Install the Vibe CLI and send your first prompt

Install the Vibe CLI ↗, register your API key, and send your first prompt directly from the terminal.

• One-line install: get the CLI running in seconds on macOS or Linux.
• Setup wizard: register your API key on first launch.
• Send a prompt: have Vibe read your project and respond in the terminal.

By the end you'll have the Vibe CLI installed, configured, and responding to prompts in your terminal.

Time to complete: ~5 minutes

• macOS, Linux, or Windows.
• Python 3.12 or later (for manual install).
• (Optional) a Mistral account if you want to use Mistral-hosted models. The CLI also works fully offline with local models or against any OpenAI-compatible API key you provide. See API keys and profiles for the full provider matrix.

One-liner (macOS/Linux)

Run this in your terminal:

curl -LsSf https://mistral.ai/vibe/install.sh | bash

curl -LsSf https://mistral.ai/vibe/install.sh | bash

The installer checks uv (Astral's Python tool installer), installs or upgrades mistral-vibe, and makes the vibe and vibe-acp commands available, provided your PATH is configured.

Manual install (macOS/Linux/Windows)

If you prefer manual setup, or you're on Windows:

1. Confirm Python 3.12+ is installed: python3 --version.
2. Install with your preferred package manager:

# With uv (recommended)
uv tool install mistral-vibe

# With pip
pip install mistral-vibe

# With uv (recommended)
uv tool install mistral-vibe

# With pip
pip install mistral-vibe

For Windows, install uv first via PowerShell, then run uv tool install mistral-vibe. See Install and setup for the full per-platform instructions.

1. Open a terminal in any project directory.
2. Run:

vibe

vibe

On first launch, the CLI runs a setup wizard to register your API key. By default it opens a browser to sign you in with your Mistral account; credentials are stored locally so you don't need to enter them again.

For non-Mistral providers or automation, paste an API key instead. Where to generate one depends on your plan:

• Mistral plan (Free, Pro, or higher): Studio›Code › Vibe CLI ↗.
• Pay-as-you-go API access (Free mode or Scale plan): Studio›Organization › API keys ↗.

Type a request directly in the prompt. For example:

List the files in this directory and explain what each one does.

The CLI reads your project context and responds with relevant information. It can also generate code, edit files, and run shell commands when you approve.

To run a shell command directly from the CLI, prefix it with !. For example: !ls or !git status.

You've completed the setup if:

1. vibe --version returns a version number.
2. You're signed in (or your API key is registered).
3. The CLI responds to prompts with context-aware answers.