> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.otter-shell.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# otter-assistant

> Local AI chat client for otter-assist. Encrypted threads, Markdown, and tool permission prompts. Ships in otter-shell-extras.

`otter-assistant` is the chat window for [otter-assist](/apps/otter-assist). The daemon owns transport and tools. This app owns threads, permissions, Markdown, and code highlighting.

<Note>
  Install with `pikman install otter-shell-extras`. That pulls in `otter-assist`, `otter-assistant`, and `otter-assist-data` along with the speech tools.
</Note>

## Launch

```bash theme={null}
otter-assistant
```

You can also open **Otter Assistant** from [otter-launcher](/desktop/otter-launcher). Start `otter-assist` first (or autostart it). No daemon, no replies.

## Chat

Type in the prompt box and press **Enter**. The status line shows tool progress, then tokens per second and time to first token when the reply finishes.

Successful exchanges save as encrypted thread files under `$XDG_DATA_HOME/otter-shell/assistant/threads/`. `assistant/current.id` picks the active thread. An old `assistant/current.thread` file migrates into the default thread on first use.

## Tool permissions

Web Search and Desktop Search ask before they run:

| Action         | Result                                                            |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Enter**      | Allow once for this request                                       |
| **Ctrl+Enter** | Save the matching `*_always_allow` flag in `otter-assistant.conf` |

The request sends one-shot approval to `otter-assist`. Other clients stay gated unless their own config allows the tool.

## Rendering

Replies render as Markdown: headings, tables, task lists, remote and local images (cached by Otter), and fenced code blocks highlighted with `zhl`.

## Configuration

Client settings live in `~/.config/otter-shell/otter-assistant.conf`:

```conf theme={null}
window_width = 980
window_height = 720
font_size = 14
max_tokens = 512
temperature = 0.2
web_always_allow = false
desktop_search_always_allow = false
```

Backend options (`backend`, tools, idle unload) live in `otter-assist.conf`. Edit those under **Assist** in otter-settings, or see [otter-assist](/apps/otter-assist).

## Related

* [otter-assist](/apps/otter-assist): local inference daemon and `otter-assistctl`
* [otter-search](/apps/otter-search): desktop search used by the assistant tool
* [Installation](/installation): what `otter-shell-extras` includes