Diff: how-to/navigate-console-tui
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|---|---|
| --- | --- |
| schema: foundry-doc-v1 | schema: foundry-doc-v1 |
| title: "How to navigate the console TUI" | title: "How to navigate the console TUI" |
| slug: navigate-console-tui | slug: navigate-console-tui |
| category: how-to | category: how-to |
| content_type: how-to | content_type: how-to |
| type: how-to | type: how-to |
| status: active | status: active |
| last_edited: 2026-06-14 | last_edited: 2026-06-14 |
| editor: pointsav-engineering | editor: pointsav-engineering |
| paired_with: navigate-console-tui.es.md | paired_with: navigate-console-tui.es.md |
| --- | --- |
| `os-console` is a full-screen terminal application that organises platform functions into numbered F-key slots. Navigating the console means switching between slots, reading the status bar, and understanding what the active slot is showing you. No mouse is required — the keyboard model is complete. | `os-console` is a full-screen terminal application that organises platform functions into numbered F-key slots. Navigating the console means switching between slots, reading the status bar, and understanding what the active slot is showing you. No mouse is required — the keyboard model is complete. |
| For the architecture behind this model, see [[app-console-keys]] and [[os-console-platform]]. | For the architecture behind this model, see [[app-console-keys]] and [[os-console-platform]]. |
| ## Prerequisites | ## Prerequisites |
| - A paired device (see [[pair-a-new-device]]) | - A paired device (see [[pair-a-new-device]]) |
| - `os-console` installed and launched | - `os-console` installed and launched |
| - An active session (see [[open-first-totebox-session]]) | - An active session (see [[open-first-totebox-session]]) |
| ## Layout | ## Layout |
| The console occupies the full terminal window with three persistent regions: | The console occupies the full terminal window with three persistent regions: |
| | Region | Location | Contents | | | Region | Location | Contents | |
| |---|---|---| | |---|---|---| |
| | Status bar | Top of screen | Identity label, authorization state, active slot name, SLM tier, session duration | | | Status bar | Top of screen | Identity label, authorization state, active slot name, SLM tier, session duration | |
| | Slot area | Main body | Output from whichever slot is currently active | | | Slot area | Main body | Output from whichever slot is currently active | |
| | Navigation strip | Bottom of screen | F-key labels showing which slots are loaded | | | Navigation strip | Bottom of screen | F-key labels showing which slots are loaded | |
| The navigation strip displays the slot names bound to each F-key. Unloaded slots appear dimmed. | The navigation strip displays the slot names bound to each F-key. Unloaded slots appear dimmed. |
| ## Switching slots with F-keys | ## Switching slots with F-keys |
| Press any labelled F-key to activate that slot. The slot area updates immediately. The active slot name in the status bar confirms which slot is live. | Press any labelled F-key to activate that slot. The slot area updates immediately. The active slot name in the status bar confirms which slot is live. |
| Loaded slots hold their state when you switch away — an email inbox you scrolled to a particular message stays at that position when you return to F3. | Loaded slots hold their state when you switch away — an email inbox you scrolled to a particular message stays at that position when you return to F3. |
| ## Reading the status bar | ## Reading the status bar |
| The status bar updates continuously. Left to right: | The status bar updates continuously. Left to right: |
| - **Identity** — the paired device identity and its permission tier | - **Identity** — the paired device identity and its permission tier |
| - **Auth state** — `LINKED` when machine-based authorization is active; `LINK INACTIVE` when unavailable | - **Auth state** — `LINKED` when machine-based authorization is active; `LINK INACTIVE` when unavailable |
| - **Active slot** — the name of the currently displayed cartridge (e.g., `INPUT`, `EMAIL`, `SLM`) | - **Active slot** — the name of the currently displayed cartridge (e.g., `INPUT`, `EMAIL`, `SLM`) |
| - **SLM tier** — the Doorman circuit state: `A` (DataGraph live), `B` (SLM only), or `C` (local fallback) | - **SLM tier** — the Doorman circuit state: `A` (DataGraph live), `B` (SLM only), or `C` (local fallback) |
| - **Session duration** — elapsed time since the session was opened | - **Session duration** — elapsed time since the session was opened |
| ## Key bindings that work in every slot | ## Key bindings that work in every slot |
| | Key | Action | | | Key | Action | |
| |---|---| | |---|---| |
| | F1–F12 | Switch to that slot | | | F1–F12 | Switch to that slot | |
| | ? | Show contextual help for the active slot | | | ? | Show contextual help for the active slot | |
| | q or Esc | Exit the active slot back to the home view (slot-dependent) | | | q or Esc | Exit the active slot back to the home view (slot-dependent) | |
| | Ctrl-C | Quit `os-console` | | | Ctrl-C | Quit `os-console` | |
| Slot-specific bindings are shown in the navigation strip of the active slot. | Slot-specific bindings are shown in the navigation strip of the active slot. |
| ## Key takeaways | ## Key takeaways |
| - Navigation is entirely keyboard-driven — F-key number = slot number | - Navigation is entirely keyboard-driven — F-key number = slot number |
| - Slots hold their state; switching away and back is non-destructive | - Slots hold their state; switching away and back is non-destructive |
| - The status bar is the ground truth for authorization state and SLM availability | - The status bar is the ground truth for authorization state and SLM availability |
| - F12 is the Input Machine; it is always present and cannot be reassigned | - F12 is the Input Machine; it is always present and cannot be reassigned |
| ## See also | ## See also |
| - [[app-console-keys]] — the chassis and Cartridge trait that all slots implement | - [[app-console-keys]] — the chassis and Cartridge trait that all slots implement |
| - [[os-console-platform]] — the full F-key taxonomy and which cartridge occupies each slot | - [[os-console-platform]] — the full F-key taxonomy and which cartridge occupies each slot |
| - [[use-f-key-model]] — how to work with the F-key cartridge model | - [[use-f-key-model]] — how to work with the F-key cartridge model |
| - [[machine-based-auth]] — what the `LINKED`/`LINK INACTIVE` auth state means | - [[machine-based-auth]] — what the `LINKED`/`LINK INACTIVE` auth state means |
| - [[pair-a-new-device]] — register a device before opening the console | - [[pair-a-new-device]] — register a device before opening the console |