Bring two things
- ArmaraOS installed and available as
armaraosin a new terminal. - A provider account and API key. This lesson uses OpenRouter and selects a current free model.
See where this is going
You are not learning a command catalog. You are building toward three concrete jobs.
A weekday morning brief that reaches your phone. A researcher and writer that pass work between themselves. An assistant that remembers your preferences. The first arrives by the end of Course 3. Today, you get one named assistant to answer.
Verify the installation
Start with the smallest possible proof: ask the binary for its version.
armaraos system version
If you see a version, ArmaraOS is installed and this terminal can find it. If the shell cannot find the command, close it, open a new terminal, and retry. Return to the current official installer instructions if it still fails.
Complete onboarding
The onboarding wizard stores the provider details ArmaraOS needs.
armaraos onboardTreat the API key like a password. Do not share it in a screenshot, recording, shell history, or support message.
Test the key before moving on
This is the gate. The provider name below is the one used in this lesson.
armaraos config test-key openrouter
OK means ArmaraOS found the stored key, reached the provider, and the provider accepted it. Stop here if you see anything else. Confirm the provider name, check the network, and rerun onboarding.
Choose a free model from the live picker
Run the command without a model id. ArmaraOS opens the current list for you.
armaraos models setDo not copy a model id from an old article. The list on your computer is the useful source. If a free model later becomes unavailable, return to this picker and choose another current :free entry.
Start ArmaraOS and get your prompt back
Detached startup runs the service in the background and then exits the command.
armaraos start --detachModule 1.2 explains what the background service is and proves that it survives a closed terminal. For now, the important result is that your normal prompt returns.
Create an agent you can name
With no template after the command, ArmaraOS opens the template picker.
armaraos agent newThe exact roster can change, so the interactive picker belongs on your screen, not in a simulated still.
Ask for a useful first draft
Open a conversation with the default agent.
armaraos chatYour first request should produce a draft you can judge. It does not need live data yet. Scheduled delivery and outside information arrive later, after the safety rails.
Check it / run this yourself
Make the connection answer twice.
Exit the conversation, open it again, then type: Reply with READY in one word.
armaraos chatIf READY comes back, the service, selected model, and default agent are connected. Say the name you chose out loud. You are done with this sitting.
Keep this first session attended, and do not add flags you have not learned. Module 1.3 inspects the real approval queue and tests a genuine workspace boundary.
Troubleshooting for this sitting
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
The shell cannot find armaraos | The terminal predates the install, or the binary is not on PATH. | Open a new terminal and retry the version command. Return to the current official installer instructions if needed. |
test-key does not return OK | The provider name, key, or network connection is wrong. | Confirm the provider, then rerun onboarding and paste the key again. |
| No usable free model appears | The provider catalog or account access changed. | Recheck the key and use another current id ending in :free. |
| The agent cannot answer | The chosen free model is unavailable or rate limited. | Open the model picker again and choose another current free model. |
| The reply is slow | Free tiers often queue or throttle requests. | Wait for the reply to finish. Module 1.5 explains the limits. |