Ashex

Ashex is a local-first coding agent runtime for macOS, built as a Swift package with a terminal TUI, typed tools, persistent chat/run history, guarded execution, and daemon-ready connectors.

Quick Start

brew install fil-technology/tap/ashex
ashex

The Homebrew formula installs the published prebuilt binary archive, not a source build on your machine.

If you already opened Ashex and want to run setup again:

ashex onboard

Install

Homebrew

brew update
brew install fil-technology/tap/ashex

Upgrade later:

brew update
brew upgrade ashex

From Source

swift build
swift run ashex

To install the current checkout as a normal shell command:

./scripts/install.sh
~/.local/bin/ashex

Use Ashex

Start the interactive TUI:

ashex

Run a one-shot prompt:

ashex "summarize this repository"
ashex "list files"
ashex "read README.md"
ashex "swift build"
ashex 'shell: ls -la'

Run a non-interactive local agent task with safer exec defaults:

ashex exec -C /path/to/repo "summarize this repo"
ashex exec --full-auto -C /path/to/repo "run tests and summarize failures"
ashex exec --yolo -C /path/to/repo "make the requested local edit"

ashex exec defaults to read_only sandboxing, approval always, and writes a JSONL transcript to WORKSPACE/.ashex/runs/<run-id>.jsonl.

Rendered-page browser automation is also available:

ashex browser doctor
ashex browser fetch https://example.com --markdown
ashex browser screenshot https://example.com --output example.png

Useful options:

• onboard: open the setup wizard even if saved settings already exist
• Default workspace: ~/Ashex/DefaultWorkspace, created on first run so accidental file operations do not target the Ashex source tree
• --workspace PATH: run against a specific project root instead of the default workspace
• --storage PATH: use a specific persistence directory, default WORKSPACE/.ashex
• --provider mock|openai|anthropic|ollama|esh|dflash: choose the model provider
• --model MODEL: choose the provider model
• --approval-mode trusted|guarded: choose execution policy, default trusted
• --onboarding: alias for onboard

TUI Basics

• Use Chat to send messages and continue the active thread.
• Use Assistant Setup to choose provider/model, install local esh or Ollama models, save API keys, configure Telegram, and start or stop the daemon.
• Use Workspaces to switch between recent project roots.
• Use Threads to browse saved conversations.
• Press Tab to move focus, Enter to select or send, Esc to back out, and t to open the side terminal.

Providers

Ashex supports mock, openai, anthropic, esh, ollama, and experimental dflash.

The fastest setup path is inside the TUI:

ashex onboard

For CLI examples, environment variables, local Ollama/DFlash setup, and provider limitations, see Provider Guide.

More Documentation

• Documentation map
• Provider guide
• Daemon and Telegram guide
• Configuration and safety guide
• Browser backends guide
• Runtime and tools guide
• Release maintenance guide
• Roadmap