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Use ButtonsCLI day to day

This page covers the daily workflow: run commands, use presets, copy and paste safely, open helper tabs, and keep the workspace readable while work is running.

Run commands normally

Each terminal tab is a real shell session. Type commands, use shell shortcuts, run interactive tools, and paste text as you would in another desktop terminal.

ButtonsCLI adds visible controls around that shell:

  • preset buttons for repeated commands
  • tab actions for rename, close, and Stall Recovery
  • layout controls for panes and grid view
  • status bar controls for zoom, renderer mode, AI Help, feedback, and agent instructions

Use preset buttons

Preset buttons send saved text to the active terminal. Use them for commands you run often or commands you want to review before submitting.

Good preset examples include:

  • git status
  • pwd
  • clear
  • a project start command
  • a safe SSH command
  • a log or test watcher

Open the preset action menu to edit or delete a preset. When a preset has Send Enter after typing disabled, ButtonsCLI types the command but does not run it.

Normal presets are saved with the rest of your profile settings. Do not put passwords or private tokens in a normal preset. Use Quick Secrets for sensitive text when that feature is available in your build.

Use the preset dock

The left preset dock gives connection-oriented commands their own place. It works well for SSH, project folders, local scripts, or anything you do not want mixed into the top command bar.

You can collapse the dock when you need more terminal space.

Copy and paste

Use the app menu, keyboard shortcuts, or the terminal right-click menu for copy and paste.

The right-click menu includes:

  • Copy
  • Paste
  • Paste Slowly
  • Close terminal, when close controls are configured for the context menu

Large pastes are chunked before they reach the PTY. This reduces the chance that long command blocks arrive as a burst that a shell or full-screen terminal app mishandles.

Paste behavior can be changed in Settings under Advanced.

Open web and display tabs

The + menu can open more than terminal tabs.

Use Open web page tab for a http:// or https:// page. Some websites block embedding inside desktop apps. When that happens, use the tab’s browser or separate-window action.

ButtonsCLI also uses display tabs for built-in startup content and install guides. These tabs sit beside your terminals without replacing the terminal workflow.

Use the Cool Stuff menu

The Cool Stuff menu opens built-in setup helpers and provider links.

The AI coding tools installer flow shows what it will do before it types the command into a terminal. Review the command before running it.

Provider links open in your browser. They are shortcuts for setup and account pages, not hidden model calls.

Send feedback

Use Feedback in the status bar to send a bug report, idea, UI note, performance issue, or pricing comment. Feedback does not attach terminal contents automatically. It sends what you type plus basic app metadata.