Dvina writes code in your project, on your computer, with the notes, the threads and the reasons in view. You describe what you want, review what it changed and ship it, in the same app you use for everything else.

Before you start

Code is part of the Dvina desktop app, on Mac, Windows and Linux. There's nothing separate to install. Dvina needs to be on at least one computer; every other device can start the work and follow it.

To get the desktop app, see Download and install Dvina.

Open a project

A project is a folder on your computer: a code repository or a plain folder.

  1. In the desktop app, open the Dock and choose the project row (Projects).
  2. Choose Open… to pick a folder or code repository, or New Project… to make a new folder on this computer.

When you make a new project, turn on Create Git repository to keep a history of every change, so Dvina's edits can be undone.

The project you choose is the one the chat works in. For a code project, the Dock also shows its branch.

Ask for the work

Describe what you want, like "Make the CSV export use the right dates". Dvina runs it as a task on your computer, and you can keep talking or start more tasks. Several tasks can work on one repository and decide among themselves who commits first.

Before it writes, Dvina reads the project together with what's around it: it searches your past chats and files, so the reasons come along. It also follows the AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md in your project.

Review the changes

Each task's answer comes back with its changes, in a card named for the task that says Ready to review.

  • See what changed: Choose Changes to see each file's changes in the side panel. Files lets you browse the project.
  • Take a turn back: Under a reply that changed files, choose the line that says how many files changed, then Revert, and confirm Revert this turn?. The files go back to how they were before it, and changes made since stay.

Commit and open a pull request

  1. In the task's card, choose Commit.
  2. Commit the changes lists the files that will be committed on your branch, with a suggested Title and Message. Choose Commit. Nothing is pushed.
  3. To open a pull request, choose Push and create PR. Dvina pushes the current branch first, then opens the pull request. Uncommitted files aren't included.

The pull request goes through your own Git sign-in. Dvina opens it on GitHub or GitLab; any other host opens its own new pull request page in your browser. When it's done, choose View PR.

Approvals

Builds and tests just run. Deleting files, pushing, database changes, deploys and anything touching secrets wait for your OK. The card says why, for example Run this command? with Deletes files or Changes a database, and you choose Allow or Reject. Your admin can set how much always asks.

Important

Nothing is pushed until you say so. Your project is a folder on your computer, and with Git every edit Dvina makes can be undone.

Test on a simulator or emulator

In the desktop app, Dvina can try your app on this computer the way your users will: in a browser, in the iOS Simulator on a Mac, or in the Android Emulator on a Mac, Windows or Linux.

  1. Open the Dock and choose the row marked Device.
  2. Under This device, choose Browser, iOS Simulator or Android Emulator.

The pane opens in the side panel. A simulator that's off starts when you open it. To use another one, choose Choose a device at the top of the pane; each device shows its system and whether it's Running or Off.

To show or hide the browser, press ⌘ ⇧ B on a Mac or Ctrl Shift B on Windows and Linux. While Dvina works in a pane you aren't looking at, the Device row has a dot.

Let Dvina use a device

The first time Dvina uses a simulator or emulator, it asks, for example Let Dvina use iPhone 17 Pro?, because Dvina sees its screen, so don't sign in to your real accounts on it. Choose Allow or Reject. The device keeps your answer, so another chat doesn't ask again. Until you allow it, the pane offers Let Dvina use it.

While Dvina works, the pane says Dvina is using this device, and the chat shows the device live. Choose Watch large to see it bigger. Sending, paying and deleting on the device wait for your OK, every time.

To use the device yourself, choose Take over. Your taps and keys go to the device, and you can press Home, and on Android Back and Recent apps. When you're done, choose Hand back, and Dvina carries on.

Set up the iOS Simulator

If the iOS Simulator isn't set up, its row opens a checklist, Set up the iOS Simulator. Each step ticks itself off once it's done, even if you did it somewhere else.

  1. Install Xcode: Choose Open the App Store. Xcode is free and about 7 GB; open it once when it's done.
  2. Select Xcode: Choose Copy the command and run it in Terminal. It asks for your password, so Dvina never runs it for you.
  3. Add the iOS simulator: In Xcode, go to Settings › Components and get iOS, or run the command in Terminal.
  4. Create a device: Choose Create an iPhone. Nothing is downloaded.

Set up the Android Emulator

If the Android Emulator isn't set up, its row opens a checklist, Set up the Android emulator.

  1. Install Android Studio: Choose Get Android Studio. It installs what the emulator runs on; open it once when it's done.
  2. Add the emulator and platform tools: Run the command in a terminal, or add them in Android Studio › SDK Manager.
  3. Turn on hardware acceleration: On Windows and Linux, run the command yourself, since it needs your password or an administrator. Then sign out and back in on Linux, or restart on Windows. A Mac needs nothing here.
  4. Add a system image: Run the command in a terminal, or add one in Android Studio › SDK Manager. It's a large download.
  5. Create an emulator: Choose Create an emulator. Nothing is downloaded.

If your admin turned simulators off, the rows say Turned off by your admin.

Work from anywhere

From your phone or the web, ask for the work in your chat. Dvina works on it in the project on your computer, and the changes wait for your review. Your computer needs to be on, with Dvina open.

When to use

  • You're working on real software and want the whole story behind you: the notes, the decisions and last month's threads.
  • You want a fix done while you're away from your desk.
  • You want several changes worked on at once, each ready to review.

Tips

  • Write your house rules down. Put how you work in AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md, and Dvina follows it.
  • Test on a phone. Building an app? Dvina can test it in an iPhone simulator or an Android emulator, tapping through it the way your users will. See Test on a simulator or emulator.
  • Not a developer? For working apps and pages, use Create instead.