A clean slate.
A fresh EC2 instance, a GCP VM, or a new Mac. No GitHub CLI. No configured agent. No API key handy. Bailout gets you an agent now.
› set up gh and OpenCode on this VM FOR FRESH MACHINES & BROKEN SETUPS
The harness
meant to be
deleted.
A fresh VM. A new Mac. Your usual agent won’t start. Get a working harness in one command, then use it to get your real tools running.
NO ACCOUNT. NO API KEY. JUST RUN IT.macOS + Linux
curl -fsSL https://bailout.dev/install.sh | bashApple Silicon · Linux x64 & ARM64 Requires Bash & curl.
Or download a binaryGET IN. GET UNSTUCK. GET OUT.Example · steps condensed
bailout v0.4.0
setup & recovery · free models
› get this VM ready for OpenCode
I’ll check what’s installed first.
bash
$ command -v git gh opencode
│ /usr/bin/git
Git is here. GitHub CLI and OpenCode
still need setting up.
✓ dependencies installed✓ sign-in completed in your terminal✓ OpenCode starts successfully
You’re ready. Run opencode.
Done with bailout? Remove it:
$ bailout uninstall
ctrl + c you’re in controlSetup & recovery guide
01 BASH TOOL$0 MODEL PRICING622.0 KBMAC ARM64
UNCOMPRESSEDMIT OPEN SOURCE
UNCOMPRESSEDMIT OPEN SOURCE
AN AGENT BEFORE YOUR AGENT
For the gap in your setup.
When your normal tools aren’t there to help.
A broken setup.
Your usual agent won’t launch. A config changed. A dependency disappeared. Use a separate harness to diagnose and repair it.
› pi stopped working. help me fix itA quick exit.
Get back to Codex, Claude Code, Pi, OpenCode, or whatever you use. Once you’re running, bailout has done its job. Remove it.
$ bailout uninstallNO KEY TO FIND BEFORE YOU START.Your setup can wait.
Your setup can wait.
Getting help shouldn’t.
Bailout uses a hosted, free-only model router, so you can start before your own keys and agents are configured. Every request checks current prices and enforces a zero-price cap.
Free capacity is shared and can run out. When it does, bailout stops or tries another verified free model. It never switches to a paid one.
Read how routing worksFAIR QUESTIONSBefore you
Before you curl.
What does a fresh machine need?
Bash, curl, and the usual base utilities, including tar and a SHA-256 utility. No Git, GitHub CLI, Node, Python, local model, or configured agent. It supports Apple Silicon macOS and x64 or ARM64 Linux. You’ll need an internet connection.
How small is it?
The v0.4.0 native binaries are 622,048 bytes on Apple Silicon, 840,480 bytes on Linux x64, and 790,784 bytes on Linux ARM64. That’s the full uncompressed executable. The Mac download is just 315,190 bytes. See every release size.
Does it update itself?
Yes. Each launch checks for a newer stable release, verifies the download, and restarts into it. If the check fails, your existing version still runs. Set BAILOUT_NO_UPDATE=1 to opt out.
Can it edit files too?
Yes. Bash can read, create, and edit files using the utilities on your machine. Bailout can repair a config, write a script, and run checks through the same tool. No separate editor or coding agent needs to be installed first.
What about sign-in and API keys?
Bailout itself needs neither. For the tools you’re setting up, you use your own accounts. Login and key entry can happen directly in your terminal, outside the model conversation. Don’t paste credentials into chat.
Is help always available?
The hosted service uses free models and shares a limited quota. Availability and model quality vary. Rate limits or the shared hosting cutoff pause requests with a clear message. It never falls back to paid models. Read the limits. You can host your own router for a separate quota.
What can it do on my machine?
Bailout runs Bash with your user’s permissions. Commands execute automatically, so it can read and edit files, run programs, and access the network. It is not a sandbox. Use a container or disposable checkout when you want isolation.
What leaves my machine?
Your conversation and captured tool output go through the API to OpenRouter and the selected model provider. Their data policies apply. Bailout does not save conversations on the server or record prompts in application logs. Keep secrets out of prompts and files the model reads.
Why a harness you plan to delete?
Because you sometimes need an agent before you can set up your agent—or a working one to repair the one that broke. Bailout is a small, independent way to bridge that gap. Success is getting you back to your normal tools.