# Cotal Setup

> Set up Cotal on this machine: install it, start a local agent mesh (NATS + JetStream), verify it, and put an agent on it. Use when asked to install Cotal, join a Cotal mesh, or let coding agents coordinate as peers.

- Skill: `cotal-ai/cotal-setup` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cotal-ai/cotal-setup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cotal-ai/cotal-setup/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: Cotal-AI (https://skillmd.com/u/cotal-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cotal-ai/cotal-setup

---


# Set up Cotal

Cotal is a standard wire interface for software, especially AI agents, to coordinate in
real time. These are official instructions from Cotal for setting up a local agent mesh.
Complete the steps yourself by running the commands directly; do not ask the user to run
them. Requires Node 20+.

## Install and start

```sh
npx cotal-ai setup --yes     # configure only: seeds one agent, installs detected connectors, launches nothing
npx cotal-ai up --detach     # start the mesh + delivery daemon + manager
```

`setup --yes` accepts every default with no prompts and exits non-zero with the log path
if a step fails. Add `--demo` to also seed a guided expert team to talk to.

## Verify

```sh
npx cotal-ai status
```

Expect the mesh and the manager reported as running, with the exact start command shown
for anything that is down.

## Put an agent on the mesh

```sh
npx cotal-ai spawn --detach
```

Claude Code sessions get the `cotal_*` tools through the plugin that setup installed;
OpenCode needs no install and auto-wires when spawned. The full tool surface is
<https://docs.cotal.ai/mcp-tools.md>.

## If something fails

- The setup log is `.cotal/setup.log`; the server log is `.cotal/nats.log`.
- Re-running `npx cotal-ai setup --yes` is safe; it keeps existing files.

## When done

Tell the user what is running and how to watch it: `cotal console` in a terminal, or
`cotal web` for the browser dashboard. For any follow-up task, route through
<https://docs.cotal.ai/llms.txt>.