The Terminal button in the conversation header opens a bottom drawer in the
conversation’s folder. You can also use Show terminal in the command palette
or ⌘J. Hiding the drawer preserves running shells; closing a shell tab ends it.
For a single command with captured output, use Commands in the inspector.
- Install and sign in to a supported coding CLI using that tool's own setup. Capsule does not supply a subscription or install the CLI.
- Add a project folder with the sidebar's folder-plus control. Start with a disposable repository when trying a new agent or permission mode.
- Choose the agent in the composer. Open Harnesses and Check this agent if it reports a missing prerequisite. Gateway-only agents need a connected OpenClaw Gateway with ACP enabled. New installations default to local agents in Direct mode, without a Gateway connection. Existing preferences are kept; choose Settings → Agents → Runtime to change the default for new conversations. See Providers and credentials.
- Start a conversation. Choose Local for the existing checkout or Worktree for a separate Git branch and folder. Review the permission description before sending a small, specific task.
- Watch the reply and work log. If a direct agent asks for approval, inspect the request and approve once or deny. Stop asks the active agent to stop; an unconfirmed stop is reported, not shown as completed work.
- Review the changed-files card and the Review panel. Save a test/build command through Add action, then select it in the turn's Verification section to record a local check. A reply or green tool indicator alone is not proof.
A failed send keeps your draft. Sending and starting another conversation only advances after the send is accepted. Review the diff and relevant checks before committing or pushing.
New conversations take a short, readable title from the first prompt's first line, or the first attachment's name when no text was sent. This happens locally without another agent request. Later prompts do not rename the conversation; your own title is preserved. Generate title in the conversation menu restores a title from that original prompt.
During a turn, compact tool groups sit between the agent's progress updates. Expand a group for its reported steps. If the agent reports a plan or todo list, a Tasks card sits above the composer with the current step, a completed count, and an expandable list. After the turn finishes, earlier work folds under Worked for… while the final answer remains visible. Expand it to read the progress again. Missing tool completion is shown as unknown rather than inferred from the turn finishing; Turn details retains diagnostics and verification. Only recently loaded activity is shown inline in long histories.
Learn more: Drafts and attachments, projects and previews, checking a turn, and restoring a turn.
Use Group conversations above the sidebar list to switch between By project (the default) and By status. This view preference stays on this device.
- Needs you collects approvals, blocked turns and failed conversations. Each row still distinguishes an approval from a failure.
- Working includes running, queued and waiting turns.
- Ready for review means the latest turn completed with an answer, not that its work was verified or that you have not read it.
- Other conversations includes new, cancelled and other settled threads.
Status rows include their project names. Search matches either the project or conversation name. Waiting and working groups stay fully visible; settled groups offer Show more and Show fewer, keeping the selected conversation visible. Pins sort first within a status group. Return to By project to drag pinned conversations into a custom order; switching views keeps project expansion state.
In project view, Recents opens conversations across projects in activity order. It highlights the selected conversation and offers the same pin, archive, and more actions as conversations under a project. Hover over a conversation or focus it with the keyboard to reveal pin, archive, and more actions. Pause on the row to see its full title and project. A project preview shows its folder and conversation count. Press Escape to dismiss a preview. The selected conversation stays visible even when older conversations are collapsed.
The wrench button opens Conversation tools: file and skill context, saved drafts, and the selected agent's reported commands and settings. These controls stay in the same place in narrow windows. Individual tools and connected tool servers are managed by your agent, not toggled by this menu.
While work is running, the activity summary shows the current tool even when the group is collapsed. Select that step to open its reported input, output, and files in one click. Earlier failures remain marked without hiding ongoing work. Expand the summary to inspect all reported steps. Missing output is labelled, not treated as a successful result.
The website shows a read-only sample of the interface, not a running agent or your own workspace. Its displayed project, conversation and connection state are sample data. Download the desktop app to send messages or use workspace controls. Smaller screens show a labelled task-and-diff illustration instead of the desktop preview. Neither preview executes code.
The download section offers separate macOS Apple Silicon and Windows x64 downloads, with release notes and checksums. The Windows download is an unsigned preview. Read its installation guidance before running the installer. Agent accounts and usage costs are separate from Capsule.