Setup & Scaffold

Create the project, connect a model, and explore the filesystem that defines your agent.

Run the preflight first

Complete these checks before eve init. The initializer can guide you through model setup, but it cannot replace an outdated Vercel CLI while it is already running.

1. 1

   Confirm Node.js and npm.

   node --version npm --version

   Use Node.js 24 or newer. npm is included with Node.js.

2. 2

   Install or update the Vercel CLI.

   npm install -g vercel@latest

   Then confirm which version your shell will use:

   vercel --version

   If the command is missing or still reports the old version, open a new terminal and run which -a vercel. Multiple Node or package-manager installations can leave an older command earlier in your PATH.

3. 3

   Confirm Vercel authentication.

   vercel whoami

   If you are not signed in, run:

   vercel login vercel whoami

   Make sure this account can create or access a project in the Vercel team you plan to use.

Create the agent

1. 1

   Scaffold a new eve project.

   npx eve@latest init support-agent

   The command creates the directory, installs dependencies, initializes Git, and starts the local development experience.

2. 2

   Enter the project.

   If the setup flow returned you to your shell, run:

   cd support-agent
3. 3

   Connect a model.

   Your agent needs a language model to read its instructions, call tools, and reply in the terminal. A fresh scaffold opens the /model setup flow in the terminal UI. You will see three credential paths:

   Path	Credential	When to use
   AI Gateway through a Vercel project — recommended	VERCEL_OIDC_TOKEN in .env.local	Choose a team and project. eve links the project and pulls a short-lived token automatically.
   AI Gateway through an API key	AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY	Paste a key from the Vercel dashboard when you do not want to link a project.
   OpenAI or Anthropic directly	OPENAI_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_API_KEY	Follow the printed provider instructions. This path may also require the matching AI SDK provider package and model configuration.

   You can reopen this picker at any time by typing /model.

4. 4

   Send the first message.

   PromptCopy

   What information should a support engineer collect before triaging a customer issue?

   At this point the agent has only its starter instructions. The important milestone is that the model answers and the terminal streams the turn.

Understand the scaffold

Stop the dev server with Ctrl+C when you need the shell, then inspect the project:

support-agent/
├── agent/
│   ├── agent.ts
│   ├── instructions.md
│   └── channels/
│       └── eve.ts
├── evals/
├── package.json
└── tsconfig.json

The path supplies the capability name. For example, agent/tools/lookup_account.ts becomes the lookup_account tool without a separate registration step.

Restart and inspect

1. 1

   Start local development.

   npm run dev

   eve dev runs the agent and opens an interactive terminal UI. Use /help to see its commands.

2. 2

   Confirm what eve discovered.

   In a second terminal, from the project root:

   npx eve info

   This is the fastest check when an instruction, tool, skill, or channel does not appear.

You are ready when

• node --version reports Node.js 24 or newer.
• vercel --version runs successfully and vercel whoami shows the intended account.
• The terminal UI opens without a model credential error.
• Your first prompt produces a streamed response.
• You can explain what belongs in instructions.md, tools/, connections/, and channels/.
• npx eve info lists the starter HTTP channel.

Troubleshooting