# Getting Started

This walks you from a fresh install to your first completed task in a few minutes.

## 1. Launch Morphy

```bash
morphy
```

This opens the interactive terminal interface. On first launch there is no provider
configured yet — let's connect one.

## 2. Connect an LLM provider

Morphy needs an account with at least one LLM provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.).
You provide your own API key.

Inside Morphy, open the provider manager:

```
/providers
```

Then, for example with Anthropic:

1. Highlight **anthropic** and press `A` to add an account (name it e.g. `main`).
2. When prompted, unlock the encrypted vault that stores your keys:
   ```
   /secrets unlock my-strong-passphrase
   ```
   (The first time, this *creates* the vault with that passphrase.)
3. Save your API key:
   ```
   /provider set-key anthropic main sk-ant-your-key-here
   ```
4. Make it the active account:
   ```
   /provider use anthropic main
   ```
5. Pick a model:
   ```
   /model
   ```

See [LLM Providers](providers.md) for every provider and for browser/OAuth login.

> **Prefer environment variables?** You can skip the vault and just export a key before
> launching:
> ```bash
> export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-key-here
> morphy
> ```

## 3. Run your first task

Type a request in plain language and press `Enter`:

```
Create a file hello.txt with a haiku about the sea
```

Morphy plans the work, calls tools (file editing, shell, search, …), and shows each step.
You stay in control via the [permission mode](cli.md#permission-modes).

## 4. One‑shot from your shell

You don't have to open the interface. Run a task directly and exit when done:

```bash
morphy "summarize what changed in this folder today"
```

Add `--json` to get machine‑readable output.

## 5. Where things are saved

| What | Location |
| --- | --- |
| Sessions (your conversations) | `~/.morphy/sessions` |
| Settings | `~/.morphy/config/global.json` |
| Encrypted secrets vault | `~/.morphy/secrets/vault.v1` |
| Model cache | `~/.morphy/cache/models` |

## Next steps

- [Terminal Interface (TUI)](tui.md) — panels, keyboard shortcuts, and slash commands
- [Using the CLI](cli.md) — one‑shot tasks, options, and run modes from the shell
- [Run Modes](run-modes.md) — when to use subagents or a full swarm
- [Channels](channels.md) — talk to Morphy from Telegram, Discord, Slack, X
- [Using the Desktop App](desktop.md) — the graphical experience