kimi-cli

Kimi Code CLI is a command-line tool that lets you interact with an AI assistant directly in your terminal. It is built by MoonshotAI and connects to Kimi Code, their AI service. Rather than opening a chat window in a browser, you type your requests in the same place you run commands, and the agent reads your code, edits files, runs shell commands, and searches the web on your behalf.

One notable feature is a built-in shell mode. Pressing Ctrl-X switches between the AI chat and a regular shell, so you can type commands without leaving the tool. It does not yet support built-in shell commands like cd, but most common commands work.

The tool integrates with code editors. There is a Visual Studio Code extension, and Kimi Code CLI also supports Agent Client Protocol, which means it can work as an AI backend for editors like Zed or JetBrains IDEs. You configure your editor to launch the tool in ACP mode, and then you get an AI agent panel inside the editor that talks to Kimi.

Kimi Code CLI supports MCP, a protocol that lets the agent connect to external tool servers. You can add servers for things like a code context service or a browser devtools connection, and the agent gains access to those tools during its work. Servers can be added, listed, and removed through a kimi mcp subcommand. You can also pass a config file at startup for ad-hoc server connections.

For anyone who wants to develop or modify the tool, the README includes setup instructions using a Makefile. Commands cover running the tool, formatting code, running tests, and building a standalone binary. The web UI that ships inside the package is built separately with Node.js.