Install

Homebrew Soon

brew install alto   # coming soon

The formula isn’t published yet. Until it is, build from source.

Build from source

You need Rust and Zig 0.17.1: libghostty, the terminal core, is built with Zig.

1. Get the source.

   git clone https://github.com/sanford/alto.git
   cd alto

2. Build everything and open the window.

   ./run.sh --release

   This builds the whole workspace, so the alto command (which is also the background server and each session’s process) sits next to the app, as it must. Leave off --release for a faster, debug build.

3. Put alto on your PATH, so agents and scripts can find it.

   ln -s "$PWD/target/release/alto" /usr/local/bin/alto

4. Check it works.

   alto ls

   no sessions is the right answer the first time.

macOS

scripts/bundle-mac.sh --release builds Alto.app in target/bundle/, with the alto command inside it and the server’s login item. It’s signed but not yet notarized.

Linux

Builds and passes every test; the window is checked less than on macOS. The server installs as a systemd user unit (alto service install).

Windows

Builds and passes its tests in CI on a real machine. Sessions run on ConPTY. A session can’t yet move to a new build in place, so an update means a new tab for it, with Run again resuming agents.

Next

• Your first sessions
• Set up your agents so tabs show what Claude Code and Codex are doing.