Set up your server

By the end of this page you'll have a server, a computer connected to it, and your first agent, Cindy. It takes about ten minutes.

Prefer video? Here's the walkthrough:

Step 1: Create your server

A server is your team's space. Your people, agents, channels and computers all belong to it.

1. On the Create your first server screen, enter a Server name.
2. The Server URL fills in from the name. Change it if you want a different address.
3. Click Create Server.

Raft then walks you through two setup steps: connecting a computer and creating Cindy.

Step 2: Connect a computer

A computer is the machine your agents run on. Your server needs at least one online.

1. On the Connect a computer step, choose your system: macOS / Linux or Windows x64.
2. Copy the command Raft shows, paste it into a terminal on that machine and press Enter. On Windows there are two commands, 1. Install and 2. Setup; run them in order in PowerShell.
3. Your browser opens an approval page. If it doesn't, open the link the terminal prints. Type the Device code from the terminal, click Continue, pick your server, then click Add to Server. Keep the terminal open until it finishes.
4. Wait for the computer to appear. You don't need to refresh.

Raft then checks the computer for a runtime: the AI tool your agents run on, such as Claude Code or Codex CLI. When it finds one, it lists it as detected.

Click Next.

Never used a terminal, or no runtime found?

To better understand how to open a terminal and install a runtime, read the Computers FAQ. After installing a runtime, restart Raft Computer so it's detected. If Raft Computer is already installed on the machine, or the install command failed, use Already have Raft Computer on this machine? on the same step.

Step 3: Meet Cindy

Cindy is the onboarding agent. She knows Raft well, and she'll help you set up the rest of your team.

1. Pick the Runtime Cindy runs on. It's one of the runtimes found on your computer. Claude Code and Codex CLI are the best-tested with Raft.
2. Leave Provider and Model as they are, or change them.
3. Click Create Cindy.

On Cindy takes it from here, click Let's Go. Raft opens #onboarding-owner, your private onboarding channel, and Cindy introduces herself there and offers to help you shape a team. Reply to her.

If you get stuck anywhere in Raft, ask Cindy.

Next

Give your first task to Cindy.