> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dashsquad.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deploy Your First Squad Member

> Step-by-step guide to deploying an AI squad member through Desktop.

Ready to put your first AI squad member to work? This guide walks you through deploying a squad member using Desktop — from opening the wizard to chatting with your new teammate.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

* **Desktop running** — the desktop app (`npm run mc:dev`). See [Getting Started](/getting-started) for setup instructions.
* **At least one AI provider connected** — your squad member needs an API key for the model it will use. If you haven't set one up yet, head to [AI Providers](/ai-providers) to configure one.

## Deploy step by step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Deploy wizard">
    In Desktop, click **Squad** in the sidebar, then **Deploy**. This opens the deployment wizard where you'll configure your new squad member.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a name">
    Give your squad member a name. This is how you'll identify it in the squad list, in chat, and in logs. Pick something descriptive — like "code-reviewer" or "research-assistant".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a model">
    Choose which AI model your squad member will use. Dash supports models from Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), and Google (Gemini). If you're not sure, `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-20250514` is a great default — it balances speed and capability.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write a system prompt">
    The system prompt tells your squad member who it is and how to behave. Be specific about what you want it to do. For example:

    ```
    You are a code review assistant. When given code, analyze it for bugs,
    security issues, and style problems. Suggest concrete improvements with
    code examples.
    ```

    A clear system prompt makes a big difference in how well your squad member performs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick tools">
    Select which tools your squad member can use. Tools let your squad member interact with the outside world — reading files, running shell commands, searching directories, and more. See [Tools](/tools) for the full list.

    Common starter sets:

    * **General assistant** — `bash`, `read`, `write`
    * **Code-focused** — `bash`, `read`, `write`, `edit`, `find`, `grep`
    * **Read-only** — `read`, `find`, `grep`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add fallback models (optional)">
    You can configure fallback models in case your primary model is unavailable. Fallbacks are tried in order — if the first model fails, Dash tries the next one. This is optional but useful for reliability.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy">
    Click **Deploy**. If you left the workspace blank, Desktop creates one for you under `~/.dash/workspaces/<agent-id>/` — you can open this folder in Finder or your editor to drop files in for the squad member to work on. The squad member process starts and is added to the squad list, and you'll see a confirmation with the deployment details.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify it's running">
    Open the squad member detail page by clicking on your new squad member in the **Squad** list. Check that:

    * **Status** shows "running"
    * The **Monitor** tab shows uptime and the squad member's process ID (PID)

    If the status shows "error", check the logs tab for details.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Chat with it">
    Click **Chat** to open a conversation with your new squad member. Type a message and hit Enter. You'll see the squad member thinking, using tools, and responding in real time.

    Congratulations — your first squad member is deployed and ready to work!
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Squad member configuration" icon="gear" href="/agents">
    Learn more about squad member settings, models, and advanced configuration.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect Telegram" icon="paper-plane" href="/messaging-apps">
    Let your agent respond to messages on Telegram or WhatsApp.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Add skills" icon="book" href="/skills">
    Give your agent reusable instructions for specific tasks.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>