> For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at /llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at /llms-full.txt.

# Set up Tessl

> **Takeaway:** By the end of this page you will have a Tessl account, the CLI installed and authenticated, and Tessl initialized in a project. That is everything you need before running your first workflow.

To set up a factory that turns GitHub issues into pull requests, you don't need the CLI. See [Build your first factory](/introduction-to-tessl/build-your-first-factory.md).

Tessl helps you manage the skills and context your coding agents rely on. You work with it through the `tessl` command line tool, so setup comes down to three things: install the CLI, create an account, and initialize a project. It takes a few minutes.

## Install the CLI

Install the CLI with the method for your operating system.

**macOS and Linux**

```bash
curl -fsSL https://get.tessl.io | sh
```

**Windows**

```bash
winget install tessl.tessl
```

On Windows, skills are linked using directory junctions, which store absolute paths. If you move or rename the project folder, run `tessl install` again to restore the links. See [Skills not found after moving the project folder on Windows](/reference/troubleshooting.md#skills-not-found-after-moving-the-project-folder-on-windows).

Check that it installed:

```bash
tessl --help
```

If you see the list of commands, you are good to go.

## Create your account

An account gives you private workspaces, the ability to publish skills, and access to Tessl's MCP tools. You can create one in the browser, or let the CLI prompt you on first login.

1. Go to the [Tessl Registry](https://tessl.io/registry).
2. Click **Log in**, then **Create account**.
3. Create your account with Google or GitHub.

![Create account screen with Continue with Google and GitHub](/gitbook-assets/create-account-screen.png)

That is the same account you will use to authenticate the CLI in the next step.

## Log in

If your organization uses the EU region, run `tessl login --region eu` instead. This requires CLI 0.114.0 or later. The CLI remembers the region for later commands. See [Using the EU region](/administrators/eu-region.md).

For organizations in other regions, authenticate the CLI so it can reach your workspaces and the registry:

```shell-session
tessl login
```

The CLI shows a verification code and a URL. Open the URL, sign in, and confirm the code. If you skipped account creation above, this is where you will be prompted to create one.

![Device-code confirmation screen](/gitbook-assets/device-code-confirmation.png)

Confirm you are signed in:

```shell-session
tessl whoami
```

When you need to sign out, run `tessl logout`.

## Initialize a project

Tessl works inside a repository you already have, so there is nothing new to scaffold. From the root of that repository, run:

```bash
cd your-repo
tessl init
```

This sets up your coding agent to use Tessl, creating a `tessl.json` if one does not already exist. It does not create or link a remote Tessl project on its own. Before you run evals, create or link a project: `tessl project create <name> --workspace engteam`. If you belong to more than one Organization, add `--org <name>` or set `TESSL_ORG`; a non-interactive shell cannot prompt you to pick one. To link to an existing project, run `tessl project link`. New to projects and workspaces? See [Core concepts](/introduction-to-tessl/core-concepts.md).

Setting up your agent means configuring the MCP connection so it can talk to Tessl. This is automatic for Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini, Codex, Copilot CLI, and Copilot in VS Code; see [Custom agent setup](/reference/custom-agent-setup.md) for anything it does not detect.

## Keep the CLI updated

The CLI updates itself in the background, so most of the time you do not need to think about it. Updates run only when you invoke a command, and they never block your work. If you want to update on demand, pin a version, or remove the CLI entirely, the [Installation reference](/introduction-to-tessl/installation.md) covers every option.

## Next

You have an account, an authenticated CLI, and an initialized project. Next, put it to work: scan your real skills, find one that needs improvement, and publish a better version in [**Improve your first skill**](/introduction-to-tessl/improve-your-first-skill.md).