Getting Started with Trae IDE

Welcome to Trae IDE! This guide will help you get up and running with your new AI-powered development environment.

Installation

System Requirements

Before installing Trae IDE, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• macOS: 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Windows: Windows 10 or Windows 11
• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• Storage: 2GB available space

Download and Install

1. Visit the official Trae website
2. Click on the "Download" button
3. Choose your operating system (macOS or Windows)
4. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
5. Launch Trae IDE from your applications folder or start menu

First Launch

When you first open Trae IDE, you'll be greeted with:

1. Welcome Screen: Overview of key features
2. Account Setup: Sign in or create a new account
3. Workspace Selection: Choose or create your first workspace
4. AI Assistant Introduction: Brief tour of AI capabilities

Creating Your First Project

Option 1: Create a New Project

1. Click "New Project" from the welcome screen
2. Choose a project template or start from scratch
3. Select your preferred programming language
4. Name your project and choose a location
5. Click "Create" to generate your project

Option 2: Open an Existing Project

1. Click "Open Folder" from the welcome screen
2. Navigate to your existing project directory
3. Select the folder and click **"Open"
4. Trae will automatically detect the project type

Understanding the Interface

Main Areas

• Explorer Panel (Left): File and folder navigation
• Editor Area (Center): Code editing workspace
• AI Chat Panel (Right): Interactive AI assistant
• Terminal (Bottom): Integrated command line
• Status Bar (Bottom): Project information and shortcuts

Key Features

1. AI Chat

• Side Chat: Persistent AI assistant panel
• Inline Chat: Context-aware help within code
• Quick Actions: Common AI-powered tasks

2. Smart Code Completion

• Real-time AI suggestions
• Context-aware completions
• Multi-language support

3. Project Management

• File explorer with search
• Git integration
• Extension marketplace

Your First AI Interaction

Let's try using the AI assistant:

1. Open the AI Chat Panel (if not already open)
2. Type a question like: "How do I create a function in Python?"
3. Review the AI response with code examples
4. Try inline chat by pressing Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I on Mac) in the editor

Example Interactions

💬 You: "Create a simple HTTP server in Node.js"

🤖 AI: Here's a simple HTTP server in Node.js:

const http = require('http');

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
  res.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/plain' });
  res.end('Hello, World!');
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running on http://localhost:3000');
});

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Open Command Palette	Ctrl+Shift+P	Cmd+Shift+P
Quick File Open	Ctrl+P	Cmd+P
Inline AI Chat	Ctrl+I	Cmd+I
Toggle Side Chat	Ctrl+Shift+C	Cmd+Shift+C
Save File	Ctrl+S	Cmd+S
New File	Ctrl+N	Cmd+N
Find in File	Ctrl+F	Cmd+F
Toggle Terminal	`Ctrl+``	`Cmd+``

Customizing Your Workspace

Themes and Appearance

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+, or Cmd+,)
2. Navigate to Appearance
3. Choose from available themes:
   • Light Theme
   • Dark Theme
   • High Contrast
   • Custom themes from marketplace

Extensions

1. Click the Extensions icon in the sidebar
2. Browse popular extensions
3. Install language-specific tools
4. Configure extension settings

AI Assistant Settings

1. Go to Settings > AI Assistant
2. Adjust response length and detail
3. Configure auto-completion preferences
4. Set up custom prompts

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these areas:

• Core Features: Deep dive into IDE capabilities
• AI Assistant Guide: Master AI interactions
• Tutorials: Step-by-step project walkthroughs
• Code Completion: Optimize your coding speed

Getting Help

If you need assistance:

• AI Chat: Ask the built-in AI assistant
• Documentation: Browse the complete guide
• Community: Join the Trae developer community
• Support: Contact technical support

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Congratulations! You're now ready to start coding with AI assistance. Happy coding! 🚀