# Workspaces

> Every assistant works in its own private workspace, a computer with its tools installed. See what is inside, where to open it, and how it behaves.

Every assistant on your team works in its own private workspace. Think of it as the assistant's desk: a computer of its own, with the tools for its job already installed. The Coder's computer carries Git, Node.js, Python, a browser for checking its work, and the usual command line tools. Nothing the assistant does there touches your own machine.

This section explains what lives in a workspace, how to look inside it, and what happens when it is idle.

## What is in a workspace

| Part | What it gives you |
| --- | --- |
| Files | A real folder that keeps its contents between tasks. Browse and download from the Files view. |
| Terminal | A live shell. In a chat you watch what the Coder runs; in the Computer view you can type yourself. |
| Web view | A real browser the Coder uses to check interface changes, with screenshots saved as files. |
| Computer view | An on-demand screen so you can watch the computer work. Coming soon in some places. |
| Idle shutdown | An unused workspace goes to sleep, keeps its files, and wakes when it is needed again. |
| Activity log | A record of what assistants did: steps, code changes, and terminal output. |

Each assistant has its own workspace. The Coder's files are never mixed with another assistant's, and none of them are mixed with yours.

## Where to open it

There are two ways in:

1. Open [the Computer page](https://stellarfirm.ai/app/computer) to see an assistant's workspace on its own.
2. Open a chat and choose the **Computer** tab next to Chat, Work, and Terminal. It shows the same view, right beside the conversation.

The view shows the workspace's state at the top: Not started, Setting up, Ready, Asleep, or Setup stopped. The first start installs the tools and can take a few minutes. After that the tools are in place and later starts are quick.

## Preflight checklist

Before you open a workspace for the first time:

- You are signed in at [stellarfirm.ai/app](https://stellarfirm.ai/app).
- You have started a chat with the Coder, or you are ready to press **Start the computer** on the Computer page.
- You know what you want to look at: files, a terminal, or what the assistant is serving.

> [!NOTE]
> You never have to open a workspace for the assistant to work. It starts and wakes the workspace on its own when a task needs it. Opening it is for when you want to look.

## The pages in this section

| Page | What it covers |
| --- | --- |
| [Files](/docs/workspaces/files) | What persists, how to browse and download, and where repositories live |
| [Terminal](/docs/workspaces/terminal) | The live Terminal tab and the interactive terminal you can type in |
| [Web view](/docs/workspaces/web-view) | How the Coder checks interface changes in a real browser |
| [Computer view](/docs/workspaces/computer-view) | The on-demand screen, and what you see where it is not ready |
| [Idle shutdown](/docs/workspaces/idle-shutdown) | Sleep, wake, and tips for a smooth restart |
| [Activity log](/docs/workspaces/activity-log) | Jobs, Approvals, and the live timeline |

## Installing more tools

If a task needs a tool that is not installed, you have two options. Ask the assistant in chat, and the Coder installs what it needs inside its own workspace. Or use the **Tools** view in the Computer page, which lists each tool as installed, missing, or optional and has an **Install more** form for system packages and npm packages.

```prompt title="Ask the Coder to install a tool"
Coder, you will need [tool] for this task. Install it in your workspace, tell me which version you installed, and then continue.
```

> [!TIP]
> Reset removes a workspace and its files. The button asks for a second click, so you cannot reset by accident. Use it only when you want a clean start.

---

Source: https://stellarfirm.ai/docs/workspaces