External Agents

Run installed CLI coding agents from the Athas AI panel.

External Agents are CLI coding agents that Athas can run inside the AI panel. Use them when a task needs file edits, command execution, tests, or multi-step project work.

See the Extensions catalog for the current list of supported agents.

Getting Started

  1. Open Settings > Extensions and switch to the Agents filter. You can also browse the public Extensions catalog.

  2. Click Install next to the agent you want to use.

  3. Open the AI panel and select the installed agent from the dropdown.

  4. Send a message. Athas starts the selected agent when the conversation begins.

Athas installs supported agents as managed tools from Settings > Extensions > Agents. If you already installed an agent globally, Athas detects it and uses that binary instead.

Managed Installation

The Install button uses the agent contribution published in the extension marketplace. It installs the underlying agent or ACP adapter as a managed command-line tool and writes an ACP wrapper that Athas can run.

For agent availability and descriptions, use the Extensions catalog or the Agents filter in Athas.

Some agents still require their own login or API setup after installation. If an agent reports an authentication error, complete login in that agent's CLI and retry from Athas.

What Agents Can Do

  • Read and write files in your project
  • Run terminal commands to build, test, or install packages
  • Search your codebase for relevant context
  • Make multi-file changes in a single conversation

Permissions

When an agent wants to edit a file or run a command, Athas shows a permission prompt.

  • Click Allow to approve the action
  • Click Deny to reject it

Slash Commands and Modes

Some agents expose slash commands such as /web, /compact, or /init. Available commands depend on the selected agent.

Some agents also expose modes such as Code, Plan, or Ask. When supported, use the mode selector in the chat header.