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Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18 or higher — check with node --version
  • A git repository — Kanban must be run from the root of a git repo

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Installation

Install Cline CLI globally via npm: 
npm i -g cline
Then launch Kanban: 
cline
This launches a local web server and opens the Kanban board in your default browser.

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First Launch

  1. Open your terminal and cd to the root of any git repository
  2. Run cline
  3. Your browser opens to the Kanban board

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Onboarding

On your first launch, Kanban walks you through a short setup:
  1. Pick a project directory — a directory picker opens so you can select (or confirm) the repository you want to work in
  2. Choose your agent — select which coding agent to use for tasks (Cline, Claude Code, or Codex)
After onboarding, you land on the board and can start creating tasks immediately. No account creation, API keys, or configuration files required.

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Creating Your First Task

Once the board is open:
  1. Create a card — click the add button to create a new task card
  2. Write a task description — describe what you want the agent to do
  3. Hit play — Kanban creates an ephemeral git worktree for the task and starts an agent in its own terminal
The card updates in real time, showing the agent’s latest message or tool call so you can monitor progress from the board.
You can also use the sidebar chat to create tasks. Open the chat and ask the agent to break down work into multiple task cards — it can create, link, and start tasks directly on the board.

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Next Steps

Core Workflow

Learn the full workflow: create → link → start → review → ship.

Features

Explore worktrees, auto-commit, task linking, the diff viewer, and more.