Practical overview
When it fits
Use Mercury when you want an assistant that can remain available across sessions and channels, retain structured memory, and perform tool-based work under configurable permissions. Its coding environment and specialist bots are relevant when tasks call for repository-aware work or delegation.
Who it is for
- People who want a persistent assistant reachable from a CLI or supported messaging channel.
- Users who need tool-using workflows with configurable approvals, role scopes and token budgets.
- Developers seeking an agent-based coding environment with planning and delegated background agents.
- Teams or individuals who want specialist bots with separate personas, scoped memory and permissions.
Documented uses
- Send tasks to an assistant through CLI, Telegram, Discord, Slack or Signal.
- Use built-in tools and installed skills while retaining control through approval modes and permission scopes.
- Keep structured long-term context in SQLite-backed memory.
- Organize work with Kanban boards and scheduled tasks.
- Plan and execute repository work in Mercury Code, or delegate tasks to persistent specialist bots.
Requirements & limits
The project is open source under the MIT license. The README documents standalone installers for macOS, Linux and Windows, plus npm installation requiring Node.js 22 or later.
- Choose a model provider and configure its credentials during setup.
- Decide whether to use approval prompts or the session-level “Allow All” mode.
- Messaging channels have distinct setup and access models; Signal uses a
signal-clibridge and the README notes platform-specific constraints. - The npm installation path requires Node.js 22 or later; standalone installers are also documented.
- Mercury Code is a separate full-screen coding environment within the agent, while Mercury Bots are persistent specialist agents.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Install and complete first-run setup
Install Mercury Agent and configure its initial name, model provider and permission mode.
Before you start
- Choose a standalone installer for macOS, Linux or Windows, or use npm with Node.js 22 or later.
- Have credentials for the model provider you intend to configure.
Steps
For macOS or Linux, run the documented installer command: the command below.
curl -fsSL https://mercuryagent.sh/install.sh | shFor Windows, run the documented PowerShell installer:
irm https://mercuryagent.sh/install.ps1 | iex.Alternatively, with Node.js 22 or later, start with the command below, or install globally with the command below and run
mercury.npx @cosmicstack/mercury-agentnpm i -g @cosmicstack/mercury-agentComplete the first-run wizard with a name, provider and any optional channels, then select
Ask MeorAllow Allbefore chat starts.
Expected outcome
Mercury opens its CLI chat after initial configuration and a permission mode has been selected.
Guide limitations
- The standalone installer commands are documented for macOS/Linux and Windows; the npm route requires Node.js 22 or later.
- This guide covers initial configuration, not connecting and testing each messaging channel.
Reconfigure Mercury from the CLI
Open Mercury’s documented configuration and platform diagnostic commands after initial setup.
Before you start
- Mercury Agent must already be installed and available as the
mercurycommand.
Steps
Run
mercury doctorto reconfigure settings such as provider keys, name or other settings.Run
mercury doctor --platformto request the platform-specific diagnostic.
Expected outcome
Mercury opens its documented reconfiguration or platform diagnostic flow.
Guide limitations
- The documentation lists these commands but does not specify the diagnostic checks or their results.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 10 October 2026
- Original website title
- cosmicstack-labs/mercury-agent · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

