Install

Z.E.N. runs locally by default. Install it once, then you can fire workflows from the terminal, the Web UI, or from inside whichever AI agent you already use.

One-line install

macOS / Linux

curl -fsSL https://zen.choosecadence.com/install | bash

Windows

irm https://zen.choosecadence.com/install.ps1 | iex

Homebrew

brew install Cadence-Intelligence/zen/zen

Docker

docker run --rm -v "$PWD:/workspace" ghcr.io/Cadence-Intelligence/zen:latest workflow list

The installer drops the zen binary into your path. Open a new terminal and run zen version to confirm.

From source

If you want to hack on Z.E.N. itself or pin to a specific commit:

git clone https://github.com/Cadence-Intelligence/zen
cd zen
bun install

You'll need Bun >= 1.0.0 on your machine. That's the only hard prerequisite.

Optional: install an AI provider

Z.E.N. doesn't ship its own AI. You wire one in. The supported providers right now:

• Claude (via Claude Code). If you already have a Claude Pro or Max subscription and use Claude Code, you're set; nothing else to install.
• Codex (via the Codex SDK). Set CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN in your environment.
• Pi (built in). No extra install; configure under assistants: in ~/.zen/config.yaml.

You can mix providers across a workflow. The choice is per-step, not per-workflow. See Dispatch from your agent for details.

Verify

zen version
zen workflow list

The first command prints the installed version. The second shows the bundled workflows. If both work, you're done.

Next

• Quick start to run your first workflow.
• Your first workflow to write your own.
• Dispatch from your agent to fire workflows from inside Claude Code, OpenClaw, or Hermes.