> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.profclaw.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# First Run

> Start profClaw, access the web UI, and send your first message. Covers the web interface, CLI chat, TUI, tools, skills, and API access.

## Start the Server

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Standard">
    ```bash theme={null}
    profclaw serve
    ```

    Starts the HTTP server at `http://localhost:3000`. Output includes connected providers and chat channels.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Daemon">
    ```bash theme={null}
    profclaw daemon start
    ```

    Runs profClaw as a background service that persists after you close the terminal. Check status with `profclaw daemon status`.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Docker">
    ```bash theme={null}
    docker start profclaw
    ```

    Or if using Docker Compose: `docker compose up -d`
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Access the Web UI

Open `http://localhost:3000` in your browser. You will see the profClaw web chat interface (WebChat provider).

<Tip>
  If the port is already in use, set a different one with `PORT=3001 profclaw serve` or via the `PORT` environment variable in your configuration.
</Tip>

## Send Your First Message

Type a message in the chat input:

```
What can you help me with?
```

profClaw responds with its capabilities based on your configured tools and providers. The response varies by [deployment mode](/getting-started/deployment-modes) - pro mode has access to all 77+ tools, while pico mode provides a focused essential set.

## Try the CLI Chat

Interact directly from your terminal without opening a browser:

```bash theme={null}
profclaw chat
```

This opens an interactive terminal session:

```
profClaw v2.x.x - Interactive Chat
Type /help for commands, /exit to quit
--------------------------------------

You: Summarize the README.md in this directory

Agent: I'll read the README.md file and summarize it for you.

[Tool: read_file] Reading README.md...

Here's a summary of the README:
...
```

Pass a one-shot message without entering the interactive session:

```bash theme={null}
profclaw chat "What is the current directory?"
```

## Try the TUI

For a richer terminal experience with panels and syntax highlighting:

```bash theme={null}
profclaw tui
```

The TUI provides a split-pane view with the conversation on one side and tool execution output on the other.

## Use Tools

profClaw agents have access to tools. Try asking:

```
List the files in the current directory
Search for TODO comments in my codebase
Create a new file called hello.txt with "Hello World"
Run my test suite
Fetch the content of https://example.com
```

<Note>
  Tools are subject to your [security policy](/security/overview). In `standard` mode, destructive operations like shell execution require explicit approval before they run. Use `profclaw config set security.mode permissive` for unrestricted local development only.
</Note>

See [Tools Overview](/tools/overview) for the full list of available tools and how model-aware tier routing works.

## Use Skills

Skills are pre-built expertise modules invoked with slash commands:

```
/commit
/review-pr 42
/summarize src/
/web-research "Hono middleware patterns"
```

See [Skills Overview](/skills/overview) for all 50 built-in skills and how to create your own.

## API Access

Send messages programmatically via the REST API:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/chat/message \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message": "Hello profClaw", "provider": "anthropic"}'
```

The API returns a streaming JSON response with tool calls and the final message. See the [API Reference](/api-reference/overview) for full documentation.

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Deployment Modes" icon="server" href="/getting-started/deployment-modes">
    Understand pico, mini, and pro modes and what each enables.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tools Overview" icon="wrench" href="/tools/overview">
    Explore the 77+ built-in tools and how execution works.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Providers" icon="brain" href="/ai-providers/overview">
    Configure additional AI providers and model aliases.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Chat Providers" icon="messages" href="/chat-providers/overview">
    Connect Slack, Discord, Telegram, or other chat channels.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>