elizaOS

Quick Start

Create your first AI agent in 5 minutes

This guide will walk you through creating and deploying your first ElizaOS agent. No coding experience required!

Install ElizaOS CLI

First, install the ElizaOS command-line interface:

bun install -g @elizaos/cli

Then create your first agent:

elizaos create my-first-agent

This will create a new directory with all the files you need.

Get an AI Key

You'll need an API key from one of these providers:

  1. Go to OpenAI API
  2. Create an account and get your API key
  3. Add it to your .env file
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_key_here
  1. Go to Anthropic Console
  2. Create an account and get your API key
  3. Add it to your .env file
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here
  1. Install a local AI model (like Ollama)
  2. Configure the local endpoint
  3. No API key needed!

No environment variable required

Configure Your Agent

Customize your agent by editing agent/eliza.character.json:

{
  "name": "MyAgent",
  "description": "A helpful AI assistant",
  "personality": "friendly and helpful",
  "plugins": ["bootstrap"],
  "clients": ["discord", "web"]
}

You can customize:

  • Name: Your agent's name
  • Description: What your agent does
  • Personality: How your agent behaves
  • Plugins: What capabilities your agent has
  • Clients: Where your agent will run

Start Your Agent

Start your agent in development mode:

elizaos dev

You'll see output like:

🤖 Starting ElizaOS...
✅ Database connected
✅ Plugins loaded
🌐 Web interface: http://localhost:3000

Your agent is now running!

Test Your Agent

  1. Open your browser to http://localhost:3000
  2. Start chatting with your agent
  3. Test different questions and commands
  4. Refine the personality if needed

Next Steps

Once your agent is working locally, you can:

  1. Deploy to platforms: Set up Discord, Telegram, or Twitter
  2. Customize personality: Add more personality traits and knowledge
  3. Add plugins: Enhance your agent with additional capabilities
  4. Deploy to cloud: Make your agent available 24/7

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Agent won't start?

  • Check that your API key is correctly set in .env
  • Make sure you have the required dependencies installed
  • Verify your internet connection

Agent not responding?

  • Check the console for error messages
  • Verify your API key is valid and has credits
  • Try restarting the agent

Need help?

  • Check the FAQ for common questions
  • Join the Discord community for support
  • Review the troubleshooting guides

What's Next?

Now that you have a working agent, explore:

Resources

  • YouTube tutorials: Step-by-step video guides
  • Discord community: Get help from other creators
  • Documentation: Detailed technical guides
  • Free help sessions: 15-minute one-on-one support

Congratulations! You've created your first AI agent with ElizaOS. The possibilities are endless - what will you build next?