Your first agent

The first time you open the dashboard, it lists the agent programs DAC found on your computer. Making an agent takes a few choices and no typing of file paths.

1. Choose an agent program

Press Start an agent next to the program you want, such as Claude Code. Later on, the New agent button in the sidebar does the same.

If the program you want is missing from the list, it is not installed or DAC cannot find it. Run dac doctor to see why.

2. Choose where it runs

DAC asks Where should this agent run?

• On this computer starts the agent at once as an ordinary program. It can use the programs and tools you already have.
• In a container runs the agent inside its own Docker container, closed off from your files and from your other agents. This choice needs Docker, and it is switched off, with the reason shown, when Docker is not running.

Where agents run explains the difference in more detail. The choice applies to this agent only.

3. Bring over your existing setup, or start fresh

If you already use that agent program yourself, DAC asks whether to bring over your existing setup, and tells you what it found, for example "It has instructions, 2 skills".

• Bring it over copies your instructions, settings, skills and connectors into the new agent.
• Start fresh gives an agent with nothing of yours in it.

The copy is made once. What the agent learns or changes afterwards stays with the agent, and nothing it does changes your own setup.

4. Sign it in

The agent program needs an account of its own, for example a Claude or ChatGPT account. Open the agent's Settings and use its account section. Signing an agent in covers each way to do this, including using one sign-in for many agents.

5. Talk to it

Type in the box at the bottom of the chat and press Enter. The agent's replies, each tool it uses and each request for your permission all appear in the same conversation.

What to do next

• Connect GitHub so the agent can work on your repositories as its own GitHub account.
• Add connectors and skills, such as Notion or a code review skill.
• Choose how often it asks for permission.

Other ways to make an agent

Duplicate an existing agent from its ⋯ menu. The copy has the same settings, connectors and skills, with a fresh history and an empty project folder. Sign-ins made in the browser are not copied, so the copy signs in for itself.

Start from a saved file. Any agent can be saved as a file from its Settings, under Manage, with Save as a file. The file holds the agent's settings, connectors and skills, and never a key or a sign-in. To make an agent from it, choose Start from a saved file on the first screen, or From a saved file under New.

Only open saved files you trust

A saved agent can include connectors that are programs, and the agent runs them when it starts.