# Interactive TUI

[Docs](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs) / [RightNow Agent](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/agent) / [Interactive TUI](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/interactive)

Updated 2026-10-17

> **Release status**
>
> RightNow Agent, the terminal coding agent, is paused. Its guides stay online as reference.

In the interactive TUI, inference goes to your configured provider and approved tools run on your machine.

## Launch

Use an existing installation. Open your project directory in a terminal, then run:

**Text**

```text
rightnow
```

Expected result: running the binary without `-p`, `--prompt-json`, `--prompt-file`, or a subcommand opens the TUI.

Without a usable provider key the Connect screen opens first; see [Authentication](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/authentication), or set `RIGHTNOW_API_KEY` for RunInfra.

A quoted positional prompt becomes the first turn.

Native releases support Windows x64, Windows ARM64, macOS Apple Silicon, macOS Intel, Linux x64, and Linux ARM64. Windows 10 and 11 require PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell 7 in a 64-bit host. Linux binaries are static and have no glibc requirement.

On Windows, automatic shell detection prefers PowerShell 7, then Windows PowerShell. `RIGHTNOW_SHELL` can explicitly select `pwsh`, `powershell`, `bash`, or `cmd`. The `powershell` override selects Windows PowerShell even when PowerShell 7 is installed.

## Composer and context

### Write a prompt

Type a request and press `Enter`. Responses, tool calls, command output, and file edits stream into the scrollback. `Tab` moves focus between the composer and the scrollback.

### Attach files with @

`@` opens a fuzzy file picker that respects `.gitignore` and hides dotfiles; `@!` includes hidden files. Add a line range for precise context.

**Text**

```text
@src/main.rs
@src/main.rs:10-50
@src/
@!.gitignore
```

### Run a command yourself

Type `!` on an empty composer for shell mode. The command runs without a model call; its output lands in the scrollback and joins the conversation as context.

## Cancel and quit

During a turn, `Esc` cancels from the composer or the scrollback and keeps your draft. In fullscreen vim mode, `Esc` leaves the turn running; use `Ctrl+C` there. With a draft present, the first `Ctrl+C` only clears it.

Press `Ctrl+Q` twice to quit. In VS Code-family terminals, press `Ctrl+D` twice instead.

## Commands and render modes

`Ctrl+P` opens the searchable command palette: actions, slash commands, keyboard shortcuts, and available skills. With scrollback focused, `?` also opens it. Typing `/` in the composer opens the slash-command menu.

**Input modes**

| Mode | How to enter | Behavior |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fullscreen | `/fullscreen` or `--fullscreen` | Standard full-screen TUI with the dashboard, theme picker, timeline, and scrollback search. |
| Minimal | `/minimal` or `--minimal` | Experimental scrollback-native mode in the terminal's own palette, with minimal-only actions such as `/expand`. |

Switching reopens the same conversation in the other mode for the current session only. Set the default in `/settings` or with `screen_mode` under `[ui]` in the config file.

## Prompt queue and steering

Keep typing while a turn runs. With the default queue behavior, `Enter` queues the message for the next turn; `Enter` on an empty composer sends the first queued item now. `Ctrl+;` opens the queue pane, with `Ctrl+'` as a Windows alternative.

With `[ui].follow_up_behavior` set to `steer`, queued text is injected at the next safe model or tool boundary. The send-now chord cancels the foreground turn and starts your message next: `Ctrl+Enter`, with `Ctrl+I` as the stable Windows alternative; VS Code-family terminals use `Ctrl+L`. See [Keyboard Shortcuts](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/keyboard-shortcuts) for every terminal.

## Blocking cards

Questions, permission requests, and the cancel-turn panel take the keyboard while open. `Tab` and `Shift+Tab` move through the current card; `Enter` confirms the focused choice.

**Esc on blocking cards**

| Card | Esc |
| --- | --- |
| Question | Clears a selection first, then parks focus in scrollback. Press Tab to return. |
| Permission | Parks focus in scrollback without approving or denying the request. |
| Cancel turn | Chooses keep running and closes the panel. |

## Themes

`rightnow-night` is the shipped default. In fullscreen mode, `/theme` (alias `/t`) previews and selects the other bundled themes. Minimal mode ignores theme settings and uses the terminal's own palette.

> **Local execution**
>
> Provider inference is remote, but file, shell, search, and editing tools execute locally under the active permission policy.

## Related

- [Keyboard Shortcuts](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/keyboard-shortcuts)
- [Slash Commands](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/slash-commands)
- [Permissions and Safety](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/permissions)

## Next step

Find the commands for your active pane in [Keyboard Shortcuts](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/keyboard-shortcuts).

## Previous

[Quickstart](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/quickstart)

## Next

[Keyboard Shortcuts](https://www.rightnowai.co/docs/keyboard-shortcuts)