Installation
Install the nt command, set your AI key, and create your first project.
Getting NT ready takes four small steps: install it, set your AI key, check it works, and create a project.
Step 1: Install the CLI
NT is a command called nt. Install it with your package manager:
npm install -g @age.nt/ntpnpm add -g @age.nt/ntyarn global add @age.nt/ntbun add -g @age.nt/ntThe -g means "global", so you can use the nt command from any folder.
You need Node 22.18 or newer
NT runs on Node.js. Check your version with node --version. If it is older than 22.18, update
Node first.
Runtime dependencies are included
NT is not a zero-dependency runtime. Installing the CLI also installs the engine's exact-pinned MCP client, Ajv for JSON Schema validation, and Undici for guarded HTTP connections. You do not need to install these packages separately.
Step 2: Set your AI key
NT talks to a real AI model, so it needs a key. If you are using Anthropic (Claude), set it like this:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...You only need this when you actually run an agent. Checking and inspecting your files works without a key.
Step 3: Check it works
nt --helpIf you see the list of commands, you are ready.
Step 4: Create a project
nt setup writes a small working project into the current folder, so you never
start from a blank file:
mkdir my-agent && cd my-agent
nt setupSetting up an NT project in /Users/you/my-agent
template: minimal
+ age.nt
+ config.nt
✓ 2 .nt file(s) OK
Next steps
1. export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
2. nt run age -m "bought the first iPhone at 22"age.nt holds the agent and config.nt holds your settings and AI provider.
Run that last line and you have a working agent.
Want to see everything at once?
nt setup --template full writes a bigger starter with a shell tool, a local MCP echo server, a
skill, a sandbox, a helper agent, and a workflow. The MCP server uses only Node.js built-ins, and
the setup output shows how to trust and check it before running the agent. See CLI
commands.
Downloads
nt on npm
The command you install to build and run agents.
VS Code extension
Color and smart hints for .nt files. Search “NT” in VS Code.
Other IDEs
The same extension on Open VSX, for Cursor, Windsurf, and VSCodium.
Source on GitHub
The full project: engine, CLI, editor extension, and examples.