Glossary

A quick reference for the terms you'll see across these guides.

The basics

Matrix computer — Your personal computer in the cloud. A real machine with a terminal, a file system, and an AI kernel, reachable from the web, CLI, mobile, and desktop. It keeps running after you disconnect.

Web shell — The browser interface at app.matrix-os.com. Your main way to use your Matrix computer: Terminal, Files, apps, and settings.

Shell / Terminal — The command line on your Matrix computer, where you run commands, builds, tests, and coding agents.

Session — A running terminal that lives on your Matrix computer. You can name sessions, leave them running, and reconnect from any device. Closing the browser does not end a session.

Attach / detach — Connecting to a session (attach) or stepping away from it without stopping it (detach). In the CLI, detach by pressing Ctrl-\ twice quickly.

Provisioning — The first-time setup that creates and boots your Matrix computer after you sign up and choose a plan.

Working in Matrix

CLI — The matrix command-line tool you install on your laptop to log in, attach to sessions, sync files, forward ports, and run agents. See the CLI guide.

Sync — Keeping files mirrored between your laptop and your Matrix computer with the CLI.

Port forwarding — Making a port on your Matrix computer (for example, a dev server) reachable on your own machine so you can open it in your local browser.

Workspace / home — Your files, repositories, and data on your Matrix computer (your home directory). It's yours, and it's preserved across updates.

Apps / Matrix app — Personal web apps installed on your Matrix computer. Supported apps use the Matrix database bridge in Web Canvas, Web Desktop, and Electron Desktop. Native Mobile can open previews, but does not yet provide that database bridge. See Apps.

Matrix App Gallery — Planned curated discovery for Matrix apps. It is not yet a production public publishing or installation flow. See Matrix App Gallery.

Web Mobile — Matrix OS in a phone browser, with a touch-friendly Apps launcher. See Web Mobile.

Native Mobile — The early-access iPhone and Android client, with Chat, installed Apps previews, Terminal, and Settings. See Native Mobile.

Desktop app (Operator) — The native macOS app for Matrix OS: projects, tasks, agent threads, terminals, and apps in one keyboard-first window. See the Desktop guide.

AI and agents

AI kernel — The AI at the core of your Matrix computer. With your permission it can use the shell, files, apps, and integrations. It's the operating system itself, not a chat box bolted on the side.

Coding agent — An AI coding tool — Claude, Codex, Pi, or OpenCode — that you install and run on your Matrix computer inside a session. See Coding Agents.

Hermes — Matrix's always-on chat agent. It runs in the background and replies across web chat, mobile, and messaging channels. Hermes is model-agnostic — pick a model (Claude, GPT, Gemini, and more) before it can respond.

Skill — A short instruction file that coding agents discover and use to learn how Matrix works — build conventions, UI patterns, and debug playbooks. See Matrix Skills.