> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blink.so/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Meet Blink
> Chat with Blink in your terminal to build and deploy custom agents and Slackbots
Get started by running `bun i -g blink` to install the Blink CLI globally.
## Why Blink
Blink is an [open-source](https://github.com/coder/blink) agent development engine that provides the complete infrastructure for building, deploying, and scaling AI agents.
Bring your own LLM keys to build and run Blink agents locally, and even deploy them to Blink Cloud to share them with the world.
* **Blink agents are Node.js HTTP servers written in TypeScript** that handle chat messages, webhooks, and API requests through standard HTTP endpoints
* **The platform handles all the infrastructure complexity** with serverless deployment, logging, and scaling, so you can focus on building your agent's logic
* **Full portability between local development and production** with identical behavior across environments
* **Use the popular Vercel AI SDK** with support for multiple LLM providers and streaming responses
Build and experiment with new agents locally for free, always. Optionally,
deploy them to Blink Cloud for free during Early Access.
## How Blink Works
Blink is a terminal-based application that introduces a simple but powerful concept: **Edit Mode** and **Run Mode**.
* **Edit Mode**: Describe how you want your agent to behave. This is where you build and refine your agent's tooling, personality, and decision-making process.
* **Run Mode**: Test your new agent and use it for real work. Chat with it, give it tasks, and put it through its paces before deploying it to the world.
In one terminal, you can build an agent in Edit Mode, test it in Run Mode, then return to Edit Mode to refine based on what you learn.
## What Blink Is Not
Blink isn't another workflow builder. It's not a drag-and-drop interface where you predetermine exactly what steps need to happen and in which order using a conditional or flow builder.
We believe real intelligence requires the flexibility of code. Blink gives developers the freedom to build agents that think and adapt, not just follow predetermined paths.