First Launch

When you open PATAPIM, you’ll see a 3-panel layout:

  • Left: Sidebar with file explorer and project list
  • Center: Terminal area (tab view by default)
  • Right: Toggleable panels (history, tasks, GitHub, remote, find, preferences, sessions)

Create Your First Project

  1. Click the Projects button in the sidebar
  2. Click Add Project
  3. Select an existing project folder
  4. PATAPIM opens the project and starts a terminal in that directory

Run Your First Terminal

PATAPIM gives you a real pseudo-terminal (PTY) — the same technology used by VS Code’s terminal. You can run any command you’d run in a native terminal.

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+T to open a new terminal
  • Use Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+9 to switch between terminals
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+G to toggle grid view (see up to 9 terminals at once)

Start Claude Code

Press Ctrl+K to open the Claude quick-ask dialog, or type claude in any terminal. PATAPIM wraps Claude Code natively — your conversations, context files, and sessions are all preserved.

PATAPIM also supports Codex and Gemini CLI. Each terminal can run a different AI agent.

Try Voice Dictation

PATAPIM includes built-in voice dictation powered by Parakeet V3 (runs locally, no API key needed):

  1. Click the microphone button in the lower-right corner
  2. Follow the setup wizard (first time only)
  3. Hold Ctrl+Alt and speak, then release to transcribe

Your voice is processed entirely on your device. Nothing leaves your machine.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl+KStart Claude Code
Ctrl+Shift+TNew terminal
Ctrl+1-9Switch to terminal N
Ctrl+Shift+GToggle grid view
Ctrl+Alt (hold)Push-to-talk dictation
Ctrl+FOpen find panel
Ctrl+,Open preferences

Basic Workflow

  1. Open a project — Add it via the sidebar
  2. Start an AI agent — Ctrl+K or type claude / codex / gemini
  3. Use multiple terminals — Run builds, tests, and agents side by side
  4. Dictate instead of typing — Hold Ctrl+Alt to speak
  5. Check from your phone — Enable remote access in preferences for on-the-go monitoring

Context Files

PATAPIM automatically creates context files in your project that help AI agents understand your codebase:

  • CLAUDE.md — Instructions for Claude Code
  • STRUCTURE.json — Module map and IPC channels
  • tasks.json — Task tracking

Run /init in a Claude Code terminal to generate these files.