Kimi Code Desktop adds Linux: check one small change first

On October 14, 2026, Kimi Code Desktop added Linux support in its 1.1.0 update, with AppImage, DEB and RPM packages. Kimi Code is a coding assistant that can read and write project files and run commands; its desktop app brings conversations, file previews, changes and a terminal into one graphical interface.

The official installation guidance limits the current Linux packages to x86_64. AppImage provides a portable option, DEB suits Debian and Ubuntu families, and RPM suits Fedora and RHEL families. The announcement does not mean every Linux architecture is supported.

For people who write scripts or maintain small websites on Linux, the value is connecting “ask AI to make a change” with “check it myself.” A chat message saying “done” does not establish that the files are correct. The changes view shows what was altered, while the terminal provides execution output.

For example, to add a greeting to a practice project, first ask the assistant to explain the directory, then change just one file, and finally compare the diff with the output. This example explains a checking sequence; it is not a test of model accuracy. The task execution documentation also recommends running checks, inspecting in a browser where relevant, and feeding back problems. The interface brings these checks together, but correctness still depends on the actual result.

Prepare a local folder you can use for practice. Official models require a Kimi membership, and model availability varies by plan. Alternatively, configure another provider under Model Providers in Settings. Downloading the desktop app does not include free model usage.

1. Install a suitable package and connect a model. Choose the package for your distribution from the official FAQ download links and install it. Follow the prompts to sign in to Kimi or configure your own provider. Confirm that the session’s model is available.
2. Choose the working directory explicitly. Click New session, click the folder name above the input box, and use Choose folder… to select the practice folder. Check its name, then send: “Read this directory and explain its main files and how to run it. Do not change anything yet.” This is a suggested prompt; check that the answer refers to the files you selected.
3. Request a change that is easy to check. For example: “Create hello.py in this practice directory so that python3 hello.py prints Hello, Kimi! Do not modify other files.” Use this example only if Python 3 is already installed. For your first task, follow the official guidance and consider Always Ask: inspect the file or command scope on each approval card before deciding.
4. Compare the file and the output. Inspect the new file in Changes; if that view is not open, choose Changes from the plus menu at the top. Following the terminal instructions, click Open Terminal at the top right of the session, confirm that its current directory is the practice folder, then type python3 hello.py yourself in the bottom terminal and confirm Hello, Kimi! in that same terminal. If the output is wrong or the command cannot run, send the specific error back to the conversation, fix it and check again. Do not count a command that was never run as a pass.