## What's new in v4.8 **Aiden's UI got an identity, and pasting actually works now.** ### v4.8.1 — Paste handling + visual polish - **Robust paste handling.** Stateful parser across stdin chunk boundaries, 800ms watchdog for missing paste-end markers, degraded marker form normalisation, universal CRLF/CR → LF, and timing-based accumulation that catches line-by-line paste delivery. Works across Windows ConPTY, SSH without `-t`, tmux/screen passthrough, and VS Code's integrated terminal. Typed prefix is preserved when paste arrives mid-input. - **Markdown tables render as proper grids.** Proportional column-width distribution with header-floor minimums so short labels never wrap mid-word. Model nudged via prompt to prefer sectioned lists for very wide comparisons. - **Version reporting reads runtime `package.json`.** Boot card and `/version` no longer report stale numbers after `/update install`. - **`/update install` cleanups.** Dropped the Node 20+ deprecation warning. Install progress shown via sliding-shimmer indicator. Install-method detection broadened to Windows user-mode globals. - **Loading indicator + spacing.** Indicator aligned at col 2 matching other surfaces; conditional erase preserves clean 1-blank rhythm between turns. - **Status bar timer glyph (`⌛`).** Visible at all terminal widths (mid + compact tiers previously dropped it). - **Single approval panel** per `file_write` (no duplicate event-row + panel stack). ### v4.8.0 — Events backbone + visual identity - **Watch the agent work.** Seven `ui_*` events (`ui_task_update`, `ui_task_done`, `ui_command_result`, `ui_test_result`, `ui_approval_request`, `ui_toast`, `ui_artifact_created`) let the model emit structured progress signals instead of writing them as prose. The REPL paints them as inline rows separate from the reply text. System prompt nudges the model to fire events during multi-step work. - **Aiden-native visual chrome.** Orange `│` panel bars with asymmetric top-divider chrome (no closing corners). Token-sourced design system (`cli/v4/design/tokens.ts`) — palette, glyphs, spacing in one place. - **Packed status bar.** Cyan model name · amber token ratio · semantic-tiered context bar (`●●●●●●○○○○`) · purple turn counter · teal `⌛` per-turn timer · state dot. Progressive disclosure on narrower terminals. - **Sliding-block loading indicator.** 4-cell `█` segment slides L→R on a muted `─` track at 250ms/cell. - **Onboarding refresh.** 24-bit ANSI AIDEN banner, capability-bullet disclaimer, 10-cell progress bar in the loading sequence, rounded heavy-frame "Built solo" card. - **Markdown polish.** Code blocks get a top-divider with brand-orange language label. Bullet lists use `●`/`○`; task lists use `✔️`/`○`. - **ChatGPT Plus + gpt-5 routing fix.** Auxiliary cheap-LLM calls (`risk_assess`, `compression`, `session_summary`, `skill_describe`) route through Groq + `llama-3.1-8b-instant` by default, falling back to the parent provider only when Groq isn't configured. Fixes the v4.6.x bug where every auxiliary call returned 400 from the Codex backend.
## What's new in v4.6 **Aiden now spawns workers and learns from itself.** - **Sub-agents.** `spawn_sub_agent` runs a focused child with an isolated context + intersected toolset; `subagent_fanout` runs N children in parallel (ensemble or partition) with merge strategies (`all` / `vote` / `pick-best` / `combine`) and provider rotation across configured fallback slots. - **Operator kill-switch.** `/spawn-pause on|off|status` blocks new sub-agent spawning while in-flight children continue. Marker file at `~/.aiden/spawn.paused` so the state survives restart and is shared across REPL, daemon, and MCP runtimes. Optional reason field captured in the typed `SUBAGENT_SPAWN_PAUSED` error envelope. - **Self-improvement loop foundation.** TCE classifications + recoveries persist to two new SQLite tables (`failure_signatures`, `recovery_reports`); `/recovery list|show|clear` surfaces recurring failure patterns across sessions. - **REPL parent-run lineage.** Each REPL turn writes its own `runs` row; sub-agent children link back via `spawned_from_run_id`. `aiden runs list` hides children by default and shows a `(N children, M OK)` badge per parent; `--include-children` flips to flat view. - **PlannerGuard opt-in.** The keyword-based per-turn tool narrower is **OFF by default** in v4.6 (modern models pick well from the full catalog). Enable via `/planner-guard on` or `AIDEN_PLANNER_GUARD=1` for smaller local models. - **v4.6.1 onboarding redesign.** Fresh disclaimer screen, loading sequence, rich provider picker with live `/models` fetch, 3-step connection probe, success screen, and `/walkthrough` guided tour. Phase 2 also fixed an MCP-mode `subagent_fanout` regression that had silently broken in the v4.5 refactor.
## What's new in v4.5 **Aiden now wakes up by itself.** - **Persistent daemon mode (opt-in).** `AIDEN_DAEMON=1` boots a background service with a SQLite-backed trigger bus. File watchers, webhook endpoints, IMAP polling, and cron schedules all feed the same durable queue. - **Autonomous trigger dispatch.** When a trigger fires, a real `AidenAgent` turn runs end-to-end — same tools, same sandbox, same recovery pipeline as your interactive REPL. Surface the chain with `aiden runs show
## Core capabilities | Category | What Aiden does | |---|---| | **Inference & providers** | 19 providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, Groq, Gemini, OpenRouter, Together, NVIDIA NIM, DeepSeek, Mistral, Z.ai, Kimi, MiniMax, Hugging Face, Ollama (fully offline), Nous Portal, custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints. OAuth subscription routing for Claude Pro and ChatGPT Plus. | | **60 built-in tools** | Web search & fetch, deep research, YouTube search, Playwright browser automation (10 tools), file ops, process control, shell exec, code execution, system info, screenshot, clipboard, app launch, media keys, MCP bridge, memory ops, session list/search/summary/recall, skill view/list/manage, `aiden_self_update`. | | **74 bundled skills** | Composable workflows each with a `SKILL.md` prompt, optional helper scripts, and tool requirements. GitHub PR/issue workflows, NSE / Upstox / Zerodha trading, Censys / Shodan / VirusTotal lookups, Windows Defender / Task Scheduler, Docker management, YouTube content tools, and more. | | **Self-promoting memory** | `USER.md` + `SOUL.md` identity, plus `MEMORY.md` split between durable facts (compression-protected) and recent-session distillations. Each session ends with a structured summary that graduates durable facts into the protected section. Semantic recall over past sessions via `recall_session`. | | **Voice** | Edge TTS / Windows SAPI text-to-speech, speech-to-text helpers. | | **Channel adapters** | Discord, Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp, Email (IMAP+SMTP), Webhook, Twilio SMS, iMessage (macOS), Signal — any channel triggers the same agent loop. | | **Computer use** | Screenshot capture, screen-state vision loop, browser automation. Mouse/keyboard automation partial. | | **v4.5 daemon mode (opt-in)** | File watcher / webhook / email IMAP / scheduled triggers route through a durable trigger bus consumed by the Phase 5a dispatcher. Triggers fire → real agent runs → tool calls execute → `run_events` captures the chain. **Off by default.** | | **Plugins** | Three bundled plugins: Chrome DevTools Protocol bridge, Claude Pro OAuth, ChatGPT Plus OAuth. Permission-state machine (pending-grant / loaded / suspended). | | **MCP** | Model Context Protocol bridge — stdio + HTTP transports, schema discovery, tool dispatch. | | **Security moat** | Tiered approval engine (`safe` / `caution` / `dangerous`), dangerous-command pattern classifier, honesty enforcement (post-loop scan rewrites false claims), memory guard, planner-guard tool narrowing, SSRF-safe URL fetcher, secret/PII pre-write scanner, skill-teacher (auto-create skills from successful flows). |
## Architecture Aiden is a local-first agent loop: provider adapters feed a 90-turn ceiling, every tool call passes through verification + failure classification + recovery, and tool results stream back as structured envelopes the model can reason over. v4.5 added a SQLite daemon foundation alongside the REPL — file watchers and webhook endpoints write to a durable trigger bus, a single-worker dispatcher claims events, and each trigger fires a fresh agent turn keyed by a stable session id. Sandboxed execution (filesystem allow/deny + Docker session backend), state-aware browser observation, and continuous error recovery apply to daemon-fired turns identically to REPL turns. Detailed diagrams + module map in [`docs/v4.5/architecture.md`](docs/v4.5/architecture.md).
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/323c9aa7-959a-425a-a5b3-4bae2b1a14bc ## Install + first run ### Linux / WSL / macOS (one-line) ```bash npm install -g aiden-runtime aiden # interactive setup wizard fires on first run ``` ### Windows (one-line) ```powershell npm install -g aiden-runtime aiden ``` If you hit native-build errors on Windows, install the [windows-build-tools](https://github.com/felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools) prerequisite first. ### Try without installing ```bash npx aiden-runtime ``` ### After pulling updates ```bash npm install -g aiden-runtime@latest ``` Or, from inside a running session, the slash command: /update install (Aiden also prompts you on boot when a newer version is on npm — see `/update auto off` to silence.) ### Uninstall ```bash npm uninstall -g aiden-runtime ``` To also wipe your local Aiden home (config, sessions, memory, skills): ```bash # Linux / macOS rm -rf ~/.aiden # Windows (PowerShell) Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $env:LOCALAPPDATA\aiden ```
## Switching models Inside the REPL: /model Picks a provider (with `✓ authed` badges next to ones you've configured), fetches the live model list, and saves your choice to `config.yaml`. Persists across sessions. To set the default at the env level: ```bash export AIDEN_DEFAULT_PROVIDER=groq export AIDEN_DEFAULT_MODEL=llama-3.3-70b-versatile ``` ### Recommended models | Use case | Best models | |---|---| | **General-purpose / quality** | Claude Sonnet 4.6 / Opus, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro | | **Speed + free tier** | Groq Llama 3.3 70B, Cerebras Llama 3.3 70B | | **Fully local** | Ollama with Qwen 2.5 32B, Llama 3.3 70B, or DeepSeek R1 | | **Open weights via subscription** | Nous Portal (Hermes-3-405B) | | **Long context** | Gemini 2.5 Pro (2M tokens) | > 💡 **Quality scales with model capability.** Aiden's output quality depends heavily on the model you pick. For real work, prefer the highest-capability model your budget allows — Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5, or Gemini 2.5 Pro. Smaller models work for simple tasks but agentic loops benefit from stronger reasoning. > 💡 **ChatGPT Plus / Claude Pro subscribers**: use the OAuth flow instead of an API key. Pick `chatgpt-plus` or `claude-pro` as your provider during `/model` setup, then sign in via browser. No separate API costs — uses your existing subscription's model allowances.
## Skills Aiden ships with 74 bundled skills and supports installing more from the community registry. ### What are skills? Skills are composable workflows. Each skill has a `SKILL.md` prompt, optional helper scripts, and declared tool requirements. Examples: GitHub PR/issue automation, NSE/Upstox/Zerodha trading flows, Censys/Shodan lookups, Windows Defender management. ### Managing skills | Action | Command | |---|---| | List installed skills | `/skills` | | Browse the community registry | Visit [skills.taracod.com](https://skills.taracod.com) | | Install a skill from registry | `/skills install
## Configuration Aiden reads `~/.aiden/config.yaml` (Linux/macOS) or `%LOCALAPPDATA%\aiden\config.yaml` (Windows). The setup wizard writes a starter config on first boot; subsequent edits are diff-merged. ### Common env vars | Variable | Default | Effect | |---|---|---| | `AIDEN_DAEMON` | `0` | Set to `1` to boot the daemon foundation alongside the REPL | | `AIDEN_DAEMON_PORT` | `4200` | Daemon HTTP listener port | | `AIDEN_DAEMON_BIND` | `127.0.0.1` | Loopback-only by default; non-loopback requires `AIDEN_API_KEY` | | `AIDEN_DAEMON_DAILY_BUDGET` | unset | Hard daily token cap across daemon turns; resets midnight UTC | | `AIDEN_DAEMON_MODEL` | unset | Override model for daemon turns (`
## CLI commands | Command | What it does | |---|---| | `aiden` | Start the REPL (runs setup wizard on first launch) | | `aiden setup` | Re-run the onboarding wizard | | `aiden doctor` | Diagnose providers, auth, config, and environment | | `aiden --version` | Print the installed version | | `aiden --help` | Show the full CLI manual | | `aiden update` | Check for and install updates | | `aiden daemon start` | Run the daemon in foreground | | `aiden daemon install` | Install daemon as system service (systemd / launchd / Task Scheduler) | | `aiden daemon status` | Show daemon health, recent triggers, run history | | `aiden trigger add file --path
` | Add a file-watcher trigger |
| `aiden trigger add webhook --label
Local-first. Windows-native. Yours to own.
## In-chat slash commands
Type `/help` inside Aiden for the full list grouped by category. 38 commands total.
### Configuration
`/model` · `/personality` · `/skin` · `/streaming` · `/reasoning` · `/verbose` · `/debug-prompt` · `/identity`
### Session
`/clear` · `/compress` · `/save` · `/title` · `/usage`
### System
`/sandbox` · `/tce` · `/browser-depth` · `/daemon` · `/suggestions` · `/update` · `/skills` · `/tools` · `/plugins` · `/cron` · `/runs` · `/trigger` · `/doctor` · `/status` · `/show` · `/history`
### Sub-agents (v4.6)
`/spawn-pause on|off|status` · `/recovery list|show|clear` · `/planner-guard on|off|status`
### Walkthrough & onboarding (v4.6.1)
`/walkthrough` — 60-second guided tour of what Aiden can do
### Auth
`/auth login` · `/auth status` · `/auth refresh`
### MCP
`/reload-mcp` · `/setup`
## Daemon mode (opt-in)
### Linux
```bash
export AIDEN_DAEMON=1
aiden daemon install
loginctl enable-linger $USER # keep running between sessions
```
### macOS
```bash
export AIDEN_DAEMON=1
aiden daemon install # installs launchd plist
```
### Windows
See [`docs/v4.5/daemon-windows.md`](docs/v4.5/daemon-windows.md). Recommended: foreground (`aiden daemon start`) or `pm2` for background.
## Troubleshooting
Common issues live in [`docs/v4.5/troubleshooting.md`](docs/v4.5/troubleshooting.md). Quick reference:
- **"daemon already running"** — stale `~/.aiden/daemon/runtime.lock`; remove it
- **Webhook 401 despite valid HMAC** — check format (`github` / `gitlab` / `generic`)
- **IMAP auth failure** — Gmail / Outlook require app passwords, not account passwords
- **High RSS / slow drain** — run the 72-hour soak (`tests/v4/daemon/soak/README.md`)
- **Boot stuck on wizard** — non-TTY stdin (CI / piped); set provider env var or use `--no-ui`
- **`/help` doesn't list a command** — that command likely needs an active session field; run from a real REPL
- **`npm install` permission errors on Windows** — install into a real folder (not a drive root like `S:\`)
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3acc997f-1d71-45d1-9955-11b67abd0c50
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9e734168-cf76-4cc0-975a-379e5402ee90
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5e7011a5-630d-43bd-8ed3-67084c7645db
## The book
📖 **Omega** — A novel about code, solitude, and what builds back. The story behind Aiden and what it means to build alone.
[](https://amzn.to/49ceO8l)
## Sponsor
Aiden is free and open source. If it saves you time or you want it to keep getting better, sponsorship helps cover server costs, API testing, and the time to ship features instead of taking client work.
[](https://razorpay.me/@whitelotus9625)
Even a one-time tip or a star on the repo is appreciated.
## Acknowledgements
Built solo by **Shiva Deore** at **Taracod**.
Aiden builds on the open-source giants: TypeScript, Node, SQLite, `better-sqlite3`, Playwright, Chromium, `chokidar`, `croner`, `inquirer`, `marked`, `kleur`, the Model Context Protocol, and every provider SDK. Thank you.
## Contributing
Aiden is built solo right now, but contributions are welcome — bug reports, skill submissions, provider adapters, documentation fixes.
Before opening a PR:
1. Fork the repo
2. `npm install`
3. Make your changes on a feature branch
4. `npm run build` — confirm it compiles
5. Test with `aiden` locally
6. Open a PR with a clear description of what changed and why
Keep PRs focused. One feature or fix per PR. Be honest in the description about what works and what doesn't.
## License
- **Core runtime**: [AGPL-3.0](LICENSE). You can self-host, modify, and distribute Aiden as long as your modifications stay under AGPL.
- **Bundled skills**: Apache-2.0. Use them however you want.
- **Commercial licensing** for closed-source derivatives: contact [hello@taracod.com](mailto:hello@taracod.com).
The future `skills.taracod.com` marketplace will ship community skills under the same permissive terms.
## Links
| Where | What |
|---|---|
| 🌐 **Website** | [aiden.taracod.com](https://aiden.taracod.com) |
| 💬 **Discord** | [discord.gg/CU5wshJW4F](https://discord.gg/CU5wshJW4F) |
| 📦 **npm** | [aiden-runtime](https://www.npmjs.com/package/aiden-runtime) |
| 🐙 **Source** | [github.com/taracodlabs/aiden](https://github.com/taracodlabs/aiden) |
| 📁 **Standalone releases** | [github.com/taracodlabs/aiden-releases](https://github.com/taracodlabs/aiden-releases) |
| 📖 **Book — Omega** | [Amazon](https://amzn.to/49ceO8l) |
| 📚 **Docs** | [`docs/v4.5/`](docs/v4.5/) (in this repo) |
| 💖 **Sponsor (Razorpay)** | [razorpay.me/@whitelotus9625](https://razorpay.me/@whitelotus9625) |
| ✉️ **Contact** | [contact@taracod.com](mailto:contact@taracod.com) |
## Disclaimer
Aiden can touch your files, run shell commands, and access the web. It's autonomous within the limits you set. Things will go wrong sometimes. Use at your own risk, read the code if you're nervous, and report what breaks.
**Built solo. Started as a hobby project. Still rough in spots. Getting better every week.**
### Welcome
- **Contributors** — bug reports, skill submissions, provider adapters, and documentation PRs are all welcome. See [Contributing](#contributing) above for the workflow.
- **Sponsors / investors** — Aiden is built by one person funding it from client work. If you'd like to help Aiden grow faster, reach out at [contact@taracod.com](mailto:contact@taracod.com) or sponsor via [Razorpay](https://razorpay.me/@whitelotus9625).
- **Beta testers** — try it on your workflow, file issues, share what works and what doesn't. Honest feedback shapes the roadmap.
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