Skip to main content

Quickstart

macOS/Linux prereq: git. The Rust kernel and Node 22 are downloaded automatically on first install when supported prebuilt assets are available.

Install​

Desktop app for macOS​

Download the signed and notarized Vanta v0.9.5 DMG, open it, and drag Vanta into Applications. This build targets Apple Silicon Macs and shares ~/.vanta configuration and sessions with the CLI.

macOS and Linux​

One command on a fresh machine clones Vanta, downloads the prebuilt kernel, and puts a global vanta on your PATH:

curl -fsSL https://vanta.theft.studio/install.sh | bash

No Rust or system Node required — install.sh downloads a checksum-verified prebuilt kernel (from the GitHub release) and a portable Node 22 (from nodejs.org) when they're missing. Override the location with VANTA_DIR=/path bash bootstrap.sh.

Windows 11​

Run the tracked PowerShell installer from a clone:

git clone https://github.com/jpoindexter/Vanta.git
cd Vanta
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\install.ps1

The Windows installer uses winget when Git, Node 22, or Rust is missing. It first tries the checksum-verified x64 release kernel, then falls back to a native Cargo build. Background service installation is currently macOS-only, so run vanta gateway in the foreground on Windows.

Then pick a model backend and start a session:

vanta setup     # choose: openai | gemini | anthropic | openrouter | ollama
vanta           # interactive session
vanta doctor    # health check

The provider defaults to local Ollama (qwen2.5:14b, no API key) — make sure Ollama is running, or edit vanta-ts/.env to switch to OpenAI/Anthropic.

Run from the repo​

./run.sh                                   # interactive session
./run.sh run "read README.md and summarize it"   # one-shot
./run.sh doctor                            # agent-side health
./run.sh help                              # list all subcommands

First run downloads the prebuilt kernel (and a portable Node if needed) and installs agent deps once; after that it's instant. The kernel auto-starts whenever the agent needs it. (./vanta is an alias for ./run.sh.)

Common subcommands​

./run.sh skills | skill <name> ["<instr>"]   # learned skills
./run.sh rooms | room <name> "<instr>"        # per-project goal streams
./run.sh schedule "<instr>" --cron "0 8 * * *"  # cron-scheduled runs
./run.sh auth google                          # one-time Google OAuth (gmail/calendar/drive)
./run.sh resume <id> --fork-session           # resume history into a new session

Seed a goal​

Vanta is goal-aware — give it something to work toward:

vanta goals add "ship the v1 docs site"

Inside a session, /goal <text> sets the working goal, /goal resume picks up a carried goal from a previous session, and /goal clear drops it.

Let Vanta see the screen​

On macOS, capture only the context you want Vanta to inspect:

/look          # drag-select an area
/look window   # choose one window
/look screen   # capture every display

The image is attached to the next message and can be removed before sending. The first capture may ask for System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording permission; relaunch the terminal or Desktop app after granting it. See Sight & screen context.