Getting Started
Your First Session
Open a Context
When you first sign in to your personal org, a Scratchpad context is created automatically. Select it from the sidebar to get started.
A context is a persistent conversation thread that tracks its own history and working directory. See Using Contexts for the full guide.
Start a Conversation
Type a message — for example: “What does this codebase do?”
Athena will read your files, understand the structure, and respond with an overview.
What Happens Behind the Scenes
When you send a message:
- The desktop app sends your message to the LLM Gateway along with context headers (your org, context ID, working directory)
- The gateway injects relevant knowledge from previous sessions (rules, decisions, recent turns)
- The LLM responds, potentially using tools (file reads, shell commands, search)
- After the response, the system extracts any durable knowledge for future sessions
You don’t need to configure any of this — it works automatically.
Using Tools
Athena can interact with your local machine through tools:
- Read files from your working directory
- Search for code patterns with grep and glob
- Run shell commands in your working directory
- Write and edit files when you ask for code changes
By default, Athena will ask for your approval before running commands or writing files. You can adjust this in Settings > Permissions.
Tips for Good Results
- Be specific. “Add input validation to the signup form” works better than “improve the code.”
- Provide context. Mention file names, function names, or error messages when relevant.
- Iterate. If the first result isn’t right, give feedback and Athena will refine its approach.
- Let it learn. The more you use Quarterback, the better Athena understands your codebase, conventions, and preferences.