, unchecked input, risky dependencies, wrong permissions. Ranked by severity, with a fix for each problem.

Reviews recently changed code and simplifies it without changing what it does: dead code, repetition. You see the changes before they're applied.

Finds and runs the build, lint and test commands, then summarises what passes, what fails and the likely cause of each failure.

Finds out how to start the project, starts it, then tells you what shows up and whether everything seems to work.

Opens the model picker. With your Kaivo account the model is chosen for you; if you set your own keys (OpenAI, Anthropic…), you choose here.

Opens the terminal colour theme picker.

Turns read-only on or off during the session: no more changes or commands. Accepts on or off; without an argument, it toggles.

Adds your own API key: OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, OpenRouter, xAI, Mistral, DeepSeek, or any OpenAI-compatible API. When the Kaivo model reaches its limit or is overloaded, Kaivo retries the request with your key, on its own. The key stays on your computer (~/.kaivo/keys.json); requests are billed by your provider.

No human approves anything any more: Kaivo changes your files and runs commands without asking. A red BYPASS badge stays in the bottom bar. Keep it for a project under Git. /bypass off to go back; turning it on leaves read-only.

Opens a window that explains the three modes (normal, read-only, bypass) and marks the active one.

Opens a window with the session status: version, signed-in account, model, permission mode, working folder and context used.

Opens a dashboard of your activity: sessions, messages, tokens, active days, current and best streak, with an activity calendar. It also shows on the home screen. The numbers come from your sessions saved on this computer.

Opens a window right away: your account, your usage limits (one bar for the 5-hour session and one for the week, with the reset time), the cost of the conversation, the context used and your project's activity.

Runs the installation check and opens the full report in a window: running program, sign-in, network, tools.

Looks for and installs the latest version, then asks you to quit and restart kaivo to use it.

Shows the installed version of Kaivo CLI.

Opens a window that shows where the configuration files, the project memory and your session are.

Opens your browser to sign in to your Kaivo account.

Opens your browser on the Kaivo sign-up page, then signs you in.

Deletes the session saved on this computer.

Shows the signed-in Kaivo account.

Opens the list of every command (the palette), including your custom commands. Pick one to run it.

Opens the Kaivo CLI documentation in your browser.

Prepares an e-mail to the team, with the Kaivo version in the subject. Tell us what works and what doesn't.

Opens the application logs, useful to understand unexpected behaviour.

Quits Kaivo CLI, after confirmation.

Starts Kaivo CLI in the current folder. If you aren't signed in, a screen offers to sign in or create an account.

Opens the sign-in screen: Sign in or Create an account, then finish in the browser.

Opens the sign-up page directly in your browser.

Deletes the session saved on this computer.

Shows the e-mail address of the signed-in account.

Headless mode: one question, one answer, then the program stops. Every permission is accepted automatically: add --read-only if you want it to change nothing.

Same thing, with JSON output for your scripts.

Starts Kaivo straight in bypass mode: no approval requests. Same precautions as /bypass (project under Git, right folder).

Read-only: Kaivo reads and analyses your project but can neither change a file nor run a command, even with -p. Ideal to audit a project or in a script.

Checks the installation: conflicting command in the PATH, sign-in, access to the site, tools and language servers found. Exits with an error code if it finds a real problem.

Updates Kaivo automatically: downloads the latest version, checks its SHA-256 fingerprint and replaces the program. Same as kaivo update; add --check to only check.

Starts Kaivo CLI in another folder.

Turns on debug logs.

Shows the installed version.