Quick start

This page takes you from opening a project to an agent working on a task. It uses Claude Code as the example agent. Any coding agent that supports MCP works the same way.

1. Open the project

Open your project folder and set it up. See Open a project.

2. Connect your agent to Neova

In the Welcome to Neova window:

1. Under How do you start your coding agent?, type your agent’s command, for example claude.
2. Under Let it reach Neova, click Add Neova to .mcp.json.
3. Click Done.

If you skipped the Welcome window, go to Settings › Server. Under Agent Configuration, choose Claude Code and click Add to Project.

3. Start the Assistant

1. Go to Project › Overview.
2. In the Assistant card, click Start assistant.

The Assistant starts in its own terminal. Ask it anything about the project, or where to find something in Neova.

4. Add an agent

1. Go to Agents › Team.
2. Click Add Agent. The Agent Editor opens.
3. Fill in:
   • Agent Name, for example Software Engineer.
   • Start command, for example claude.
   • Instructions: the agent’s role and how it should work. Neova sends these to the agent when it starts.
4. Click Create Agent.

To add a ready-made agent instead, click the arrow next to Add Agent and choose Add agent from catalogue. Pick an agent and click Install.

5. Start the agent

On Agents › Team, click Start on the agent’s tile.

Neova opens a terminal for the agent, runs the start command and sends the instructions. Click the tile to watch the terminal in Agents › Sessions.

When the agent has connected to Neova, a green link icon appears next to its name. If Claude Code asks whether to use the MCP server from .mcp.json, approve neova.

6. Create a task

1. Go to Tasks › Boards.
2. Click + (Add task) at the top of the Backlog column.
3. Type a title and describe the work in the task panel that opens.
4. Press ⌘S to save.

Press ⌘E to open the task in the full editor.

7. Hand the task to the agent

1. Go to Agents › Sessions and select the agent.
2. Click in the agent’s terminal.
3. Press ⌘⇧K, search for the task and press ↵. Neova types a reference to the task into the terminal.
4. Type what you want, for example pick up this task, and press Enter.

The agent reads the task through Neova and starts working. You can also mention the agent in Agents › Chat: type @, choose the agent, and add a task reference with ⌘⇧K.

8. Follow along

• Agents › Sessions shows the agent’s terminal. You can type in it at any time.
• Agents › Chat shows what agents post to the team.
• Agents › Activity collects questions and notifications from agents. A question waits there until you answer it.
• The task shows the agent’s updates in its description and history.