aitm
A desktop terminal app with AI built in — for macOS and Windows.
Work with AI inside the terminal you already know — the AI can read files, search command history, and run commands when you ask. Every high-risk action waits for your explicit OK.
✨ Core capabilities
🪟 Multi-tab native terminal
Each tab is its own PTY process. xterm.js + WebGL rendering keeps input snappy.
🤖 AI sidebar
A drawer-style AI chat on the right — streaming responses, Markdown rendering, summonable any time without disrupting your terminal work.
🔧 AI tool-calling loop
The AI doesn't just suggest commands — it can read files, search command history, and run commands on demand. Every high-risk action shows a confirm dialog first.
🔔 System notifications
Long task done? AI waiting for approval? You get a macOS notification with a status dot in the dock. ⌘⇧U jumps straight to the most recent unread.
📋 Tab metadata
Each tab surfaces its current git branch / dirty state / listening ports — no more losing track when juggling many tabs.
🧭 The AI knows where you are
When the AI reads terminal history, it automatically gets your current git branch, working directory, and listening ports as context — no need to keep re-explaining "where you are."
🎨 Flexible layout
Move the AI sidebar and file tree to whichever side suits your screen setup.
📝 Built-in file editor
Open and edit project files inline with a CodeMirror-powered editor — syntax highlighting included, no need to flip to another window.
🎯 What you can do with it
Have AI scan your project structure
Just ask "what's in my project root?" — the AI calls the file-browse and read tools and gives you a structured summary, saving you ls -R and flipping through files.
Delegate execution to AI (but you stay in charge)
AI proposes a command and requests execution → confirm dialog shows you "about to run: xxx" → you approve → command runs in your terminal. AI sees the output and decides the next step.
Recall what you just ran
"What was that build command I ran earlier?" — the AI reads the current tab's command history and finds it faster than scrolling or Ctrl+R.
Run long tasks in the background, get notified
When a build / test / deploy finishes, a system notification pops up. When the AI completes a turn or needs your approval, the status ring on the tab bar changes color.
Switch between models as needed
Choose from 6 LLM providers. Use one model for debugging, another for writing, another for code transformations — never locked into a single vendor.
🧠 Supported AI providers
China-based
DeepSeek · Qwen (DashScope) · Zhipu GLM · Moonshot Kimi
International
OpenAI · Anthropic Claude
How to configure
Settings → AI Provider → pick a model + paste your API key → save. No restart needed.
Switching cost
A unified OpenAI-compatible abstraction means swapping providers doesn't break your chat history or tool-calling behavior.
⬇️ Download
Current version: v0.9.0
🪟 Windows ARM64
Surface Pro X / Snapdragon
Install steps — macOS
⚠️ aitm doesn’t yet ship with an Apple Developer signature. macOS automatically attaches a quarantine attribute to any unsigned .app downloaded via browser — double-clicking will show “aitm is damaged and can’t be opened”. That’s a misleading Gatekeeper message; the file is fine. The dmg includes a one-click install script to handle this for you.
- Download and open the dmg above. Finder will show three icons:
aitm.appApplications(symlink to /Applications)install-aitm.command
- Double-click
install-aitm.command(macOS opens it in Terminal automatically)- It copies
aitm.appto/Applications/ - And clears the quarantine attribute
- It copies
- When you see
✅ Install complete, press any key to close the Terminal window - Launch via Launchpad or Spotlight: search “aitm”
If the bundled install-aitm.command fails for any reason, you can download install-aitm.sh separately as a fallback:
bash ~/Downloads/install-aitm.sh
The script doesn’t require sudo and only touches /Applications/aitm.app and the dmg you point it at.
Install steps — Windows
⚠️ aitm isn’t code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen / Defender may show a “Windows protected your PC” warning on first run. Click More info → Run anyway. The binary is fine.
MSI installer (recommended):
- Double-click the downloaded
.msi - Follow the wizard — installs per-user by default, no admin needed
- Launch from Start menu: type “aitm”
NSIS .exe installer (alternative, smaller):
- Double-click the downloaded
-setup.exe - Pick install location → next → install
- Launch from Start menu: type “aitm”
Pick MSI for org / IT deployment friendliness; pick NSIS if you want a leaner installer with a familiar wizard UI.
Verify integrity (any platform)
Each installer ships with a .sha256 file. Compare yours against it:
# macOS / Linux / Git Bash on Windows
shasum -a 256 path/to/aitm_0.9.0_<arch>.<ext>
# Windows PowerShell
(Get-FileHash path\to\aitm_0.9.0_<arch>.<ext> -Algorithm SHA256).Hash.ToLower()
🚀 First-time use
- Launch the app: Launchpad or Spotlight, search “aitm”
- Configure an AI provider: top-right settings icon → AI Provider → pick one → paste the API key you got from that platform → save
- (Optional) Initialize a project scope: in any terminal tab,
cdto your project root, then runaitm init # or with explicit path / name aitm init /path/to/project --name my-appThe AI’s file-read tools will be confined to this directory boundary.
- Open the AI sidebar: click the right rail icon or use the keyboard shortcut
- Have your first conversation: just ask something like “show me what’s in the project root”. The AI will call tools as needed; for command-execution actions, a confirm dialog will pop up.
🛡️ Security design
- Local-first storage: Terminal sessions and command history live on your machine. aitm itself never uploads this data to any backend. AI conversation content only goes to the provider you’ve configured, when you actively send a message.
- Bounded AI tool scope: The
aitm initproject boundary keeps AI file reads inside that directory. - High-risk command blacklist: Patterns like
rm -rf //dd of=/dev/.../ fork bombs cannot be triggered by the AI. - Execution requires confirmation: Before running any command, the AI shows you the full command in a confirm dialog. Nothing runs without your approval.
- Tool-loop limit: Within a single conversation, automatic tool calls are capped to prevent runaway loops.
❓ FAQ
Q: Double-clicking aitm.app (macOS) says “damaged, can’t open”?
That’s a Gatekeeper false alarm because aitm isn’t yet code-signed. Run install-aitm.command / install-aitm.sh per the install steps.
Q: Windows shows a “Windows protected your PC” SmartScreen warning? Same root cause as the macOS one — aitm isn’t code-signed yet. Click More info → Run anyway. We’re tracking signing certificates for a future release.
Q: Which platforms are supported? macOS Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Windows on both x86_64 and ARM64 (Surface Pro X, Snapdragon laptops). Intel Mac and Linux are still on the roadmap.
Q: MSI or NSIS — which one should I use on Windows?
Either works. MSI is friendlier for org / IT deployment (Group Policy, auto-update tooling). NSIS (.exe) is smaller and uses a familiar wizard UI. For most personal users either is fine.
Q: How is the API key managed? The API key is stored in your local aitm config directory only — never uploaded anywhere. We recommend creating a dedicated, scope-restricted key with a usage cap for aitm, and rotating it per your usual security practice.
Q: Found a bug or want to chat? Reach out via the contact link on the About page.