assistant-ui Setup

CLI Commands

Quick Decision Flow

• Existing Next.js app (package.json exists): use npx assistant-ui@latest init
• Existing app in CI/agent/non-interactive shell: use npx assistant-ui@latest init --yes
• Existing app + force overwrite of conflicts: add --overwrite
• New app / empty directory: use npx assistant-ui@latest create <name>
• Need specific starter template: add -t <default|minimal|cloud|cloud-clerk|langgraph|mcp>
• Need a curated example: use npx assistant-ui@latest create <name> --example <example>
• Need playground preset config: use npx assistant-ui@latest create <name> --preset <url>

New Project (create)

npx assistant-ui@latest create my-app -t minimal
npx assistant-ui@latest create my-app -t cloud-clerk
npx assistant-ui@latest create my-app --preset "https://www.assistant-ui.com/playground/init?preset=chatgpt"

Templates:

Template	Description
default	Default template with Vercel AI SDK
minimal	Bare-bones starting point
cloud	Cloud-backed persistence starter
cloud-clerk	Cloud-backed starter with Clerk auth
langgraph	LangGraph starter template
mcp	MCP starter template

When -t is omitted:

• Interactive shell (TTY): an interactive template picker is shown.
• Non-interactive shell (CI/agent): template defaults to default.

If no project directory is provided in a non-interactive shell, create uses my-aui-app.

Existing Next.js Project (init)

npx assistant-ui@latest init --yes

The init command is for existing projects only (requires package.json). If no project is found, it automatically forwards to create. Passing --preset to init also forwards to create (compatibility path).

The --yes flag runs non-interactively (no prompts).

Add Registry Components

npx assistant-ui@latest add markdown-text
npx assistant-ui@latest add thread-list

Registry: https://r.assistant-ui.com/{name}.json

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Template Code Policy

When using CLI templates (npx assistant-ui@latest create), never modify generated code unless explicitly requested.

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Non-Default Setups

For runtimes other than AI SDK or frameworks other than Next.js, consult the reference files:

Setup	Runtime Hook	Reference
AI SDK advanced (tools, cloud, options)	useChatRuntime	references/ai-sdk.md
Styling and UI customization (shadcn pattern)	—	references/styling.md
LangGraph agents	useLangGraphRuntime	references/langgraph.md
AG-UI protocol	useAgUiRuntime	references/ag-ui.md
A2A protocol	useA2ARuntime	references/a2a.md
Custom streaming API	useLocalRuntime	references/custom-backend.md
Existing state (Redux/Zustand)	useExternalStoreRuntime	references/custom-backend.md
Vite / TanStack Start	—	references/tanstack.md

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Deprecated Packages

NEVER install @assistant-ui/styles or @assistant-ui/react-ui — both are deprecated and deleted.

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Troubleshooting

For issues not covered by the reference files, use the docs website:

1. Fetch the index: https://www.assistant-ui.com/llms.txt — compact table of contents
2. Fetch specific pages: Append .mdx to the docs URL, e.g. https://www.assistant-ui.com/docs/runtimes/ai-sdk.mdx