Build with AI from your terminal

The flowmaps command hands your features to an AI coding agent (Claude Code) and keeps your board up to date while it builds. You don't need to know programming or git: the command asks simple questions and takes care of the rest.

What's a terminal?

A window where you type commands instead of clicking.

• Windows: press Start, type PowerShell and press Enter.
• Mac: press ⌘ + Space, type Terminal and press Enter.

Set it up once

The same steps are in Flowmaps under Settings → Build with AI from your terminal, with copy buttons.

1. Install Node.js. Download the LTS version from nodejs.org and install it like any other program.
2. Install the Flowmaps command. Copy the install command from Settings and paste it into your terminal.
3. Connect your computer. Copy the flowmaps login command from Settings into your terminal. Your browser opens and shows a code. Check that it matches the code in your terminal, then click Connect. That's it: no passwords or keys to copy.
4. Install Claude Code, the AI that writes the code, from claude.com/claude-code. Flowmaps tells you if it's missing.

Build a feature

1. On your venture's Board, drag a feature to Ready, and make sure it has build prompts (open it, then Build prompts → Generate).

2. In the terminal, go to your project's folder, or any empty folder for a new project, and type:

   flowmaps
   

3. Choose Build a feature and pick one from the list.

The first time, Flowmaps asks which venture the folder is for, and remembers it. If you're in your home folder, it offers to create a project folder for you.

Then it:

• turns on git for your project if it isn't yet, after asking you. Git keeps a history, so you can always undo what the AI changes.
• saves a checkpoint of your current work first, after asking you.
• works on a separate copy of your project (a git branch), so your main project stays safe while the AI builds.
• moves the feature to In Progress on your board.
• starts Claude Code, which builds the feature and explains what it does in plain words.

Tip: every Ready feature in Flowmaps shows the exact command for it: open the card, and under Build it in Claude Code click Prefer the terminal? to see a command like flowmaps build v0.1.0.

Finish a feature

When you're happy with the result, type flowmaps and choose Finish a feature, or type flowmaps done. Flowmaps:

1. saves the AI's work,
2. asks: "Add it to your main project now?" and adds it when you say yes,
3. moves the feature to Shipped on your board,
4. reminds you to write a help article for it in your knowledge base.

If the AI's changes clash with other changes in your project, nothing is merged and your work stays safe. Flowmaps tells you what to ask Claude Code to fix it.

Features that follow git

While a feature is being built from the terminal, it follows git: it shows a small git icon on your board, and you can't drag it by hand (hover over it to see why). Finish it with flowmaps done. Changed your mind? flowmaps unlink lets you move it by hand again.

All commands

Typing just flowmaps opens a menu with the common ones. You can also type them directly:

Options for build: --print only shows the instructions and changes nothing; --scope backend builds one part only (database, backend or frontend); --agent codex uses another agent; --no-branch skips git branches; --no-launch saves the instructions without starting the agent.

Disconnect a computer

In Settings → Connected computers, click Disconnect next to a computer you no longer use. The flowmaps command on that computer stops working until you connect it again.

Example

You type flowmaps in your new, empty folder pawstep:

Flowmaps · Pawstep

What would you like to do?
   1. Build a feature
   2. Finish a feature (add it to my project)
   ...
Type a number (1-5): 1

Which feature do you want to build?
   1. Customers can book a walk (Pawstep, v0.1.0)
   2. Walkers have a profile (Pawstep, v0.2.0)
Type a number (1-2): 1

This folder doesn't use git yet. Git keeps a history of your project, so you can always undo what the AI changes.
Turn it on for this folder? [Y/n]
✓ Git is on.
✓ Working on a separate copy (git branch flowmaps/v0.1.0-customers-can-book-a-walk), so your main project stays safe.
✓ "Customers can book a walk" is now In Progress on your board.

Claude Code will now build "Customers can book a walk". It explains what it does as it goes.

Claude Code builds the booking page. You try it, you're happy, and you type flowmaps done. The feature is added to your project and moves to Shipped. 🎉