Axolot is a terminal AI coding assistant that runs directly in your terminal — no gateways, no proxies, no external servers. Just you, your terminal, and your choice of AI provider.
npm install -g axolot-ai
axolotThen press /model to pick your provider and authenticate.
# Linux/Mac (curl)
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JaredBautist/AXOLOT/main/scripts/install.sh | bash
axolot
# GitHub direct
npm install -g github:JaredBautist/AXOLOT
axolot🔌 Multi-Provider — Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek, MiniMax, GLM, Kimi, Hydra, and NVIDIA NIM (bring your own model). Switch anytime with /model.
axolot use anthropic claude-sonnet-5
axolot use openai gpt-5.6
axolot use gemini gemini-3.1-pro⭐ Your favorite model — Pick option 9 in /model and bring any OpenAI-compatible provider: set a custom base URL and your API key, and Axolot auto-discovers the available models from /models. Not locked to any single vendor — point it wherever you like (OpenRouter, a gateway, self-hosted, ...).
🛠️ 30+ Built-in Skills — Invoke with /<skill-name>. The model auto-selects them based on your task.
| Category | Skills |
|---|---|
| 🎨 Frontend | codex-frontend-master, frontend-design, v0-frontend, ui-ux-pro-max |
| ✅ Code Quality | verify, review, test, refactor, simplify, self-test |
| 📐 Architecture & Docs | spec, architecture, docs, commit |
| ⚙️ Backend & Infra | api-design, database, deploy, backend-security |
| ⚡ Productivity | debug, onboard, instructions, session, batch, stuck, remember, learn, token-saver |
| 🤖 AI & Providers | ai-provider, skillify, keybindings, update-config |
📋 Spec-Driven Development — Define requirements, design, and tasks in .axolot/SPEC.md. The model reads and updates them as you work.
🔍 Web Search & Fetch — Built-in web search and URL fetching. The model uses them automatically when it needs current information.
💾 Session Persistence — Save and restore session state across terminal sessions with /session save and /session resume.
🕘 Session History — Browse your recent sessions from the terminal with axolot sessions (this folder) or axolot sessions --all (every project). Shows when each ran, its message count, and the opening prompt — most recent first. Jump back in with axolot resume <id> (or axolot continue for the latest); inside the TUI, /resume does the same.
📝 Custom Instructions — Add project-specific rules in .axolot/instructions/. They load every turn automatically.
🧠 Adaptive Learning — Axolot learns your preferences over time. Use /learn to manage memory, skill preferences, and suggestions.
🪙 Token Optimization — /token-saver with 4 modes (auto, eco, turbo, budget) to control token consumption. Per-message usage display shows in:X out:Y for every response.
axolot # Open the TUI
axolot chat "prompt" # One-shot query, no TUI
axolot auth <provider> # Configure API key
axolot use <provider> <model> # Switch model
axolot sessions # 🕘 Recent session history (this folder)
axolot sessions --all # History across every project
axolot resume <id> # ↩️ Resume a session by id (picker if no id)
axolot continue # ↩️ Continue the most recent session
axolot -p openai -m gpt-5.6 chat "hi" # Override/model # Choose provider & model
/effort normal # Set response depth
/spec init # Start project spec
/review # Code review
/test # Write & run tests
/refactor # Safe refactoring
/commit # Conventional commit
/self-test # Run Axolot's own checks
/session save # Save state
/learn # Manage learning & preferences
/token-saver eco # Optimize token usage
/v0-frontend # Vercel-v0-style frontend
- Node.js 20+
- An API key or OAuth for your chosen provider
Config is stored outside the repo:
~/.config/axolot/direct-providers.json
~/.config/axolot/axolot-runtime/
Or use environment variables:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-..."
export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."
export GEMINI_API_KEY="..."
export HYDRA_API_KEY="..."| Provider | Models | Auth |
|---|---|---|
| 🟣 Anthropic | Opus 5, Sonnet 5, Haiku 4.5, Fable 5 | 🔑 API key / OAuth |
| 🟢 OpenAI | GPT-5.6 (Sol · Terra · Luna), GPT-5.5 | 🔑 API key / OAuth |
| 🔵 Google Gemini | Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
| 🐳 DeepSeek | DeepSeek V4, V4-Flash | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
| 🟠 MiniMax (via NVIDIA NIM) | minimaxai/minimax-m3 | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
| 🧊 GLM (via NVIDIA NIM) | z-ai/glm-5.2 | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
| 🌙 Kimi (via NVIDIA NIM) | moonshotai/kimi-k2.6 | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
| 🐉 Hydra | axolot | 🔑 HYDRA_API_KEY |
| ⭐ Your favorite model | Any OpenAI-compatible endpoint (option 9) | 🌐 custom base URL + 🔑 API key |
🌐 Your favorite model — bring any OpenAI-compatible provider: set a custom base URL and its API key in
/model, and Axolot auto-discovers the available models from/models. Not tied to any single provider.
axolot auth hydra
axolot use hydra axolot
axolotHydra uses the fixed axolot model at
https://ftnezbtydnviwduydqsk.supabase.co/functions/v1/hydra-chat.
Set HYDRA_MODE to override the default request mode (balanced). Hydra is
provider 8 in /model; “Your favorite model” is provider 9.
git clone https://github.com/JaredBautist/AXOLOT.git
cd AXOLOT
npm install
npm startAxolot is a direct-provider TUI. Unlike tools that require a proxy server or gateway:
- Your API calls go directly to the provider — nothing in between
- You own your keys and your data
- No external dependencies beyond Node.js and npm
The skills system is built for Axolot with Spec-Driven Development, session persistence, structured project memory via .axolot/, adaptive learning, and per-message token tracking.
.claude/skills/ # Compatible skill format (auto-discovered)
.axolot/ # Project specs, instructions, session state
SPEC.md # Requirements, design, tasks
instructions/ # Custom project rules
session.json # Current session state
learning/ # Adaptive learning data
state.json # Skill usage, preferences, memories
src/skills/bundled/ # Built-in TypeScript skills (30+)
skillpacks/ # Curated skill packs
MIT
Built on ideas from the open-source AI tooling ecosystem.