Getting started

This guide walks you through your first session in e.

Opening a project

Launch e with a directory to open it as a workspace:

e ~/code/my-project

The directory becomes the root for the file tree, fuzzy file finder, workspace search, and Source Control. You can also:

• Press ⌘O to open another project in a new window.
• Run Open File… from the command palette to open any file in the current window.

The e command

To launch e from any directory, run Install 'e' Command in PATH from the command palette (⌘⇧P). After that you can open any project from the shell:

e .            # open the current directory
e path/to/file # open a file

The command returns at once and e outlives the terminal, like code .. What e used to print in the terminal — which language server started, what it couldn't find — goes to ~/.config/e/e.log. To keep it attached and read that live, run e --foreground . (or set E_FOREGROUND=1).

The interface

┌───────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┬───────────────┐
│           │  tabs                               │               │
│  sidebar  │  breadcrumbs                        │  agent panel  │
│  (⌘1)     │                                     │  (⌘L)         │
│           │            editor                   │               │
│  explorer │                                     │               │
│  or git   │─────────────────────────────────────│               │
│  (⌘2)     │  terminal (⌘T)                      │               │
│           │─────────────────────────────────────│               │
│           │  status bar                         │               │
└───────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────┘

• Add more root folders with Add Folder to Workspace (multi-root); drag files from Finder into the window to open them.
• Sidebar (⌘1) — file explorer and document outline, or the Source Control panel (⌘2). Files show type-specific icons.
• Editor — tabs, breadcrumbs, and the code area. Split with ⌘\.
• Terminal (⌘T) — an integrated terminal with tabs and split panes.
• Agent panel (⌘L) — run an AI coding agent beside your code.
• Status bar — cursor position, language, git branch, blame, diagnostics.
• Messages — what e has to tell you (a test run finished, a migration was written, a command needs the caret elsewhere) shows at the bottom right and goes by itself. The pointer on a message keeps it, a click dismisses it, and the same message again is counted (×2) rather than repeated. While e isn't the app in front, a message goes to the desktop's notifications as well.

Essential first steps

The editor takes keyboard focus automatically when you create or open a file or switch tabs — just start typing, no click needed.

Panels can be resized

Drag the edge between the sidebar/agent panel and the editor to resize them.

Next steps

• Learn the keyboard shortcuts.
• Explore editing features and navigation.
• Set up AI agents and Source Control.