Starting a new session
Every session in ainb runs in its own git worktree + tmux + agent, fully isolated. The new-session wizard is where you choose what runs and where. This page walks through opening it and explains every option.
Open the wizard
From the home or Sessions screen, press n. ainb opens the repo picker — type to filter, or paste an owner/repo, an https:// / ssh:// URL, or a local path — then press Enter to pick one.
You land on the Configure screen. Move between rows with Tab (or ↑ / ↓), change the focused row’s value with ← / →, and launch from the [ Launch ] row:
![The new-session Configure wizard cycling through every option — Preset, Agent (Claude · Codex · Gemini [soon] · Copilot · Shell · SSH), Model, Mode, Yolo, Branch, and Launch](/agents-in-a-box/_astro/new-session-options.B-ORa3s7_1Crmtr.webp)
The options
Preset
A named bundle of all the settings below — the fast path. ainb ships a few (e.g. claude-interactive-yolo, codex-interactive-yolo, opusplan, shell), with Custom at the end of the ring.
- Pick a named preset and the rows below are locked to its values.
- Pick
Customto unlock every row and tune it by hand. - After tweaking Custom, press
Ctrl+Sto save it as a new named preset.
Agent
Which tool drives the session:
| Agent | What it is |
|---|---|
| Claude | Anthropic’s Claude Code |
| Codex | OpenAI’s Codex CLI |
| Copilot | GitHub Copilot CLI |
Gemini [soon] | greyed out — shown for visibility, not yet selectable |
| Shell | a plain terminal, no agent |
| SSH | connect to a remote host |
Cycle with ← / →. The greyed Gemini [soon] pill is skipped by the cursor — it can’t be selected yet.
Model
The model the agent uses. Only Claude and Codex expose a model ring (Claude Opus / Sonnet / Haiku; Codex GPT variants) — other agents use their own default, so the row reads system default or is hidden. Leave it on the default to let the agent’s CLI decide.
Mode
- Interactive — you drive; the agent waits for your input. The normal mode.
- Boss
[alpha]— autonomous; the agent works on its own. Marked[alpha]because it isn’t production-ready yet — don’t rely on it.
Yolo
How the agent handles permissions:
- ON — auto-approve everything (skip permission prompts). Fast, but the agent can run commands without asking.
- OFF — prompt before sensitive actions.
Branch
Each session gets its own git worktree. This row shows <source> → <worktree> — the branch you base off and the new worktree branch ainb creates (default agents/<hash>). Press Enter to rename it or pick a different base.
Launch
Tab down to [ Launch ] and press Enter to start the session — or press Ctrl+Enter from any row to quick-launch with the current settings.
Keys
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Tab / ↑ ↓ | move between rows |
← / → | change the focused value |
Enter | launch (on the Launch row); on the Branch row, pick a base (source segment) or edit the name (worktree segment) |
Ctrl+Enter | quick-launch from any row |
Ctrl+S | save Custom as a named preset |
Esc | back to the repo picker |
Where to go next
- Quickstart — install to first session, plus the
ainb runCLI equivalent - Keyboard shortcuts
- CLI reference
- Overview — every screen