---
title: Desktop quickstart
description: Sign in, open a folder on your computer, and get a first change made and reviewed — in about five minutes.
sidebar_title: Quickstart
---

You need the app installed ([Install the desktop app](../install/desktop.md))
and a Ysra account.

## First change in five minutes

<div class="steps" markdown>

### Sign in

Open Ysra and sign in with your email and password. If you already use the
`ysra` CLI on this computer, choose **Use my ysra CLI login** instead.

![Ysra desktop sign-in](../assets/screens/desktop/first-launch.webp){ width="1440" height="994" }
/// caption
Sign in once; your sign-in is stored encrypted by your operating system.
///

### Open a folder

Choose **New thread** (++cmd+n++, or ++ctrl+n++ on Windows and Linux) and pick a
project folder. I show what I found there and ask whether you trust it.

Choose **Trust & open**. I remember the answer for that folder.

### Ask a question first

Type in the message box and press ++enter++:

```text
explain how refunds are calculated
```

Nothing changes on a question. You get an answer and the files I read.

### Ask for a change

```text
add partial refunds: never more than the remaining balance, with a test
```

I read the code, edit it, run your checks, and show each step as it happens.
When I'm done you see **Candidate ready**.

### Review it, then decide

Choose **Review changes** to see every file I touched next to what it was.
Then:

- **Commit…** keeps the change on a branch;
- **Undo my changes…** puts everything back exactly as it was.

Nothing is committed or pushed until you choose.

</div>

![A finished task with the Candidate ready card](../assets/screens/desktop/outcome-card-commit-push-undo.webp){ width="1440" height="994" }
/// caption
A finished change: review it, commit it, or undo it.
///

## Next

<div class="cards" markdown>

- [**Open a folder**](open-folder.md)

    What the trust sheet shows, folders without Git, and parallel copies.

- [**Approvals and auto mode**](approvals.md)

    What I always ask before doing, and what auto mode covers.

- [**Commit and push**](commit-push.md)

    Branches, pushing, and your CI result read back.

</div>