Quickstart

⚡ 5 min read

Start here

Start with the Transcodes desktop CLI to create a Persona or connect optional governance and web app authentication. Install it once, then run:


# macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/transcodings/transcodes-guard/prod/cli/install.sh | bash && transcodes install


# Windows (PowerShell)
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/transcodings/transcodes-guard/prod/cli/install.ps1 | iex; transcodes install

Use a standard (non-Administrator) PowerShell window. The installer checks Node.js and Git and installs missing prerequisites without requiring an elevated shell.

This runs the guided install and opens the CLI dashboard (default http://127.0.0.1:3847). Later, run transcodes again to reopen it. Paste your MAT from Console there; hooks and MCP read {{HOME_DIR}}/.transcodes/config.json automatically.

Transcodes is an AI onboarding manual for teams, with optional governance and authentication for protected actions.

Path	Who uses it	What you get
Persona	Teammates using Claude, Cursor, Codex, or Antigravity	One shared bundle of Instructions, Rules, Skills, and Knowledge Bases
AI Agent (MCP)	Teams governing sensitive AI actions	Agent manages members, roles, and logs with step-up protection

New here? Read How It Works for the big picture, or Architecture for the system diagram.

Billing: the first 2 accepted organization members are free. From the 3rd member, every member is billed $6 / month (3 members = $18). Register a card before inviting a teammate — nothing is charged until a 3rd member joins. See Pricing.

Path A — Connect an AI Agent

For teams who want Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or Antigravity to manage Transcodes (members, roles, audit logs) and gate risky shell/MCP actions with step-up MFA before they run.

Install transcodes-guard per host — it bundles PreToolUse hooks + MCP server. Each IDE has its own install path.

Paste your token in the dashboard

If you haven’t already: in Console go to RBAC → Members → Get API Token (MAT). Run transcodes install and paste it — saved to {{HOME_DIR}}/.transcodes/config.json. Treat it like a password.

Install transcodes-guard for your host

Pick your IDE and follow the host-specific guide — each uses a different native install mechanism:

Host	Install
Claude Code	`/plugin marketplace add` + `/plugin install transcodes-guard@bigstrider`
Codex	`codex plugin marketplace add transcodings/transcodes-guard` + `codex plugin add transcodes-guard@bigstrider`
Cursor	Cursor Marketplace → Transcodes (bigstrider) (`/add-plugin`)
Antigravity	One-liner `install.mjs` (see integration guide)

Node.js ≥ 20 required. On first run, approve the one-time hook trust prompt in your host.

Prompt your agent


What roles exist in my project? Show recent audit logs.
Before retiring a member, walk me through step-up verification.

When the agent calls a verified tool (e.g. retire_member) or a gated shell command, you complete biometric MFA on Transcodes Auth — the agent cannot bypass it.

AI Agent Overview Step-up Auth (agent)RBAC

Which path should I choose?

You want to…	Start here
Let an AI Agent manage your Transcodes project	AI Agent Overview
Gate risky shell/MCP actions or sensitive app buttons with step-up MFA	Step-up Auth
Understand the system before integrating	How It Works
See all components and data flows	Architecture
Define Instruction, Rules, and Skills once	Persona
Open the local dashboard after install	CLI Dashboard

Next: How It Works · Architecture · Persona