Getting Started

Blyck is an AI-native development and operations workbench that unifies Terminal · Code Editor · DB Client · SSH/SFTP · VNC · AI Chat in a single window (a Windows/macOS desktop app). You can develop and operate from one place without bouncing between tools.

Feature area	Specifics
Terminal	Local shell (PowerShell/bash), multiple SSH remote sessions, auto-reconnect
Remote access	SSH · SFTP · VNC (including bastion SSH tunnel) · WinRM (remote Windows)
Code editing	Monaco editor, syntax highlighting, change history (ChangeSet), Git integration
DB Client	SQLite · Oracle · PostgreSQL · MSSQL · MySQL (5 engines), natural-language→SQL
AI Chat	Claude · Codex CLI integration, automatic workspace awareness, tool approval cards
Visual tools	Screen-region capture · markup → send to AI, web preview

Installation

1. Get the installer for your OS from the download page.
   • Windows: .exe (x64) — the primary test platform
   • macOS: .dmg (Apple Silicon · Intel universal)
2. Run the installer and the installation completes.

First launch of a beta build

Until code signing is complete, beta builds may trigger a publisher warning from Windows SmartScreen or macOS Gatekeeper. Follow the “First launch guide” on the download page to allow it just once, and it runs without warnings afterward.

Note

Even on a Windows PC without Git installed, the MinGit bundled with Blyck runs automatically, so you don’t need to install Git separately — see Git · ChangeSet.

Auto-update

Updates are checked right after the app starts and every 4 hours. If a new version exists, it’s downloaded automatically in the background and installed automatically on app exit. You can also apply it immediately with the “Restart to apply” button in the toast notification.

License

State	Details
14-day free trial	Starts on install, all features with no restrictions
Key authentication	After the trial ends, paste the license key on the lock screen to authenticate
7-day offline	An authenticated device works for 7 days without re-verification and without internet — no problem even on closed-network trips
Subscription expiry	On expiry or cancellation, the lock screen appears; check status in the subscription portal

Keys are activated per device (with a per-key activation limit), and once authenticated they work reliably even offline.

UI language

The app UI supports 7 languages (Korean · English · 日本語 · 简体中文 · 繁體中文 · Español · Deutsch), switchable instantly from the globe icon in the header.

AI Readiness Wizard

AI is optional. Even without AI, you can use 100% of all core features — Terminal, SSH, SFTP, DB, editor, and more. Buttons that need AI are dimmed, and clicking one opens the readiness wizard.

The first time you open AI Chat, the wizard guides you through 3 steps. You do it only once.

Step	Details
① Verify Node.js	The AI tool bridge (MCP) runs on Node.js, so it’s required. If not installed, install guidance is shown.
② Install an AI CLI	Choose one of Claude Code or Codex CLI. The “Install in one click” button auto-runs npm install -g. On failure, a command-copy button and manual guidance are provided.
③ Log in	Run the CLI, then OAuth login in the browser. Completion is auto-detected.

Tip

Right after installing the CLI, the PATH may not have refreshed, so the app might not recognize the new CLI. Restart the app to recognize it.

RAG search embeddings are processed locally, so your code never leaves your machine.

Screen layout — tabs · panels · sub-tabs

The screen is organized in a 3-tier hierarchy: tab → panel → sub-tab.

• Tab — A work-group unit. Each tab has an independent layout. Create a new tab with Ctrl+Shift+T, switch with Alt+1~Alt+9, and double-click a tab name to rename it.
• Pane — A region splitting the screen within a tab. Split with Ctrl+\ (left/right) / Ctrl+Shift+- (top/bottom), close with Ctrl+Shift+W, and cycle with Ctrl+Tab. Alt+Enter maximizes/restores the active panel.
• Sub-tab — One panel stacks multiple sessions (shell, editor, DB, chat). Cycle with Ctrl+`. Hidden sub-tabs stay alive in the background, keeping SSH/DB connections up.
• Notch — A chip in the panel header showing the sub-tab name. Hiding it with the notch toggle button in the tab bar widens the screen space, and the setting persists across restarts.

New tab menu — kinds of sessions you can open

The tab bar’s + button or a shortcut opens a new session in the currently active panel.

Menu item	Shortcut
SSH connect…	Ctrl+Shift+S
File tree	Ctrl+Shift+E
SFTP remote tree…	Ctrl+Shift+F
DB (SQLite / Oracle / PostgreSQL / MSSQL / MySQL)	—
VNC connect… / WinRM remote Windows…	—
Web preview…	—
Desktop capture…	—
AI Chat (in this panel)	Ctrl+Shift+A

Tip

The “Saved connections” at the bottom of the menu shows previously saved SSH/SFTP/DB/VNC/WinRM connections. Clicking one reconnects immediately without a password.

Command palette

Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Ctrl+P) to open the command palette. Type a keyword in the search box to quickly find and run any Blyck feature. No need to memorize shortcuts.

Saving layouts

You can name and save frequently used panel arrangements and later load them as a new tab. Save, load, and delete from the bookmark icon (layout manager) in the tab bar.

Screen-region capture

Clicking the 📷 icon in the tab bar starts capture mode. Drag to select the region you want across the entire screen, including external monitors, and the captured image opens in the built-in editor (markup). When done, you can attach it directly to AI Chat to request analysis.

Your first SSH connection

1. Ctrl+Shift+S → open the SSH connection dialog
2. Enter host, port, and account, and choose an auth method (password / private key / ssh-agent / ~/.ssh default key automatically)
3. After connecting, save the connection and from then on you connect with one click from the saved-connections list.

Passwords are stored encrypted in the OS keychain (Windows DPAPI · macOS Keychain), so no plaintext remains on disk. If a connection terminates abnormally, it attempts up to 10 auto-reconnects with progressive backoff.

For details, see Terminal · SSH · SFTP.

Your first AI Chat

Ctrl+Shift+A splits the active panel into AI Chat. Blyck’s AI automatically recognizes your current workspace (editor · DB · SSH · files) and, when needed, calls tools directly to answer with results.

▸ Show this SSH server's disk usage
▸ Tell me yesterday's signup count from the active DB
▸ Refactor the function I'm looking at right now

Use Ctrl+1~4 to switch the AI’s permission level (read-only chat → autonomous execution) — see AI Chat.

Core shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+Shift+T	New tab
Alt+1~Alt+9	Switch to tab N
Ctrl+\ / Ctrl+Shift+-	Split panel vertically (left/right) / horizontally (top/bottom)
Ctrl+Shift+W	Close active panel
Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+`	Cycle panels / cycle sub-tabs
Alt+Enter	Maximize / restore panel
Ctrl+Shift+S	SSH connect
Ctrl+Shift+E	Open file tree
Ctrl+Shift+F	SFTP remote tree
Ctrl+Shift+A	Split into AI Chat
Ctrl+Shift+P / Ctrl+P	Command palette
Ctrl+K	RAG search
Ctrl+Shift+H	Change history (ChangeSet)
Ctrl+F	Terminal scrollback search
Ctrl+I	(editor/grid) inline AI
Ctrl+1~Ctrl+4	AI mode presets
Ctrl+= / Ctrl+- / Ctrl+0	Font enlarge / shrink / reset (saved independently per panel)

FAQ

Q. A SmartScreen warning appears after installing.
Beta builds are pre-code-signing, so this is normal. Allow it just once with “More info → Run.”

Q. Can I skip using AI?
Yes. AI is optional, and all core features work without it.

Q. I want to view one panel large.
Alt+Enter maximizes/restores the active panel.

Q. Do I have to re-create the same arrangement every time?
Save it with a name via layout saving (bookmark icon), then load it.

Q. The font is too small or too large.
Adjust with Ctrl+= / Ctrl+- / Ctrl+0. Saved independently per panel.

Q. The app doesn’t recognize the AI CLI after installing it.
Right after installing the CLI, the PATH may not be reflected yet. Restart the app to fix it.

Next steps

• Terminal · SSH · SFTP — Multiple sessions, auto-reconnect, remote files
• AI Chat — Modes, workspace awareness, tool approval
• DB Client — 5 engines, natural-language→SQL, backup rollback
• Git · ChangeSet — Change tracking and revert
• Troubleshooting — Common errors and fixes