Getting Started with BB

Welcome to BB! This guide will help you get up and running with BB's desktop app and introduce you to our objectives-focused approach to development.

Quick Start

1. Installation

  1. Download BB for your platform
  2. Run the installer
  3. Launch BB desktop app

2. API Setup

  1. Get an Anthropic API key
  2. Open BB Settings
  3. Add your API key

3. Add a Project

  1. Click "Create New Project"
  2. Select project directory
  3. Choose project type (local or git)

4. Start Chatting

  1. Select your project
  2. Click "New Conversation"
  3. Share your objective

Understanding BB's Approach

Thinking in Objectives

BB works best when you focus on what you want to achieve rather than how to achieve it. Instead of following step-by-step processes, share your objectives and let BB handle the complexity.

Traditional Approach:

"I need to add OAuth authentication to my Express app. First, I'll install passport, then configure the middleware..."

✗ Focuses on implementation details

BB Approach:

"I want to add secure authentication to my app. Users should be able to log in with their Google accounts."

✓ Focuses on desired outcome

Real World Example:

A BB user wanted to create an app to help people on the autism spectrum. Instead of diving into technical details, they:

  1. Shared their vision and objectives with BB
  2. Explored multiple approaches BB suggested
  3. Chose the most suitable solution
  4. Let BB guide the implementation

By focusing on objectives rather than implementation details, they created a more effective solution that truly served their users' needs.

Core Concepts

Projects

A project is any directory containing files you want to work with. BB supports:

  • Local projects (any directory)
  • Git repositories
  • Multiple projects (switch easily between them)

Conversations

Conversations are your interaction sessions with BB. Each conversation:

  • Has a specific focus or objective
  • Maintains context of your discussion
  • Can access project files as needed

Pro Tip: Create separate conversations for different tasks or aspects of your project. This helps maintain focus and manage resources efficiently.

File Management

BB can work with any files in your project. You can:

  • Reference files using auto-complete
  • Let BB analyze multiple files
  • Make changes through BB

Next Steps