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Quick start

Lyra doesn’t ship with a model, so the first thing to do is add one. Until you do, messages can’t be sent.

  1. Add a model provider

    Open settings with the gear at the bottom left of the sidebar, go to Models → Add a provider, and fill in three fields:

    Field What goes there
    Base URL The provider’s (or relay’s) API address
    API format Responses, Anthropic Messages or Chat Completions
    API Key The key your provider gave you

    Pick the format your provider documents: Responses for OpenAI, Messages for Anthropic, and usually Chat Completions for other OpenAI-compatible services.

    Then click Fetch models to read the model list from the endpoint and import the ones you want, or Add a model to enter a model ID by hand. Once a test passes, pick your usual model and choose Make this the default.

    Settings → Models: the provider list on the left; the selected provider's Base URL, API format, API key and models on the right Settings → Models: the provider list on the left; the selected provider's Base URL, API format, API key and models on the right

  2. Start your first chat

    Click New chat at the top of the sidebar and describe what you want done. Enter sends; Shift+Enter adds a new line.

  3. Open a project

    Click the + next to Projects in the sidebar, or the project button just above the composer → New project. Give it a name and add the folder your code lives in. Conversations in that project run in its main folder.

    Prefer not to tie a chat to a project? Choose Work without a project.

  4. Choose how much to approve

    Switch modes from the bottom left of the composer:

    • Ask for approval: asks before every file write, command and network call
    • Auto approve (default): read-only commands run on their own; everything else still asks
    • Full access: everything runs without asking

Everyday moves

Section titled “Everyday moves”
To Do this
Run a command or skill Type /
Reference a file, folder, skill, agent or past chat Type @
Bring back something you sent earlier Press ↑ in an empty composer
Compact the context Type /compact
Start a new chat Type /clear
Show or hide the sidebar ⌘B

Pane shortcuts

Section titled “Pane shortcuts”
Pane Shortcut
Files ⌘P
File contents ⌥⌘P
Terminal ⌃`
Git ⌘⇧R
Side chat ⌥⌘S
Sub-agents ⌥⌘A
Tasks ⌘J
Trace ⌘L
Browser ⌘T