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What is ZenFlow?

ZenFlow is an AI-powered development platform that lets you work with multiple AI agents to build software. Instead of manually writing every line of code, you describe what you want to build, and AI agents handle the implementation, running in isolated sandboxes to keep your main codebase safe. Whether you need to fix a bug, build a new feature, or implement a complete technical specification, Zenflow’s agents work in parallel to get things done faster.

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What You’ll Accomplish

By the end of this guide, you’ll have Zenflow installed, connected to your preferred AI agent (Zencoder, Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini), and ready to start building with AI assistance through spec-driven workflows.

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Before You Start

Make sure you have:
  • A code editor: VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, or another JetBrains IDE
  • Admin access: Permission to install applications on your machine
  • 5 minutes: Enough time to get everything set up
Don’t have a Zencoder account? You’ll create one during the setup process.

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Step 1: Download Zenflow

  1. Go to zencoder.ai/download/all
  2. Click Download Zenflow for your operating system
    • Windows: .exe installer downloads automatically
    • Mac: Click View all for additional options

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Step 2: Install the Desktop App

  1. Run the downloaded installer
  2. Follow the installation wizard
  3. Grant administrator permissions when prompted
  4. Launch Zenflow from your Applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (Windows)

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Step 3: Sign In or Create Your Account

When ZenFlow opens, you’ll see a welcome screen: New user?
  • Click Sign Up
  • Complete registration at auth.zencoder.ai
  • Return to Zenflow and sign in
Existing user?
  • Click Sign In
  • Enter your Zencoder credentials

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Step 4: Choose Your Default AI Agent

After signing in, you’ll be prompted to select your default agent:
  • Zencoder: The native ZenFlow agent (recommended for getting started)
  • Claude Code: Anthropic’s coding agent
  • Codex: OpenAI’s code generation model
  • Gemini: Google’s AI model
Select your preferred agent and click Next. You can change this later in Settings. The default agent will be used automatically for new tasks, but you can switch agents for specific tasks anytime.

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Step 5: Connect Your IDE to Zenflow

Link the plugin to your desktop app:
  1. In the Zenflow desktop app, go to Settings → Preferences - Code Editor
  2. Select your IDE from the list Screenshot2026 01 22at12 59 04PM
Now you can open files from Zenflow in your default IDE.

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Step 6: Create Your First Task

Now you’re ready to use Zenflow’s AI agents:
  1. In the ZenFlow app, click + New task
  2. Choose a workflow type:
    • Quick change: For small, focused modifications
    • Fix bug: For debugging and fixing issues
    • Spec and build: For feature development (recommended for first try)
    • Full SDD workflow: For complete software design documents
  3. For your first task, select Spec and build
  4. Click Start and describe what you want to build
  5. Click Create & Run to start the process Screenshot2026 01 22at12 57 22PM
The agent will:
  • Ask clarifying questions about unclear requirements
  • Create a technical specification
  • Plan implementation steps
  • Build the feature step by step
  • Allow you to review results before merging

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Success Checklist

Your setup is complete when:
  • Zenflow desktop app is running and connected
  • You’ve selected a default AI agent
  • You can create and start new tasks in Zenflow

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Understanding Zenflow’s Workflow Types

Quick change: Fast iterations on existing code
Fix bug: Debug issues with AI assistance
Spec and build: Define requirements, then let AI implement
Full SDD workflow: Complete software design documentation and implementation Each workflow runs agents in isolated sandboxes, keeping your main codebase safe while agents work in parallel.

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What’s Next?

Now that Zenflow is set up, try:
Running Multiple Agents: Deploy agents in parallel to build features simultaneously
→ Learn about parallel agents