First launch
What Bast shows the first time you open the TUI with no hosts, and how to skip it.
If this machine has no SSH hosts yet, the first TUI launch is a welcome with what Bast found on this machine, then destinations: add a host, history suggestions, Vault, or Sync. Each listed key goes somewhere different. Esc closes it and lands on Hosts.
If ~/.ssh/config already has hosts, Bast opens the picker. History suggestions still appear in the list.
Keys
Listed in the box when they apply:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
a | Add a host |
Enter | History suggestions, when some exist and there are no hosts yet |
3 | Vault (sync this app across computers) |
4 | Sync (import cloud VMs) |
Esc | Close and use Hosts |
q quits without dismissing, so the chooser can return next launch.
When it appears
Only the interactive TUI (bast or bast tui), and only when discover finds no hosts. Direct connects (bast <label>), CLI commands, and --json never show it.
Upgrading an existing install does not show it. A machine that already has hosts is marked done without the overlay.
Press v (About), then o, to show the chooser again without changing first-run eligibility.
Skip from the environment
BAST_NO_ONBOARDING=1 bastUseful for screenshots and non-interactive terminals that still attach a TTY.
After you skip
Empty Hosts and Keys tabs use the same seal language as an unlinked Vault: a fact, not a keybinding lecture. The footer still has a add / a generate. SSH destinations from history stay in the collapsible (Suggested) group. See Import from shell history.