# Grok Build — xAI Coding Agent Harness with Fullscreen TUI

> A terminal-based coding agent harness from xAI featuring a fullscreen interactive TUI, mouse support, and an extensible architecture for building and shipping software with Grok models.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Grok Build — xAI Coding Agent Harness with Fullscreen TUI

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install via cargo
cargo install grok-build
# Or download a prebuilt binary from GitHub Releases
grok-build
```

## Introduction
Grok Build is an open-source coding agent harness developed by xAI. It provides a fullscreen, mouse-interactive terminal user interface for building software with Grok language models. The harness is written in Rust and designed for extensibility, letting developers customize agent behavior and tool integrations.

## What Grok Build Does
- Provides a fullscreen TUI with mouse interactivity for navigating code changes and agent output
- Runs Grok models as the backend for code generation, editing, and debugging tasks
- Supports file editing, shell command execution, and multi-file project navigation from the terminal
- Offers an extensible plugin architecture for adding custom tools and workflows
- Ships as a single Rust binary with minimal system dependencies

## Architecture Overview
Grok Build is built in Rust using a reactive TUI framework. It communicates with xAI's Grok API for language model inference while managing local file operations, shell execution, and diff rendering in-process. The harness maintains a conversation context window and supports tool-use patterns where the model can read files, write code, and run commands. The fullscreen layout divides the terminal into panels for conversation, file tree, and diff views.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via cargo install grok-build or download prebuilt binaries from the GitHub Releases page
- Set your xAI API key via the GROK_API_KEY environment variable
- Configure default model, context window size, and tool permissions in ~/.config/grok-build/config.toml
- The harness runs entirely in your terminal with no browser or GUI dependencies
- Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL or native)

## Key Features
- Fullscreen interactive TUI with mouse support for a modern terminal experience
- Written in Rust for fast startup and low memory usage
- Extensible architecture allows adding custom tools and agent behaviors
- Built-in diff viewer highlights proposed code changes before applying them
- Open-source under an open license with active development from xAI

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Claude Code** — Anthropic's CLI agent; Grok Build is xAI's counterpart using Grok models
- **OpenCode** — open-source terminal agent; Grok Build offers a more polished fullscreen TUI
- **Codex CLI** — OpenAI's terminal agent; Grok Build focuses on Grok models and extensibility
- **Aider** — multi-model terminal coding tool; Grok Build provides a richer interactive interface
- **Cursor** — IDE-based agent; Grok Build is terminal-native without an editor dependency

## FAQ
**Q: Which language models does Grok Build use?**
A: It connects to xAI's Grok API by default. The extensible architecture may support additional providers through plugins.

**Q: Does Grok Build require a paid API key?**
A: Yes, you need a valid xAI API key to access Grok models. Check xAI's pricing for current rates.

**Q: What operating systems are supported?**
A: Grok Build runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows (native or WSL). Prebuilt binaries are available for major platforms.

**Q: Can I use Grok Build without mouse support?**
A: Yes, the TUI supports full keyboard navigation. Mouse interactivity is an optional enhancement.

## Sources
- https://github.com/xai-org/grok-build


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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-00e4a483
Author: AI Open Source