Phantom
**Your agent can use the key. It never sees it.**
Delegate more to AI without putting real keys in agent context.
Phantom replaces project secrets with scoped `phm_` placeholders. Applications use those placeholders through an authenticated local proxy, while agents use value-blind MCP tools for inventory, diagnostics, and governed requests.
[](https://github.com/ashlrai/phantom-secrets/stargazers)
[](https://github.com/ashlrai/phantom-secrets/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](https://github.com/ashlrai/phantom-secrets/releases/tag/v0.7.9)
[](CHANGELOG.md#079---2026-09-06)
[](rust-toolchain.toml)
[](LICENSE)
[**Quick start**](#quick-start) ·
[**Delegate safely**](docs/delegation-quickstart.md) ·
[**Why Phantom?**](#why-phantom) ·
[**MCP setup**](#mcp-integration-claude-code-cursor-windsurf-codex) ·
[**Docs**](docs/README.md) ·
[**Contribute**](CONTRIBUTING.md) ·
[**phm.dev**](https://phm.dev)
---

## Install
```bash
brew tap ashlrai/phantom
brew trust --formula ashlrai/phantom/phantom
brew install ashlrai/phantom/phantom
```
macOS via Homebrew; installs `phantom` and `phantom-mcp` (reviewed `v0.7.9`). Linux and Windows:
use the matching [release asset](#exact-v079-github-assets). Then run
`phantom init` in your project and `phantom setup --client claude` (or
`cursor`, `windsurf`, `codex`). Full walkthrough: [Quick Start](#quick-start).
> **▶ [Historical v0.4 demo — current behavior differs](https://github.com/ashlrai/phantom-secrets/releases/download/v0.4.0/phantom-demo.mp4)** ·
> **🛡 [Security model](SECURITY.md)** ·
> **📋 [Threat model](THREAT_MODEL.md)** ·
> **💬 [Discussions](https://github.com/ashlrai/phantom-secrets/discussions)**
## Start here
Choose the smallest path that answers your next question. The first path uses
no credential, makes no network request, and does not install or configure
Phantom.
| Goal | Start | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| See the delegation boundary with no secret or setup | Run `node examples/first-five-minutes/run.mjs`, then read the [first-five-minutes walkthrough](examples/first-five-minutes/README.md) | A deterministic, read-only example contract; not vault, proxy, provider, or deployment acceptance. |
| Protect a real local project | Follow [Quick Start](#quick-start) with the reviewed `v0.7.9` GitHub release | Local initialization and diagnostics on your machine. |
| Connect an AI coding client | Complete the [first MCP task](#first-mcp-task-verify-the-boundary) | Value-blind capability, status, and repository checks; no provider action. |
| Copy a tested client or CI setup | Run the [Claude Code](examples/claude-code/README.md), [Cursor](examples/cursor/README.md), or [GitHub Actions](examples/github-actions/README.md) recipe (`node examples/