Choose the Kestrel surface that matches where the work happens. They use the same runtime, but each provides a different way to start and manage the work.
Before choosing
Desktop requires macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon. The CLI/TUI requires Node.js 22 on macOS arm64 or Linux x64. Lumi-hosted Kestrel One requires an organization invitation. Source development and SDK integrations require the repository or package prerequisites plus a configured provider path.
Run agents on your computer
Choose Kestrel Desktop for projects on your computer. Open a folder, choose a model, and ask Kestrel to work with the files and approved tools in that project.
Download and install Kestrel Desktop
Work in a shared team workspace
Choose Kestrel One when a team needs shared Projects, Threads, instructions, files, Knowledge, Apps, and execution Environments. You will need an invitation from your Kestrel One organization administrator.
Start with your Kestrel One invitation
Use Kestrel One source
Choose the Kestrel One source path when you need to inspect, extend, or run the application in a development environment. The source is versioned at 0.8.5; Lumi hosting is a separate invitation-only access path.
Use the terminal
Install @kestrel-agents/kestrel@0.8.8 globally with npm on a release-verified platform, open the intended project directory, and start the TUI.
Add Kestrel to your product
Choose Build when you want a TypeScript application to start, stream, resume, and inspect Kestrel runs. The first tutorial creates a typed agent and runs it through the SDK.
Confirm first success
- Desktop opens the intended project and records one truthful terminal outcome.
- Kestrel One creates a durable Thread in the expected organization or Project.
- The npm CLI/TUI reports
0.8.8, becomes ready, and finishes one bounded project task. - An SDK integration preserves actor/session identity and reads
assistantTextplus the structured terminal result.