Welcome to AnyCowork! This guide will help you hire your first AI Coworker - an intelligent assistant powered by Gemini 3 Pro that understands context, executes tasks, and works alongside you.

Installation

Quick Install

Choose your platform:

• Linux (AppImage, .deb)
• macOS (.dmg, .app)
• Windows (.exe, .msi)

Linux

AppImage (Recommended - Universal):

# Download
wget https://github.com/anycowork/anycowork/releases/latest/download/AnyCowork.AppImage
 
# Make executable
chmod +x AnyCowork.AppImage
 
# Run
./AnyCowork.AppImage

Debian/Ubuntu:

wget https://github.com/anycowork/anycowork/releases/latest/download/anycowork_0.1.0_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i anycowork_0.1.0_amd64.deb

macOS

1. Download AnyCowork.dmg (opens in a new tab)
2. Open the DMG file
3. Drag AnyCowork to Applications
4. Launch from Applications

Note: On first launch, right-click and select "Open" to bypass the security warning.

Windows

1. Download AnyCowork-Setup.exe (opens in a new tab)
2. Run the installer
3. Follow the setup wizard
4. Launch from Start Menu

Initial Setup

1. Configure API Keys

AnyCowork uses Google AI Studio (Gemini) by default, with support for OpenAI and Anthropic:

1. Open Settings (gear icon in sidebar)
2. Navigate to API Keys tab
3. Enter your Google AI Studio API key (or OpenAI/Anthropic)
4. Select your preferred provider
5. Click Save

Where to get API keys:

• Google AI Studio (Gemini - Default): https://aistudio.google.com/apikey (opens in a new tab)
• OpenAI: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys (opens in a new tab)
• Anthropic: https://console.anthropic.com/ (opens in a new tab)

2. Create Your First AI Coworker

Think of agents as specialized coworkers, each with unique skills and expertise:

1. Click Agents in the sidebar
2. Click + New Agent
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name: e.g., "Code Assistant"
   • Description: What the agent does
   • System Prompt: Instructions for the agent
4. Click Create

Example Coworker Profiles:

Senior Developer Coworker:

You are an experienced software developer coworker. You understand entire
codebases through Gemini's 2M context window. Help with code reviews,
architecture decisions, debugging, and refactoring. Always explain your
reasoning and consider the broader system impact.

Technical Writer Coworker:

You are a technical writing specialist. Help create clear documentation,
API references, and tutorials. Analyze code to understand functionality,
then explain it in accessible language for different audiences.

3. Start Chatting

1. Click on your newly created agent in the Agents page
2. Type your first message in the chat input
3. Press Enter or click the send button

The agent will process your message and respond with helpful information!

Your AI Coworker's Capabilities

💬 Natural Conversation

• Real-time streaming responses from Gemini 3 Pro
• 2M token context - your coworker remembers entire conversations and codebases
• Multi-turn collaboration with full context awareness
• Markdown rendering for code, lists, and formatting

🤖 Specialized Coworkers

• Create multiple coworkers for different roles (developer, writer, analyst)
• Switch between coworkers based on the task
• Each coworker maintains their own knowledge and chat history
• Custom expertise via system prompts

📱 Telegram Integration

Connect agents to Telegram bots:

1. Create a bot via @BotFather (opens in a new tab)
2. Copy the bot token
3. Go to Settings → Telegram
4. Click Add Bot
5. Paste token and select an agent
6. Start the bot
7. Message your bot on Telegram!

🛡️ Safety Features

AnyCowork prioritizes safety:

• Human-in-the-loop: Critical actions require your approval
• Permission system: Control what agents can do
• Local-first: All data stored on your device
• No telemetry: Your conversations stay private

Working with Your AI Coworker

Code Review Partnership

1. Create a "Senior Developer" coworker
2. Share code or entire file paths
3. Ask: "Review this codebase for security issues and architectural improvements"
4. Leverage Gemini's 2M context to analyze the entire project at once

Documentation Coworker

1. Create a "Technical Writer" coworker
2. Point them to your codebase
3. Ask: "Generate API documentation for this module"
4. Get comprehensive, well-structured documentation

Research & Analysis Coworker

1. Create a "Research Analyst" coworker
2. Ask: "Analyze this tech stack and recommend improvements"
3. Get detailed analysis with pros/cons and migration paths

Tips & Tricks

🎯 Writing Effective Prompts

Be specific:

• ❌ "Help me code"
• ✅ "Write a Python function to sort a list of dictionaries by a specific key"

Provide context:

• ❌ "Fix this bug"
• ✅ "This React component isn't re-rendering when state changes. Here's the code: ..."

Ask for format:

• "Explain in simple terms"
• "Provide code examples"
• "List pros and cons"

⚙️ Agent Configuration

System prompts define agent personality and capabilities:

• Role: "You are a [role]..."
• Capabilities: "You can help with X, Y, Z"
• Constraints: "Always explain your reasoning"
• Style: "Use a friendly, conversational tone"

🔧 Troubleshooting

Agent not responding?

• Check API key is configured
• Verify internet connection
• Check API quota/billing

Can't start Telegram bot?

• Verify bot token is correct
• Ensure bot isn't already running elsewhere
• Check allowed chat IDs

App crashes or freezes?

• Check logs in ~/.local/share/anycowork/logs/ (Linux)
• Report issues on GitHub (opens in a new tab)

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore more:

• Architecture - Understand how AnyCowork works
• Building - Build from source
• UI Design - Contribute to the UI

Need Help?

• Documentation: You're reading it!
• GitHub Issues: Report bugs (opens in a new tab)
• Discussions: Ask questions (opens in a new tab)
• Discord: Join the community (opens in a new tab)

Ready to dive deeper? Check out the Architecture guide to understand how AnyCowork's multi-agent system works under the hood.