HeyAgent is an open-source project documented as a local-first desktop agent that can interact with browsers, terminals, files, desktop apps, and selected connected services. Its repository describes the setup and capabilities, but the original title-matching article by Marat Safiyev could not be accessed, so the implementation below explains the documented project rather than attributing unverified code or personal testing to its author.
What HeyAgent does
HeyAgent describes itself as “A local AI agent that can see, understand, and operate your computer.” Its README says it can open applications, control a browser, read the screen, work with files, create Google Workspace documents, and operate Telegram Desktop conversations. Users can also control it remotely through a Telegram bot. These are project documentation claims, not independent test results.
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The project is described as Russian-first and typo-tolerant, while also accepting English requests. Its orchestration is organized around routing, planning, a harness/tool loop, and verification; documentation also lists queueing and loop protection, persistent identity and memory, selectable skills, and model choice and failover.
In practical terms, a request must be translated into tool actions, carried out in the appropriate environment, and checked. Browser automation and desktop control are not interchangeable: browser actions can work within a browser session, while desktop control interacts with windows, screen contents, mouse, and keyboard. The repository describes both kinds of operation, but does not establish comparative reliability or performance.
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What you need before setup
- Core software: Node.js 22 or newer, npm, and Git.
- Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11 is recommended for the most complete desktop-control experience. macOS and Linux are also addressed in the documentation, with some platform-specific setup.
- Browser: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Yandex Browser is recommended.
- Model access: a supported model-provider API key, AWS Bedrock access, or a local Ollama model. Ollama must already be installed and running if you choose that route.
The repository does not specify minimum CPU, memory, graphics, or storage requirements, so there is no documented hardware specification to use when choosing a computer.
Choose a model and access path
The documented options include cloud providers, AWS Bedrock, OpenRouter-compatible services, and local models served by Ollama. A local model avoids sending prompts to a cloud model provider, but the project documentation does not provide a performance or capability comparison. Cloud access depends on the chosen provider and its credentials.
Additional integrations include Google Workspace APIs, Gmail, Notion, GitHub, and Telegram. ElevenLabs voice replies are optional; the README says unsupported or failed voice requests fall back to text. Enabling an integration requires its own setup and credentials, so start with only the services needed for the tasks you intend to run.
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Install and run the documented project
The README describes the sequence at a high level rather than providing a verified, fixed set of commands here. Use the current installation instructions in the HeyAgent repository for exact commands and configuration names, which can change as the project develops.
- Install prerequisites. Set up Node.js 22 or newer, npm, and Git. Install and start Ollama first if you plan to use a local model.
- Install and build HeyAgent. Follow the repository’s current setup instructions to retrieve dependencies and build the project.
- Run onboarding. Configure the agent through its documented onboarding flow.
- Connect and select a model. Provide the credentials or local model connection for your chosen provider, then choose the model the agent should use.
- Start the required gateway for gateway-dependent features. The README says a gateway is required for the desktop application, Telegram bot, cron jobs, and background missions.
- Try a narrow task first. Start with a task whose effects you can inspect, then confirm the result before granting access to more applications, files, or services.
On macOS, desktop control may require granting Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions to the terminal or application running HeyAgent. The documented optional macOS and Linux packages include command-line tools for mouse and keyboard input and window management.
Choose the browser profile deliberately
The README says HeyAgent uses the real browser profile by default, making existing tabs and logins available to the agent. That is convenient when a task depends on an account already signed in, but it also means actions can affect real sessions and data. The project offers a disposable guest-profile option when that access is not needed.
- Use the real profile only when the task requires its logged-in accounts or open tabs and you are comfortable with the agent operating in that context.
- Use a guest profile for tasks that do not need saved sessions, reducing exposure to existing browser logins.
Secure desktop and remote access
HeyAgent can interact with the user’s actual desktop, browser profile, files, and connected services. Its README explicitly advises reviewing the security model before enabling broad permissions. Treat a request to act on your computer as a request that may have real consequences, not as an isolated chat response.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Keep provider keys, bot tokens, app passwords, OAuth JSON, and other configuration secrets out of the repository and source control. The README says credentials and OAuth tokens are kept outside the repository and warns against committing these files or values.
- Grant only the operating-system and service permissions required for the task.
- Review actions involving file changes, messages, or connected accounts rather than assuming the agent’s verification loop guarantees correctness.
- For Telegram remote control, use the documented pairing flow. The repository says pairing stores an allowed chat ID so random users cannot control the computer.
What is established—and what is not
The project documentation establishes the intended setup options, listed integrations, and broad capabilities. It does not establish benchmark results, comparative model quality, or that every listed action will work reliably across all applications and operating systems. Windows is the recommended platform for the most complete desktop-control experience; macOS and Linux have additional setup considerations.
Best Value
Because the original DEV article page was unavailable, its author’s exact architecture choices, code, experiments, and personal account cannot be confirmed here. The project README is the basis for the HeyAgent-specific details; check it for the current commands, supported providers, and platform instructions before installing.
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