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Getting Started

Build your first AI agent in just a few minutes. This guide walks you through installation, setup, and creating your first workflow.

Before You Begin

  • A computer running Windows 10+, macOS 11+, or Ubuntu 20.04+
  • At least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
  • An API key for your preferred LLM provider (or use Ollama for free local models)
Step 1

Download & Install CogTog

Get the desktop app for your operating system.

CogTog runs locally on your computer, keeping your data private and secure. Download the version for your operating system.

Windows
macOS
Linux
Step 2

Sign In & Configure

Connect your account and set up your LLM provider.

After launching CogTog for the first time:

  1. 1Sign in with your CogTog account to activate your license
  2. 2Go to Settings and add your LLM API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)
  3. 3Optionally configure local models with Ollama for offline use
Step 3

Create a New Project

Start with a template or create a blank project.

From the welcome screen, you can create a new project:

  1. 1Click "New Project" on the welcome screen
  2. 2Choose a name and location for your project
  3. 3Select a template or start with a blank canvas
Tip: Start with the "Simple Chat Agent" template to learn the basics.
Step 4

Build Your Workflow

Add nodes to the canvas and connect them together.

The visual editor is where you design your agent's behavior:

Add Nodes

Right-click canvas or drag from palette

Connect Nodes

Drag from output to input ports

Configure

Click nodes to edit settings

Organize

Use groups and comments

Step 5

Configure the LLM Node

Set up your AI model and system prompt.

Click on the LLM node to configure its behavior:

Model

Choose from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, or local models

System Prompt

Define your agent's personality and instructions

Temperature

Control creativity (0 = focused, 1 = creative)

Step 6

Run Your Agent

Test your workflow in the built-in playground.

Click the Run button in the toolbar (or press F5) to execute your workflow. The playground opens where you can interact with your agent.

or press
F5
Debug Mode: Use Shift+F5 to step through execution and inspect variables.

You're Ready!

Congratulations! You've built your first AI agent. From here, you can:

  • Add more nodes to create complex workflows
  • Connect tools to let your agent take actions
  • Add memory nodes for conversation context
  • Export your workflows as reusable templates