Documentation

Runtime

AO automatically uses tmux on macOS/Linux and ConPTY on Windows.

The runtime owns a Terminal UI process and exposes attach, interrupt, messaging, output, and liveness operations to the daemon. It is selected by platform, not by project configuration.

PlatformRuntimeRequirement
macOS / LinuxtmuxInstall tmux.
WindowsConPTYBuilt into supported Windows versions.

Structured Chat sessions use provider controllers instead of an agent terminal runtime. They can still open a separate session-scoped worktree shell in the desktop app.

Run ao doctor to check the runtime required on the current platform.