Desktop First 10 Minutes

Use this checklist to go from install to a working prompt flow quickly.

1. Launch and Connect

1. Open Tandem Desktop.
2. Confirm engine status shows connected.
3. If prompted, complete provider setup.

2. Configure a Provider

1. Open provider settings.
2. Add API key for your chosen provider.
3. Set a default provider and model.

3. Open Your Workspace

1. Open a project folder.
2. Start a new session.
3. Send a first prompt such as:

Summarize this repository and list the top 3 areas to improve.

4. Handle Requests Safely

1. Review pending tool requests.
2. Approve only what is needed.
3. Use deny/ask-again when a request is unclear.

5. Validate End-to-End

1. Confirm assistant response includes repo-specific details.
2. Run one command/tool-assisted action.
3. Save session title for future recall.