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Documents Stack 0.2.0-dev.20260701.1 (dev/nightly). See Stack Changelog for install and goal-mode updates.
Stack runs locally without a Synth signup. This gets you from download to a working cockpit, then connects it to the Codex coding agent.

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Install

Nightly (macOS, Apple Silicon): 
curl -fsSL https://stack.usesynth.ai/install.sh | sh
Or download the tarball from the releases page and run the bundled installer. From source (requires Bun): 
git clone https://github.com/synth-laboratories/stack
cd stack && bun install
bun run src/main.ts

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The signed-out loop

No account required: 
stack            # launch the cockpit
stack demo       # run a local demo and write a receipt
stack doctor     # check your environment
stack update     # check for a newer nightly
stack demo writes a local, reproducible receipt — that is the whole first-win loop, offline.

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Configure with Codex

Stack drives a coding agent as its harness. The default harness is Codex: 
export STACK_HARNESS=codex
export STACK_CODEX_COMMAND=codex     # path to your codex binary, if not on PATH
stack
Stack ships Codex skills that teach the agent how to operate inside the cockpit — install them once:
  • stack-local-setup — local environment + first-run wiring
  • synth-via-stack — how to reach hosted Synth features from Stack
  • stack-agent-bridge — the typed stackd surfaces the agent uses
Run stack doctor to confirm the harness, Codex command, and stackd health are all green before starting a session.

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Goal mode (sidecar monitor)

For long Codex runs, read Goal mode & monitor — Sidecar events (e), sidecar thread (t), and agent tape (a).

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Telemetry

Stack sends anonymous usage telemetry, on by default, to improve the product. It never includes your code, prompts, paths, commands, or secrets. 
stack telemetry status     # see what's on and why
stack telemetry off        # disable (also STACK_TELEMETRY=0 or DO_NOT_TRACK=1)

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