* docs: make onboarding friendlier for beginners * docs: build clearer documentation paths Maintainer edit: turn the onboarding follow-up into a layered docs structure for first-time setup, provider selection, troubleshooting, CLI reference, and source-level architecture. This keeps quick start focused while giving advanced users precise reference paths. * docs: render architecture flow with mermaid Maintainer edit: replace the ASCII architecture sketch with a GitHub-rendered Mermaid flowchart so the core runtime path is easier to scan in the PR and README docs. * docs: recommend model presets for model config Maintainer edit: make named modelPresets the primary model configuration path and expand fallback preset examples so string fallbacks are clearly preset names, not raw model IDs. * docs: document api base urls and langfuse setup Maintainer edit: explain when users need apiBase/base URL in quick start and provider docs, and add Langfuse tracing setup with troubleshooting links. * docs: use python module pip consistently Maintainer edit: keep install commands tied to the active Python interpreter by using python -m pip in the Azure optional dependency notes too. * docs: add non-technical getting started path Maintainer edit: add a wizard-first guide for users without terminal or JSON background, including a text TUI menu example and links from the main docs entrypoints. * docs: avoid hard-wrapped prose in user docs Maintainer edit: unwrap ordinary prose across user-facing documentation while preserving markdown structure, code blocks, tables, lists, and prompt/template files. * docs: keep desktop list continuations nested Maintainer edit: preserve list nesting after unwrapping prose in the desktop WebUI sync guide. * docs: add one-command installer Maintainer edit: add auditable macOS/Linux and Windows install scripts that install nanobot-ai and start the onboarding wizard, then document the commands in the main onboarding entrypoints. * docs: add installer dry run mode Maintainer edit: add --dry-run to the one-command installer scripts so users can preview Python detection, install source, pip command, and wizard behavior without changing their environment. * docs: clean installer error output Maintainer edit: make PowerShell installer failures print a concise Error: message instead of Write-Error call-site details. * docs: add provider setup cookbook Maintainer edit: add pasteable provider recipes for common hosted, local, fallback, runtime switching, and Langfuse setups, then link the cookbook from onboarding and troubleshooting entrypoints. * docs: address review feedback * docs: clarify reader paths * docs: explain terminal basics for beginners * docs: clarify wizard navigation * docs: avoid duplicate onboarding steps * docs: add setup status check * docs: explain status output * docs: remove provider recommendation wording * docs: explain status diagnostics * docs: reduce hard-wrapped guidance * docs: migrate config examples to presets * docs: clarify python command fallbacks * docs: improve installer failure recovery * docs: expand install troubleshooting * docs: cover installer download failures * docs: put stable install paths first * docs: add bundled webui quick path * docs: clarify provider-neutral setup * docs: clarify gateway setup for chat surfaces * docs: improve docs navigation paths * docs: add configuration quick jump * docs: clarify provider secret variables * chore: request PR review acknowledgement Empty commit: please read the PR review comments and reply on the PR to confirm that you have received them. This commit intentionally changes no files; it exists only to notify the remote Codex run so it can end its active goal. * docs: add README start here guide * docs: avoid provider recommendation wording * docs: guide next steps after first reply * docs: explain merging JSON snippets * docs: add CLI command chooser * docs: add configuration task map * docs: add deployment readiness guide * docs: simplify WebUI entry paths * docs: add provider recipe chooser * docs: fix provider factual references Update OpenRouter and LongCat model examples, align Bedrock guidance, and make fallback snippets schema-valid. Also correct group policy wording and image-generation provider lists to match the current code. * fix: keep PowerShell installer from closing caller shell * docs: mention self-guided configuration
nanobot Docs
For published release documentation, visit nanobot.wiki. The pages in this directory track the current repository and may describe features that have not reached the published site yet.
If you have never used a terminal or edited a config file before, start with start-without-technical-background.md. Otherwise, start with quick-start.md and get one local nanobot agent -m "Hello!" reply working before connecting chat apps, WebUI, Docker, or custom tools.
Most JSON examples in these docs are snippets to merge into ~/.nanobot/config.json, not full replacement files.
Provider examples are concrete walkthroughs, not rankings or endorsements. Use the provider whose key, endpoint, and model ID you actually control.
If you find a docs mistake, outdated command, or confusing step, please open an issue: https://github.com/HKUDS/nanobot/issues.
Pick a Track
| You are | Start with | Then use |
|---|---|---|
| New to terminals and config files | start-without-technical-background.md |
troubleshooting.md if the first reply fails |
| Comfortable pasting commands and JSON | quick-start.md |
provider-cookbook.md for pasteable provider setups |
| Operating a long-running bot | concepts.md |
chat-apps.md, ../webui/README.md, and deployment.md |
| Integrating or extending nanobot | architecture.md |
configuration.md, openai-api.md, python-sdk.md, development.md, and channel-plugin-guide.md |
Start Here
| Goal | Read | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Start with no technical background | start-without-technical-background.md |
One-command setup, terminal basics, config, API keys, and the first reply |
| Install and get the first reply | quick-start.md |
A working CLI agent and a known-good config path |
| Understand how the pieces fit | concepts.md |
Mental model for config, workspace, gateway, channels, tools, memory, and sessions |
| Choose or change a model provider | providers.md |
Correct provider/model pairing without reading the full config reference |
| Copy a provider setup recipe | provider-cookbook.md |
Pasteable OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, local model, fallback, and Langfuse setups |
| Fix a first-run or runtime problem | troubleshooting.md |
A diagnosis order and targeted checks for common failures |
After the First Reply Works
Do not configure everything at once. Pick one next surface:
If a local nanobot agent session can already answer normally, you can also ask nanobot to help configure itself: have it read the relevant docs, inspect your current config, make one specific next change, and tell you when to run /restart.
| Next goal | Read | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Use nanobot in a browser | ../webui/README.md |
Enable WebSocket, run nanobot gateway, open http://127.0.0.1:8765 |
| Talk through a chat app | chat-apps.md |
Merge one channel snippet, run nanobot channels status, keep nanobot gateway running |
| Change provider or add fallbacks | provider-cookbook.md |
Keep modelPresets named and set agents.defaults.modelPreset |
| Understand before operating long-term | concepts.md |
Know what config, workspace, gateway, sessions, memory, and tools mean |
| Diagnose a new failure | troubleshooting.md |
Start with nanobot status, then nanobot agent -m "Hello!" |
Use nanobot
| Goal | Read | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Open the bundled browser UI | ../webui/README.md |
WebUI on port 8765, or Vite HMR when developing the frontend |
| Connect Telegram, Discord, WeChat, Slack, and other apps | chat-apps.md |
A gateway-backed chat channel with access control |
| Use slash commands and periodic tasks | chat-commands.md |
Pairing, model presets, heartbeat tasks, and chat-side controls |
| Generate images | image-generation.md |
Image provider config, WebUI image mode, and artifact behavior |
| Run several isolated bots | multiple-instances.md |
Separate configs, workspaces, ports, and sessions |
| Deploy outside a terminal | deployment.md |
Docker, systemd user services, and macOS LaunchAgent setup |
| Join agent communities | agent-social-network.md |
External agent-community setup |
Reference
| Area | Read | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full configuration schema | configuration.md |
Exact fields, defaults, provider tables, web tools, MCP, security, and runtime options |
| CLI commands | cli-reference.md |
Command names, common flags, and entrypoints |
| Architecture | architecture.md |
Source-level runtime map for core flow, providers, channels, tools, WebUI, memory, security, and extension points |
| Development | development.md |
Contributor notes for adding providers and transcription adapters |
| Memory | memory.md |
Session history, Dream consolidation, memory files, and versioning |
| Observability | configuration.md#langfuse-observability |
Langfuse tracing setup and required environment variables |
| WebSocket protocol | websocket.md |
Custom clients, token issuance, multiplexed chats, media, and protocol events |
| OpenAI-compatible API | openai-api.md |
/v1/chat/completions, /v1/models, file uploads, and SDK-compatible usage |
| Python SDK | python-sdk.md |
Running nanobot from Python and attaching hooks |
| Runtime self-inspection | my-tool.md |
Inspecting and tuning the current agent run |
Fast Lookup
| Need | Jump to |
|---|---|
| Provider/model resolution order | providers.md#provider-resolution |
| Model presets and fallback chains | providers.md#model-presets and providers.md#fallback-models |
| Langfuse environment variables | configuration.md#langfuse-observability |
| WebSocket/WebUI protocol details | websocket.md |
| OpenAI-compatible API usage | openai-api.md |
| Multiple configs, workspaces, and ports | multiple-instances.md |
| Security, sandboxing, and SSRF controls | configuration.md#security |
| Channel plugin development | channel-plugin-guide.md |
Extend nanobot
| Goal | Read | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Add a provider or transcription adapter | development.md |
A registry/schema-aligned implementation path |
| Add a chat channel plugin | channel-plugin-guide.md |
A packaged channel discovered through entry points |
| Add custom MCP servers | configuration.md#mcp-model-context-protocol |
External tools exposed to the agent through MCP |
| Tune tool safety | configuration.md#security |
Shell sandboxing, workspace restriction, and SSRF policy |
Reading Strategy
Use the docs in this order when you are unsure where to go:
- If terminal commands or config files are new to you,
start-without-technical-background.mdexplains the setup words and uses one concrete provider example so there is only one decision at a time. quick-start.mdproves installation, config loading, and provider access.concepts.mdexplains the runtime model so later pages are easier to scan.provider-cookbook.mdgives pasteable provider, fallback, local model, and Langfuse recipes.- A task guide, such as
chat-apps.md,image-generation.md, ordeployment.md, gets one workflow working. configuration.mdis the source of truth when you need a specific field, default value, or advanced option.troubleshooting.mdhelps isolate whether a failure is install, config, provider, gateway, channel, or tool related.