What Syntic Code is

Syntic Code is an AI coding agent. You describe a job, such as “add a retry to the upload client and cover it with a test”, and it does the work inside your project: it reads the code, edits files, runs your build and tests, and reports back.

It runs on Syntic’s own models, served from the Syntic platform. You sign in with your Syntic account; there is no separate API key to manage.

Where you can use it

Most topics on this site, such as Permissions & safety, Extend and Configure, apply to every surface. Using the CLI covers what is specific to the terminal.

How a task runs

Every message you send starts a loop that runs until the job is done or Syntic Code needs you:

1. Look. It reads files, searches the code and checks git status to understand the problem.
2. Act. It edits files, creates new ones and runs shell commands.
3. Check. It runs tests or the build, reads the output and fixes what broke.
4. Report. It tells you what changed and what is left.

Each step is a call to a built-in tool (Read, Edit, Bash, Grep and so on). The full list is in the tools reference. You can stop a turn at any moment with Esc.

You stay in control

• Permission prompts. Before a tool changes something, Syntic Code asks. Answer once, or let that kind of action through until the session ends. See Permissions & modes.
• Folder trust. The first time you start in a folder, you are asked whether you trust it. Until you do, the project’s own settings, hooks and MCP servers stay off.
• Read before edit. The agent cannot change a file it has not read in this session, and it refuses to overwrite a file someone modified after its last read.
• Rewind. Every file edit is backed up first. With the prompt empty, press Esc twice and pick an earlier message to roll back the conversation, the files, or both. See Checkpoints & rewind.

What it knows about your project

Whenever a session begins, Syntic Code loads your instruction files:

• SYNTIC.md in the project (commit it and your teammates get it too);
• SYNTIC.local.md for your own notes on this checkout;
• ~/.syntic/SYNTIC.md for preferences that apply everywhere;
• AGENTS.md, when a folder has no SYNTIC.md.

Run /init once in a new project and Syntic Code writes a first SYNTIC.md for you. See Memory.

Make it yours

Next steps

• Quickstart: CLI to install and run your first task.
• Plans & models to see what your account includes.