# AI use cases for Crush (charmbracelet/crush) Repo: [charmbracelet/crush](https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush) | Use cases: 3 | Page: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/ Crush is Charm's agentic coding tool for the terminal. It works with many LLMs through OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible APIs, lets you switch models mid-session while keeping context, keeps multiple sessions per project, uses LSPs for extra context and adds capabilities through MCP servers. It runs on macOS, Linux, Windows, Android and the BSDs and is configured with a Bash-like crushrc. This file holds every use case of this repo. Each one starts with a "## " heading and ends with its URL. - Start an AI coding session in your terminal with Crush: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/start-coding-with-crush-in-your-terminal/ - Run Crush on a local Ollama model: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/run-crush-on-a-local-ollama-model/ - Give Crush extra tools with MCP servers: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/connect-mcp-servers-to-crush/ ## How to start an AI coding session in your terminal with Crush with Crush Repo: [charmbracelet/crush](https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush) | Difficulty: Beginner | Time: 10 minutes | Basis: From the README Install Crush, pick a model and provider and work in project sessions. **Who it is for:** A terminal-first developer who wants an agent without switching to an IDE. **The problem:** Many coding agents tie you to one provider or one editor. **The outcome:** Crush running in your project with the model of your choice and multiple sessions you can return to. ### Steps 1. Install with `brew install charmbracelet/tap/crush` or `npm install -g @charmland/crush` 2. On Windows use `winget install charmbracelet.crush` 3. Start Crush in your project, press ctrl+l to open the model picker and choose a provider 4. Paste your API key, or set a provider environment variable such as ANTHROPIC_API_KEY 5. Switch models mid-session when a task needs a different one ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Install charmbracelet/crush, open it in , pick , and work through in a dedicated session, switching to a cheaper model for simple edits. ``` ### Caveat Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/start-coding-with-crush-in-your-terminal/ ## How to run Crush on a local Ollama model with Crush Repo: [charmbracelet/crush](https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 20 minutes | Basis: From the README Add Ollama as a provider in crushrc and register a model so Crush works fully offline. **Who it is for:** A developer who wants a terminal coding agent on private code without cloud calls. **The problem:** Cloud models send your code off the machine and cost money per token. **The outcome:** Crush configured with an Ollama provider and model, using your local server. ### Steps 1. Install Crush and run Ollama locally 2. In a crushrc add the provider: `provider add ollama --type ollama --base-url "http://localhost:11434/v1"` 3. Register the model: `model add ollama/llama3.3 --name "Llama 3.3" --context-window 128000` 4. Optionally auto-approve safe tools with permissions allow view edit 5. Start Crush and pick the Ollama model in the model picker ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Configure charmbracelet/crush to use my local Ollama server with a project crushrc that adds the ollama provider and registers , then run a small refactor on with it. ``` ### Caveat crushrc and Crush.json are trusted code that run in a shell; never launch Crush in a directory whose config you have not reviewed. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/run-crush-on-a-local-ollama-model/ ## How to give Crush extra tools with MCP servers with Crush Repo: [charmbracelet/crush](https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 15 minutes | Basis: From the README Add an MCP server such as GitHub in crushrc so the agent can use more tools. **Who it is for:** A developer who wants Crush to read issues and PRs or call other services while coding. **The problem:** A coding agent limited to your files cannot see issues, docs or services your work depends on. **The outcome:** Crush with MCP servers over http, stdio or sse, configured once per project or globally. ### Steps 1. Install Crush 2. Add an MCP server in crushrc with mcp add, type http and the server URL, as in the README GitHub example 3. Keep tokens out of the file by reading them from a secret manager, as the README does with 1Password 4. Put project config in ./.crushrc or global config in ~/.config/crush/crushrc 5. Ask Crush to use the new tools in your session ### Prompt to paste into your agent ```text Add the GitHub MCP server to charmbracelet/crush in my global crushrc, reading the token from my secret manager instead of hard-coding it, then ask Crush to summarize the open issues labeled bug in . ``` ### Caveat Risk, credentials: MCP servers often need API tokens; read them from a secret manager instead of writing them into crushrc. Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/ URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/charmbracelet-crush/connect-mcp-servers-to-crush/