EvoX CLI
Install EvoX CLI from the official channel installer, then use
evox --helpto inspect command entry points.
Installation and getting started with EvoX in your terminal.
This page covers the EvoX CLI produced by the EvoMap/evox repository: the evox command that runs in a terminal. It is not the npm package @evomap/evolver, which is a separate Evolver CLI with different installation, configuration paths, and command names.
1. What is EvoX CLI?
EvoX CLI is an AI coding assistant that runs in a terminal. It can read project files, run commands, modify code, and support an interactive TUI, one-shot tasks, session continuation, Gateway, and extensions.
2. Get running in five minutes
Step 1: Install
macOS
Run this in Terminal:
curl -fsSL https://evomap.ai/evox/install.sh | EVOX_CHANNEL=beta sh
Linux
Before installation, make sure these are available:
curlorwgetjqorpython3tarinstall- OpenSSL 3+ with support for
pkeyutl -rawin
Then run:
curl -fsSL https://evomap.ai/evox/install.sh | EVOX_CHANNEL=beta sh
The online installer detects Linux and switches to the Linux release source automatically.
Windows
Open PowerShell and run:
$env:EVOX_CHANNEL = 'beta'
irm https://evomap.ai/evox/install.ps1 | iex
The installer places EvoX CLI at:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\EvoX\bin\evox.exe
The script adds that directory to the current user's PATH. Close and reopen PowerShell before continuing.
Step 2: Verify the command
evox --version
evox --help
When the installation is ready, evox --version returns version information similar to:
evox v1.1.0-beta.26 (...)
The exact version changes with each release and does not need to match the example.
If macOS or Linux reports evox: command not found, run this in the current shell:
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
Then add the same line to ~/.zshrc, ~/.bashrc, or the shell configuration used by your team so the path is retained in future sessions.
Step 3: Configure a model
For the first run, configure only the model. Do not enter Gateway or advanced self-evolution settings yet:
evox configure quick
Follow the wizard to:
- Choose a model provider.
- Enter the required credential.
- Choose the default model.
- Review the final confirmation screen before writing the configuration.
Do not send API keys, tokens, or other credentials in chat, issues, screenshots, or log attachments. Avoid putting secrets directly in a --api-key argument because they can be recorded in shell history.
View the actual configuration file location:
evox config path
View a redacted configuration summary:
evox config list
Step 4: Run a health check
evox doctor
ok means the check passed. For skip, read the accompanying reason and check whether the capability is needed for your task. Read any warn message; it does not necessarily mean that every workflow is blocked.
To show only warnings and failures:
evox doctor --quiet
Step 5: Run a first read-only task in a project
First enter the project directory:
cd /path/to/your/project
In Windows PowerShell, you can use:
Set-Location 'C:\path\to\your\project'
For the first check, use read-only tools:
evox --tools read,grep,find,ls -p "Read this repository and return: 1) the main language and framework; 2) the entry point; 3) how to run tests. Do not modify files."
If EvoX returns the project structure and test instructions, installation, model configuration, network access, and project reading are all working together.
If you see PermissionDenied, prompt WAL, or an error writing to the agent directory, do not keep retrying blindly. Run evox config path, check whether that directory and its parents are writable by the current user, and send a redacted error to the project contact.
3. Everyday use
Interactive terminal UI
evox tui
The TUI supports ongoing conversations, a model selector, and session history. Before asking EvoX to modify files or run commands, confirm that the current directory is the intended project.
Run a one-shot task
evox -p "Summarize this repository and identify the safest next implementation step."
The CLI exits after the task finishes, which is useful for scripts, CI preflight checks, and simple inspections.
Ask about an attached file
evox -p @README.md "Summarize the setup steps and list anything missing."
Continue the previous session
evox --continue -p "Continue from the previous result and propose tests."
Choose a model
evox --model <provider>/<model> -p "Review this change."
Replace <provider>/<model> with a real model identifier allowed by your team and backed by configured credentials.
4. Common commands
| Purpose | Command |
|---|---|
| Show version | evox --version |
| Show full help | evox --help |
| Quick model setup | evox configure quick |
| Configure models, Channels, and Gene | evox configure full |
| Change only the model | evox configure model |
| Show configuration path | evox config path |
| Show a redacted configuration summary | evox config list |
| Run a health check | evox doctor |
| Interactive use | evox tui |
| One-shot task | evox -p "<prompt>" |
| Show error logs | evox logs --errors -n 100 |
| Show recent logs | evox logs -n 100 |
5. Optional: Start the local Gateway
Gateway provides inbound connection support and a local browser-based management and chat interface. Skip this section if you only need the terminal coding assistant.
First configure Channels and Gateway:
evox configure channels
Start it and check its status:
evox gateway start
evox gateway status
Default local address:
http://127.0.0.1:9700/
Stop Gateway with:
evox gateway stop
Gateway binds to the local loopback address by default. Do not expose it to the public internet until authentication and network boundaries have been reviewed.
6. Command entry points and error handling
Handle a background-service error from evox start
If evox start reports that no background session service is available, use an interactive or single-run entry point instead.
Use one of these instead:
evox tui
or:
evox -p "<prompt>"
evox gateway start is a separate entry point and is not equivalent to evox start.
Package management and local extensions
If evox package reports that package management is unavailable, do not make it a required Partner onboarding step. Use the separate evox ext ... workflow for local extension development.
7. Updates and channel switching
After installing with the scripts above, the safest update path is to run the same installation command again. The installer rereads the channel manifest, downloads the current build, and verifies its SHA-256 checksum.
Beta update:
curl -fsSL https://evomap.ai/evox/install.sh | EVOX_CHANNEL=beta sh
Windows:
$env:EVOX_CHANNEL = 'beta'
irm https://evomap.ai/evox/install.ps1 | iex
Do not make evox self-update a required step for script-installed builds. If it does not recognize the installation mode, rerun the installer for the same channel.
Channel installation checks:
| Platform | Beta | Stable |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Use the Beta installer | Use the Stable installer |
| Windows | Use the Beta installer | Use the Stable installer |
| Linux | Use Beta for a first installation | Check the Linux Stable manifest and architecture-specific asset before installing; stop on 404 |
For a first Linux installation, follow the Beta procedure above and confirm that its manifest includes your architecture. Before moving to Stable, verify that the Linux Stable manifest and target file are available. Stop if either returns 404; do not substitute another platform’s binary. Keep an existing binary and channel installed until the target is verified. A first installation has no prior version to retain: use Beta with a verified asset or wait for the required channel to publish. Do not disable digest or signature verification to bypass a download failure.
8. Uninstall
The current CLI help does not expose a dedicated uninstall subcommand.
- On macOS/Linux, check the executable at
~/.local/bin/evox. - On Windows, check the executable at
%LOCALAPPDATA%\EvoX\bin\evox.exe. - Use
evox config pathto locate the configuration directory, then locate the session and log directories.
Removing only the executable does not remove user data. Unless you have a backup and an explicit reason for a full cleanup, do not delete the entire EvoX data directory.
9. Troubleshooting
evox is not found after installation
- Windows: close and reopen PowerShell.
- macOS/Linux: confirm that
~/.local/binis inPATH. - Run
evox --versionagain.
The CLI reports that no model credential is configured
Run:
evox configure quick
Confirm that the selected provider matches the credential. Do not paste the credential into a public message.
The CLI starts but the task fails
Collect these outputs in order:
evox --version
evox doctor --quiet
evox logs --list
evox logs --errors -n 100
If evox logs --errors reports that there is no matching log file, provide the result of evox logs --list first. Check every output for keys, tokens, private repository URLs, usernames, or sensitive local paths and redact them before sharing with the project contact.
Linux installation fails
Check these items first:
- The
betachannel is selected. jqorpython3is installed.- OpenSSL is version 3+ and supports
pkeyutl -rawin. - The network can reach
evomap.aiandres.evomap.ai.
10. What to include when reporting an issue
- Operating system and CPU architecture.
- Output from
evox --version. - The selected channel:
betaorstable. - The command that was run and the complete error text.
- Redacted output from
evox doctor --quiet. - When needed, redacted output from
evox logs --errors -n 100. - Whether the issue occurred during installation, configuration, TUI use, a one-shot task, or Gateway.
Never include API keys, tokens, passwords, authorization codes, or an unredacted configuration file.
EvoX Docs · Overview · Available on