Tips for New Users

Get the most out of CodeFrog with these platform-specific tips and AI assistant guidance.

macOS-Specific Tips

File Access Permissions

• Security-Scoped Bookmarks: CodeFrog uses macOS security-scoped bookmarks for local folder access. When you select a folder, macOS will ask for permission—this is normal and required for the app to access your files.
• Granting Access: If you move or rename a project folder, you may need to re-grant access. Use the project diagnostics tool (medical icon) to fix connection issues.
• Multiple Folders: Each project folder requires separate permission. CodeFrog can only access folders you explicitly grant access to.

Keyboard Shortcuts

• ⌘S: Save current file (works in code editor)
• ⌘W: Close current tab or window
• ⌘K: Quick project switcher
• ⌘T: Open terminal
• ⌘P: Quick file search

See the Keyboard Shortcuts guide for the complete list.

Menu Bar Integration

• File > Open Recent: Quickly access recently opened projects and files
• File > Open: Open a project folder or file directly
• Project > Close Project: Close the current project and return to Welcome screen

AI Assistant Guidance

Recommended Development Setup

For the best development experience, we recommend using CodeFrog alongside dedicated IDEs and AI tools:

• Primary IDE: Use Cursor or VS Code for your main coding work
  • These IDEs provide better AI assistance, debugging, and extension support
  • CodeFrog complements these tools with testing, security scanning, and project management
• AI Code Review: Use CodeRabbit for automated PR reviews
  • CodeFrog can import CodeRabbit PR comments as tasks
  • See CodeRabbit + Augment Workflow for integration details
• CLI Workflows: Use your Mac’s Terminal app for AI CLI tools
  • CodeFrog doesn’t include embedded AI CLI tools by design
  • This gives you flexibility to use the AI tools that work best for your workflow

Why Not AI CLI in CodeFrog?

CodeFrog intentionally doesn’t include embedded AI CLI programs. Instead, we recommend:

• Using external IDEs like Cursor for AI-powered coding
• Using Terminal for AI CLI tools when needed
• Using CodeRabbit for AI-powered code reviews

This approach provides better security, more flexibility, and lets you choose the AI tools that work best for you.

Recommended Tools & Integrations

For a complete list of recommended tools and services that work well with CodeFrog, see our Recommended Tools & Integrations guide. This includes:

• IDEs: Cursor, VS Code, and other development environments
• Cloud Services: Hetzner, Linode for infrastructure
• Email Services: SendGrid, Mailchimp (REST API mode)
• Version Control: GitHub integration workflows

Best Practices

• Start with Onboarding: Run the onboarding flow to configure your preferences
• Use Project Workflows: Choose the right workflow (local vs. remote) for your needs
• Connect GitHub: Link your GitHub account for PR automation and issue tracking
• Use External IDEs: Use Cursor or VS Code for primary development, CodeFrog for testing and management
• Regular Backups: CodeFrog doesn’t automatically backup your code—use Git for version control

Productivity Tips

Project Management

• Use Tags: Organize projects with tags for easy filtering
• Favorites: Mark frequently used projects as favorites
• Recent Projects: The Welcome screen shows your 5 most recent projects

Code Editor

• Syntax Highlighting: Automatically detects language from file extension
• Save As: Use File > Save As to save files to new locations
• Multiple Tabs: Open multiple files in tabs for easy switching

Testing & Analysis

• Web Testing: Test both local HTML files and live URLs
• Bulk Scanning: Use Bulk Security Scanner for multiple domains at once
• Mega Report: Generate comprehensive reports combining all test results

Troubleshooting Tips

• Connection Issues: Use the diagnostics tool (medical icon) on project cards
• File Not Found: Check that you’ve granted folder access permissions
• Slow Performance: Close unused projects and clear terminal history
• GitHub Issues: Verify your GitHub OAuth token is valid

Next Steps

• Getting Started Guide - Learn the basics
• Project Workflows - Choose your workflow
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Boost productivity
• Troubleshooting - Solve common issues