# Pencel Documentation > Documentation for Pencel — AI agents for your recurring business operations ## Table of Contents ### Getting Started - [What is Pencel (pronounced as Pencil)?](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/what-is-pencel.md): Why we built Pencel and the design philosophy behind it — outcome-first, an AI compiler for trust and reliability, governed and auditable by default, local-first, and better with every use. - [Why Pencel?](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/why-pencel.md): Why Pencel — build AI agents and governed workflows with no code, curate your own knowledge and self-learning memory, choose from multiple models, and act on what matters, all on a local-first desktop app. - [Installation](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/installation.md): Download and install Pencel on macOS, Windows, or Linux, sign in, and add a model — with your own API key or a managed plan. - [Accounts & sign-in](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/accounts.md) - [Quickstart](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/quickstart.md): Get a first useful result from Pencel in minutes — install a ready-made Program, run the one onboarding set up, or set up your own. ### Concepts - [How It All Fits Together](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/overview.md) - [Programs & Rooms](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/programs.md): Programs organize Pencel around the recurring business functions you actually run — RFP tracking, inbox triage, or one you define yourself — each with its own room to work in. - [Home & To-dos](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/operations.md) - [Company](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/company.md): Company is where Pencel keeps the structured facts and knowledge your Programs draw on — researched, confirmed by you, and never invented. - [Documents](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/documents.md): Documents is where every report, draft, spreadsheet, slide deck, or email a Program produces lives — browsable and editable outside any one room. - [Activity](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/activity.md): Activity is the history surface across every Program you run — separate from Studio's per-workflow Jobs run history. - [Solution Packs](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/solutions.md) - [Knowledge](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/knowledge.md) - [Jobs](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/jobs.md) - [Workflows](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/playbooks.md) - [Agents](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/agents.md) - [Agents vs Workflows: Roles and Jobs](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/agents-vs-playbooks.md) - [Guided Task](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/guided-task.md) - [Steps](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/steps.md) - [Triggers & Schedules](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/triggers.md) - [Guidelines](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/guidelines.md) - [Context Files](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/context.md) - [Memory](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/memory.md) - [Connections](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/connections.md) - [Artifacts & Workspace](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/artifacts.md) - [Todos](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/todos.md) - [Run mode](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/chat.md): Run mode is Pencel's live, conversational way to get work done now with your agents and connected tools — and how it compares to Build mode for setting up reusable processes. - [Runs](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/runs.md) - [Agentic compiler & runtime](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/compiler-runtime.md): How Pencel's agentic compiler turns a plain-language workflow into a safe, runnable plan — and how the runtime executes it as a briefing with system-enforced guardrails and a post-run check. - [Under the hood](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/under-the-hood.md): How Pencel works under the hood — compiling plain-language workflows into safe runnable plans, schema-driven dynamic UI, and building a knowledge graph from your local files. - [Radar](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/radar.md) - [Custom Tools](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/custom-tools.md) - [Tailor](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/tailor.md) ### Guides - [Setting Up a Program](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/setting-up-a-program.md): Walk through setting up a custom Program — describe what you want, review the proposed crew and responsibilities, resolve readiness, and activate. - [Setting Up Connections](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/setting-up-connections.md) - [Scheduling Automation](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/scheduling-automation.md) - [Using To-dos](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/using-todos.md) - [Using Pulse](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/using-feed.md) - [Spec-Driven Documents](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/spec-driven-documents.md) - [Linking web pages to Knowledge](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/linking-web-pages.md) - [Using Memory](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/using-memory.md) - [Organizing Your Workspace](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/organizing-workspace.md) - [Monitoring Jobs](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/monitoring-runs.md) - [Using Custom Tools](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/using-custom-tools.md) - [Creating Your First Agent](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/creating-your-first-agent.md) - [Building a Workflow](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/building-a-playbook.md) - [Writing Guidelines](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/writing-guidelines.md) - [Writing Skills](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/writing-skills.md) - [Writing Context Files](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/writing-context-files.md) - [Run vs. Build](https://pencel.ai/docs/guides/run-and-build.md): How to use Pencel's two composer verbs — Run to do work now, live and conversationally, and Build to set up a reusable, schedulable process — and when to reach for each. ### Integrations - [Overview](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/overview.md): Connect Pencel to Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Notion, GitHub, QuickBooks, databases, and more so your agents can read data and take action. - [Slack](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/slack.md) - [Google Workspace](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/google-workspace.md) - [GitHub](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/github.md) - [Atlassian](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/atlassian.md) - [Notion](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/notion.md) - [Stripe](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/stripe.md) - [QuickBooks Online](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/quickbooks.md) - [Linear](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/linear.md) - [Databases](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/databases.md) - [Browser Automation](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/browser-automation.md) - [Utilities](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/utilities.md) - [Operations](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/operations.md) - [Custom Servers](https://pencel.ai/docs/integrations/custom-servers.md) ### Best Practices - [The Authoring Rubric](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/authoring-rubric.md) - [Writing Workflow Instructions](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/writing-playbook-instructions.md) - [Configuring Agents](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/configuring-agents.md) - [Effective Guidelines](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/effective-guidelines.md) - [Writing Effective Skills](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/writing-skills.md) - [Writing Effective Context Files](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/writing-context-files.md) - [Managing Costs](https://pencel.ai/docs/best-practices/managing-costs.md) ### Privacy & Security - [Data Handling](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/data-handling.md): How Pencel handles your data — what stays local on your machine, what is sent to AI providers, and how credentials are protected. - [Trust & Permissions](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/trust-and-permissions.md) - [Approval Workflows](https://pencel.ai/docs/privacy-and-security/approval-workflows.md) ### Examples - [Weekly Executive Briefing](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/weekly-executive-briefing.md) - [Customer Escalation Workup](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/customer-escalation-workup.md) - [Competitive Intel Digest](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/competitive-intel-digest.md) - [Creating Documents, Slides, and Spreadsheets](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/creating-documents-slides-spreadsheets.md) - [Summarize a Document in Chat](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/summarize-a-document.md) - [Teach Your Agent About Your Company](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/teaching-your-agent.md) - [Build a Custom Scoring Tool](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/custom-scoring-tool.md) - [Auto-Create Todos from Agent Runs](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/auto-create-todos.md) - [Chain Workflows with Hooks](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/chain-playbooks-with-hooks.md) - [Multi-Agent Parallel Research](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/multi-agent-research.md) - [Seed Your Agent's Memory](https://pencel.ai/docs/examples/seed-agent-memory.md) ### Recipes - [Recipes](https://pencel.ai/docs/recipes.md) - [Recipe: Federal RFP Scout](https://pencel.ai/docs/recipes/rfp-scout-federal.md) ### Reference - [Supported Models](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/supported-models.md): The AI models Pencel supports — Claude Opus 5 and Sonnet 5, GPT-5.6 Sol and Terra, Gemini 2.5 Flash and Pro, plus managed Pencel Auto and Private modes. - [Tips & shortcuts](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/tips.md): Practical tips for getting more out of Pencel — slash quick actions, Run vs Build, letting Auto choose your agent and model, approvals, and more. - [Keyboard Shortcuts](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md) - [Settings](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/settings.md) - [Troubleshooting](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md): Fixes for common Pencel issues — sign-in and model access, empty Jobs and Pulse, Marketplace setup failures, connections, and costs. - [Glossary](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/glossary.md) - [FAQ](https://pencel.ai/docs/reference/faq.md): Answers to common questions about Pencel — Programs and rooms, data privacy, models and costs, agents and workflows, and account requirements. - [Beta Tester Setup](https://pencel.ai/docs/getting-started/beta-testers.md) ### Other - [Feed](https://pencel.ai/docs/concepts/feed.md)