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Quickstart

Welcome to Forge! This quickstart guide will have you using AI-powered coding assistance in just a few minutes. By the end, you'll understand how to use Forge for common development tasks.

Before you begin​

Make sure you have:

  • Installed Forge Code
  • A terminal or command prompt open
  • A code project to work with (or create a new one)

Step 1: Start your first session​

Open your terminal in any project directory and start Forge:

cd /path/to/your/project
forge

You'll see the Forge prompt inside a new interactive session:

✻ Welcome to Forge!

Starting session...
Context: /path/to/your/project

> Try asking "what does this project do?" or "help me add a new feature"

Step 2: Understand your codebase​

Let's start by having Forge analyze your project. Try one of these commands:

> analyze the architecture of this codebase and identify any potential issues

Forge will examine your project structure, dependencies, and patterns. You can also ask for specific insights:

> what are the main components and how do they interact?
> identify any code smells or areas that need refactoring
> show me the data flow through this application
> what testing strategy is currently in place and how can it be improved?

Note: Forge reads your files as needed and maintains context throughout the conversation - you don't have to manually add files or repeat information.

Step 3: Make your first code change​

Now let's have Forge write some code. Try a simple task:

> add a unit test for tree diffing function

Forge will:

  1. Identify the appropriate file
  2. Make the edit

Step 4: Use Git with Forge​

Forge makes Git operations conversational and intelligent:

> what files have I changed?
> commit my changes with a descriptive message

You can also prompt for more complex Git operations:

> create a new branch called feature/quickstart-demo
> show me the last 5 commits
> help me resolve any merge conflicts

Step 5: Debug and fix issues​

Forge excels at debugging and problem-solving. Describe issues in natural language:

> there's a bug where users can submit empty forms - help me fix it

Or ask for help with specific errors:

> I'm getting "TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined" - what might be causing this?

Forge will:

  • Analyze the error context
  • Identify potential causes
  • Suggest multiple solutions
  • Implement fixes with your approval

Step 6: Explore common workflows​

Here are some powerful ways to work with Forge:

Refactor code​

> refactor the authentication module to use async/await instead of callbacks

Write tests​

> write unit tests for the calculator functions

Add new features​

> add input validation to the user registration form

Code review​

> review my changes and suggest improvements

Tip: Think of Forge as your AI pair programmer. Describe what you want to achieve in natural language, and it will help you get there efficiently.

Advanced usage patterns​

Multi-step tasks​

Break complex tasks into steps:

> 1. create a new API endpoint for user profiles
> 2. add validation for required fields
> 3. write tests for the endpoint

Context-aware assistance​

Let Forge explore before making changes:

> analyze the database schema first
> how does error handling work in this app?
> then add proper error handling to the login endpoint

Specialized agents​

Switch between different AI agents for specific tasks:

  • Forge Agent: Full execution mode for implementing changes
  • Muse Agent: Analysis mode for planning and review without modifications

Save time with shortcuts​

  • Press ↑ for command history
  • Use Tab for command completion
  • Type / to see all available slash commands

What's next?​

Now that you've learned the basics, explore more advanced features:

Commands ReferenceMaster all commands and options
Custom ProvidersConfigure different AI providers
Advanced ConfigurationCustomize Forge for your workflow

Getting help​

  • In Forge: Type /help or ask "how do I..."
  • Documentation: Browse these guides for detailed information
  • Community: Join our Discord for tips and support

Ready to dive deeper? Explore our comprehensive guides to unlock Forge's full potential for your development workflow.