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The Tembo CLI (tembo) is a command-line tool you install on your own machine. Use it to connect a laptop, server, or other machine to Tembo as a device. Once connected, sessions you start can run commands and read or write files on that machine.
Devices is rolling out gradually. If Settings > Devices says that Devices isn’t available yet, it hasn’t been enabled for your workspace.
This page covers the CLI you install yourself. Agents also have a tembo command inside their sandbox, which is a separate tool. See Tembo CLI commands for that reference.

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Install

The install script supports macOS and Linux on x64 and arm64. It verifies the download’s checksum and installs tembo to ~/.local/bin. If that directory isn’t on your PATH, the script prints the line to add to your shell profile. On Windows, download tembo-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip, extract it, and put tembo.exe on your PATH. Check the installed version:

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Install options

Set these environment variables on the sh side of the pipe to change what the script installs:
To update, run the install script again or run brew upgrade tembo.

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Connect a machine

If you use the Tembo desktop app, you don’t need the CLI on that computer. Open Settings > Devices in the desktop app and click Connect this computer. Use the CLI for machines without the desktop app, such as servers and Linux boxes.

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Prerequisites

  • The Tembo CLI is installed on the machine you want to connect.
  • Devices is enabled for your workspace.
1

Get a pairing code

In the dashboard, open Settings > Devices and click Add device. The dialog shows two commands to run on your machine. The pairing code works once and expires after 10 minutes.
2

Pair the machine

Copy the first command from the dialog and run it on your machine. It includes your pairing code and your Tembo API URL:
The device is named after the machine’s hostname. Add --name <name> to choose a different name.
3

Start the device

Leave this command running. The device appears in Settings > Devices once it connects, and your sessions can use it while the command runs. Press Ctrl+C to stop it.
On a server, run tembo devices start under a process manager or terminal multiplexer, such as systemd or tmux, so it keeps running after you log out.

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Use a device in a session

Ask Tembo to work on your machine in a session, for example “Run the test suite in ~/code/app on my laptop.” The agent can:
  • Run shell commands on the device in your login shell (PowerShell on Windows), starting in your home directory.
  • Read, write, and list files on the device.
  • Check the device’s operating system, user, home directory, and shell.
Commands run on your real machine with your user’s permissions. When more than one of your devices is online, mention the one you want by name.

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Access

  • Only you can use your devices. Other members of your workspace can see your devices in Settings > Devices, but their sessions can’t use them.
  • Devices work in sessions you start in the Tembo app, for messages you type. Sessions started by agents or integrations can’t use devices.
  • Disable a device to pause access. Turn off the device’s toggle in Settings > Devices to block requests without unpairing it. Workspace admins can also disable or remove any device.

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Limits

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Manage a device

Show the device this machine is paired as:
Remove the device from Tembo and delete its local credentials:
You can also remove a device from Settings > Devices. If tembo devices start is running when you do, it stops and deletes the machine’s local credentials. The CLI stores credentials in ~/.config/tembo-device/device.json, or %APPDATA%\tembo-device\device.json on Windows. To store them somewhere else, set TEMBO_DEVICE_CONFIG_DIR or pass --config-dir <dir> to every tembo devices command.

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Command reference

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Troubleshooting

The install directory isn’t on your PATH. Add the line the install script printed to your shell profile, then open a new terminal.
Pairing codes work once and expire after 10 minutes. Click Add device again to get a new code.
tembo devices start needs a paired device. Run the tembo devices pair command from Settings > Devices > Add device first.
The device is disabled. Turn on its toggle in Settings > Devices.
Make sure tembo devices start is running on the machine and the device is enabled in Settings > Devices. Devices are only available in sessions you started in the Tembo app.