Documentation

Everything you need to know about using dotty — your AI coding agent that calls you when it needs help.

Getting Started

1. Create an Account

Sign up at dotty.dev/login using your email. We'll send you a magic link — no password needed.

2. Install the CLI

npm install -g @dotty/dotty

3. Set Up Your Account

dotty setup

This will guide you through linking your account, setting your phone number, and configuring your API key.

4. Add Your API Key

Go to Settings > API Keys and add your Anthropic, OpenRouter, or OpenAI API key. This powers the AI voice conversations.

5. Set Your PIN

In Settings > Phone & PIN, set a 4-digit PIN. You'll need this to authenticate when calling dotty.

6. Start the Agent

dotty start

This starts a session that monitors your Claude Code agent. When the agent gets stuck, dotty calls you so you can talk through it.

Making Calls

How Calls Work

dotty can call you when your coding agent needs input, or you can call dotty to check on your sessions.

Outbound Calls (dotty calls you)

When your agent hits a blocker or completes a task, dotty calls your registered phone number. You'll hear a summary of what happened and can give instructions by voice.

Inbound Calls (you call dotty)

Call your dedicated dotty number (or the shared number on the free tier) at any time. Enter your 4-digit PIN, then ask about your sessions or give instructions.

Phone Number Setup

Free tier: Use the shared number. PIN required.

Pro/BYOK tier: Get a dedicated number. PIN required for phone, not for WhatsApp.

WhatsApp

Pro and BYOK users can also call dotty via WhatsApp. WhatsApp calls are verified by your account, so no PIN is needed. WhatsApp calls are free and don't count against your monthly minutes.

Voice Commands

When on a call with dotty, you can speak naturally. Here are some things you can say:

"What are my active sessions?"

Get a summary of all running agent sessions

"What's happening on the dotty project?"

Status update for a specific project

"Tell the agent to try a different approach"

Send instructions to a blocked agent

"Resume the last session"

Unblock a waiting agent with your input

"How many minutes have I used?"

Check your usage for the current period

"Call me back in 30 minutes"

Schedule a callback

"Send me a text summary"

Get an SMS with session details

CLI Usage
dotty setup

Interactive setup wizard — links your account and configures settings

dotty start

Start a new agent session in the current directory. Monitors your Claude Code agent and connects it to dotty.

dotty start --resume <token>

Resume a previous session using a resume token

dotty sync

Sync your local settings with the server

dotty usage

Check your current usage and remaining minutes

dotty byok

Configure Bring Your Own Key settings

Pricing

Free

$0

  • 30 minutes/month
  • 1 machine
  • Shared phone number
  • SMS notifications

Pro

$20/mo

  • 3 hours/month
  • 5 machines
  • Dedicated phone number
  • Call + SMS notifications
  • Priority support
  • $0.15/min overage

BYOK

$20/mo

  • 10 hours/month
  • Unlimited machines
  • Dedicated phone number
  • Bring your own ElevenLabs key
  • $0.03/min overage
FAQ

What is dotty?

dotty is a phone-based interface for your AI coding agents. When your agent gets stuck or finishes a task, dotty calls you so you can give instructions by voice instead of switching context to your terminal.

Which AI providers are supported?

dotty supports Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI, and OpenRouter. You bring your own API key.

Is my API key safe?

Yes. Your API key is encrypted at rest and only used when making AI calls on your behalf. It is never exposed in logs or to other users.

Can I use dotty without phone calls?

Yes! You can use SMS-only mode or WhatsApp. Set your notification preferences in Settings.

What happens during quiet hours?

During quiet hours, notifications are held and delivered when the quiet hours period ends. Urgent blockers can still reach you if configured.

Can I use multiple machines?

Yes! Free tier supports 1 machine. Pro supports 5. BYOK supports unlimited. Each machine runs an independent agent session.

How does WhatsApp calling work?

Save the dotty WhatsApp number in your contacts and call via WhatsApp. Your WhatsApp account verifies your identity, so no PIN is needed. WhatsApp calls are free.

Dashboard | Settings | Sessions