AI Tools Launcher

Built in AI tool launcher in VybeCoding for Mac, launch Claude Code, OpenAI Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, and Google Gemini CLI with one click. Status indicators and setup instructions.

VybeCoding includes a built in AI tool launcher that detects, manages, and launches popular AI coding CLI tools directly from the app. Instead of remembering installation commands and checking tool versions, the launcher shows you the status of each tool and lets you open it in a new terminal tab with one click. Supported tools include Claude Code from Anthropic, OpenAI Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI, and Google Gemini CLI.

How the Launcher Works

Open the AI tools panel from the sidebar or menu bar. VybeCoding scans your system for installed AI CLI tools and displays each one with a status indicator. A green indicator means the tool is installed and ready to use, click it to open a new terminal tab with that tool running. A yellow indicator means the tool is detected but needs additional setup, such as an API key or authentication step. A gray indicator means the tool is not installed, and VybeCoding shows the installation command you need to run.

Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's command-line AI agent that can read your codebase, write and edit files, run commands, and manage complex development tasks through natural language. It is the most capable AI coding tool for autonomous multi-file changes. Install it globally with npm, then authenticate with your Anthropic API key.

tipClaude Code requires Node.js 18 or later. If you do not have Node.js installed, install it with brew install node before installing Claude Code.

bash

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Launch and authenticate
claude

OpenAI Codex CLI

OpenAI Codex CLI brings GPT-powered coding assistance to your terminal. It can generate code, explain existing code, and help with shell commands. Install it with npm and provide your OpenAI API key.

bash

npm install -g @openai/codex

# Set your API key
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key-here"

# Launch
codex

GitHub Copilot CLI

GitHub Copilot in the CLI provides AI powered command suggestions and explanations directly in your terminal. It integrates with your GitHub account and is included with GitHub Copilot subscriptions. Install the GitHub CLI first, then add the Copilot extension.

bash

# Install GitHub CLI
brew install gh

# Authenticate
gh auth login

# Install Copilot extension
gh extension install github/gh-copilot

# Use it
gh copilot suggest "find all TODO comments in the codebase"

Google Gemini CLI

Google Gemini CLI gives you access to Gemini models from the terminal for code generation, analysis, and conversational AI. Install it with npm and authenticate with your Google API key.

infoThe Gemini CLI ecosystem is evolving. VybeCoding updates its detection automatically, so new tools and versions are supported as they become available.

bash

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code  # placeholder, update when Gemini CLI is released

# Or install via the official Google method
# Check https://ai.google.dev for the latest installation instructions

Using AI Tools with VybeCoding

When you launch an AI tool from the VybeCoding panel, it opens in a new persistent terminal tab. This means you can close VybeCoding, reopen it later, and your AI tool session is still running. Combine AI tools with VybeCoding's other features, use the file transfer from your iPhone to send screenshots to your Mac, then ask Claude Code to analyze them. Or use the built in webcam streaming to show your physical whiteboard to a colleague while pair-programming with AI assistance. The integration between terminal sessions and companion features is what makes VybeCoding more than a standard terminal emulator.