Runtimes overview
Where the agent process runs — tmux on macOS/Linux, plain child process everywhere.
The runtime is where your agent's terminal actually lives. Two options ship:
| Plugin | Best for | Binary needed |
|---|---|---|
| tmux | macOS / Linux default. You can attach interactively. | tmux |
| process | Windows, Docker, CI-like environments | — |
tmuxEach agent gets its own tmux window; attach with `ao session attach`.processCross-platform child process. Required on Windows.
Choosing
- If you can install
tmuxand you want to occasionally drop into a live session, useruntime: tmux. - If you're on Windows, in a container, or just want fewer moving parts, use
runtime: process.
Both runtimes expose the agent's terminal to the dashboard's xterm.js session — attaching via tmux is a bonus, not a requirement.