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Getting started

Install BetterC0de on Windows or macOS, connect Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor Agent or Grok, and ship your first reviewed change in ten minutes.

BetterC0de is a free desktop workspace for AI coding agents. It runs the coding CLIs you already have — Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor Agent and Grok — side by side on the same repository, with one editor, one chat, one terminal and one set of permissions. This guide takes you from download to your first reviewed change.

1. Download and install

Platform Download
Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) Download for Windows
macOS · Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) Download for macOS
macOS · Intel Download for macOS Intel
Linux Coming soon

Not sure which Mac you have? Open About This Mac — an "Apple M…" chip means Apple Silicon.

Run the installer, follow its prompts and open BetterC0de. There is no account to create and no API key to paste.

Beta builds are unsigned. On Windows, SmartScreen may show Windows protected your PC — choose More info → Run anyway. On macOS, if Gatekeeper blocks the first launch, right-click the app and choose Open, or allow it under System Settings → Privacy & Security.

2. Connect a coding agent

Open Settings → Providers. BetterC0de detects supported coding CLIs that are already installed and signed in on your machine, so if you use one of these today, it just works:

Agent CLI it uses Get it
Claude Code claude claude.com/product/claude-code
OpenAI Codex codex openai.com/codex
Cursor Agent cursor-agent cursor.com
Grok grok x.ai

Your subscription, usage limits and billing stay with the provider. BetterC0de never proxies your prompts through its own servers and never stores your API keys — see Providers & agents for details.

3. Open a project

Open the folder or repository you want to work on. Check that the file tree shows what you expect, then pick a view:

  • Editor — files first, chat beside them.
  • Agent — conversations and tasks first; arrange panes for chats, terminals, plans and diffs.
  • Canvas — projects and live previews on a visual surface.

You can switch views at any time. See Workspace views.

4. Give the agent a clear first task

Select a provider and model, then describe the outcome you want and any constraints. Two prompts that work well on a new codebase:

Explain how this project is organized, identify its main entry points, and suggest a small improvement. Wait for me to choose before editing files.

Make this page easier to use on mobile. Keep the existing branding and explain which parts you changed.

Review permission requests before approving them. Start a separate conversation when you move to an unrelated task so context stays clean.

5. Review the result

Open changed files in the editor and use Diff or Git to inspect every change before you commit. For a web project, start its dev server and open the Preview to check the behavior.

If something needs adjusting, describe the remaining issue in the same conversation. Commit when you are happy.

Next steps