# Command palette

Switch projects, start tasks, deploy and answer access requests from the keyboard with one shortcut.



The command palette is the quickest way around Styx. Press <Keys k="Mod+K" />, or click the search field in the title bar ("Switch, spawn, deploy, grant…"), type a few letters of what you want, and press Enter. Press it again, or <Keys k="Esc" />, to close it.

<Shot src="/docs/img/palette.jpg" alt="The command palette open over the workspace: deploy, grant and spawn actions, with each target's lock state on the right" caption="The palette: actions first, with each target's state on the right" />

## What's in it [#whats-in-it]

Results come in three groups. Matching is fuzzy, on each row's label and the grey text beside it, so a few letters of a project, agent or target name are usually enough.

### Actions [#actions]

For the project you're in:

* **Deploy** project **→** target, one row for every target of the project. The grey text beside it says the target's state right now: open, with the time left, `always`, `locked`, `expired`, `unconnected`, or `deploying…` if a deploy is already running. The first deploy to a target Styx can't deploy to yet is handed to an agent, which works out the command (see [Deploy](/docs/using/land-publish-deploy#deploy)).
* **Grant** agent **→** target, for every access request waiting in this project, marked `needs you`. It opens the request so you can choose the scope and duration and grant or deny it; it doesn't grant anything by itself.
* **Spawn agent in** project opens **New task** for the project. The grey text names the project's default agent.
* **Tech debt audit** runs a review of the repository in the background and reports what would trip up a new engineer.
* **Publish** project **·** branch commits, pushes and opens a pull request for the branch of the task you're looking at.
* **Play while you wait** opens Snake in the chat, unless the task on screen is waiting on you.

Always there:

* **New project…**, **Add from recent projects…**, **Open folder…** and **Clone URL…**, the four ways to [add a project](/docs/using/projects#add-a-project).
* **Open agent dock**, the always-on-top window of agents that need you (see [Notifications](/docs/using/notifications#the-agent-dock)).
* **Send feedback**, straight to the person who makes Styx.
* **Show the walkthrough**, the one-minute tour of the window.

### Agents [#agents]

Every agent that hasn't finished, across all your projects, as agent **·** project, with its state (`working`, `needs you`, `idle`…). Choosing one opens its chat.

While you're typing, finished chats are listed too, including archived ones, by what they were asked: **Reopen** "task" **·** agent **·** project. Choosing one opens it, and an archived chat is reopened where it left off.

### Projects [#projects]

**Switch to** project for every project on the rail, with its current branch beside it. <Keys k="Mod+P" /> opens the palette on this group directly.

## Type a task [#type-a-task]

If you type a sentence of three words or more, the first result is **Start "…" as a task in** the current project. Press Enter and **New task** opens with your words already in the box, ready to start. It's the fastest way to hand an agent something: <Keys k="Mod+K" />, type, Enter, Enter.

## Keys [#keys]

| Key                    | What it does                                                                                 |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| <Keys k="Enter" />     | Runs the highlighted row.                                                                    |
| <Keys k="Mod+Enter" /> | On an agent or an access request, opens it in a pop-out window instead.                      |
| <Keys k="Tab" />       | Narrows to one group: all, then Actions, Agents, Projects. <Keys k="Shift+Tab" /> goes back. |
| <Keys k="Esc" />       | Closes the palette and returns focus to where you were.                                      |

The palette belongs to the main window: it doesn't open in a popped-out chat.

## Tips [#tips]

* Deploying and granting from the palette goes through exactly the same access rules as anywhere else. A production deploy still asks for Touch ID, Windows Hello or your system password.
* The palette only offers the Deploy, Grant, Spawn, Publish and audit rows for the project you're in. Switch first (<Keys k="Mod+P" />), then act.
* Every shortcut is listed in [Keyboard shortcuts](/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts).