The setup wizard
The fastest way in is the project checklist: open Get started in the sidebar of a new project and choose Set up Kai Code. You can also reach every step later under Kai Code → Settings.1
Connect a repository
Pick GitHub, Azure DevOps, GitLab or Bitbucket, authorize Gleap, and choose the repository Kai should work in. Set the default branch pull requests are opened against. This step is skipped when the project already has a repository. Details: Repositories.
2
Give Kai Code its tools
Optionally add MCP servers — the Gleap preset, a Composio integration such as Linear or Notion, or a custom server. Kai Code works without any; you can skip this step.
3
Decide how Kai Code talks to customers
Choose what happens on a ticket once a fix is merged: a teammate verifies first, Kai replies automatically after a deployment delay, or nothing is sent. Details: Customer replies.
Where sessions run — a personal choice
The first time you start a session, Kai Code asks where Kai should run. This is remembered per person, not per project, because it depends on what you have on your computer:Kai Code Cloud
Always ready, nothing to install. Sessions run in Gleap’s sandbox and use your project’s AI credits. The right choice for most teams and for teammates without a development setup.
Kai Code Bridge
Sessions run on your own computer or server with your own Claude Code, Codex or Cursor subscription and your local checkouts. One command to connect: see Kai Code Bridge.
Project defaults
Under Kai Code → Settings → General an admin sets the defaults every session starts from:- Default model and reasoning effort for new sessions. Teammates can override both in the composer.
- Custom instructions Kai follows in every session of the project, e.g. “Prefer functional React. Never edit files in
src/legacy. Always run prettier before committing.” - Post results to the pull request — add the verification result and a commit status to every pull request. Evidence such as screenshots stays private to Gleap.
Next steps
- Sessions — the composer, plan mode, verification and pull requests.
- Tickets and pull requests — start Kai Code straight from a bug report.