FAQ
Common questions about how Cento works.
Where does my code run?
On your machine. Workspaces are real directories with real processes — the browser is a window onto them, not a remote sandbox. Your code never has to leave your computer for agents to work on it.
What does Cento cost to run?
Your own compute — so effectively nothing extra. Cento coordinates through the cloud, but builds, dev servers, and agent runs execute locally.
Does Cento need an open port on my machine?
No. The daemon dials out and holds an outbound connection. Nothing on your machine accepts inbound traffic from the internet.
What are the prerequisites?
git, bash, curl, and CA certificates — present by default on macOS and
nearly every Linux. Cento installs its own toolchain (Node, Bun, tmux) in its
own directory; it does not touch your system's versions.
How do I uninstall a machine?
To disconnect a computer, open Settings → Devices → Disconnect device. This revokes its account access and keeps its installed software and local files.
To remove Cento software and local data, run cento uninstall on that computer.
The CLI previews the installation and asks for confirmation. Use
cento uninstall --dry-run to inspect the plan without changing anything.
Your cloud commands, skills, and settings are kept. Local conversation history
and files inside Cento's data directory are deleted; Convex cannot restore them.
Repositories outside that directory and shared tools are preserved.
You can reinstall and pair a new device identity with the same account to use your cloud configuration again. Settings also provides uninstall instructions after a device has been disconnected.
Windows?
Supported through WSL2. Set up WSL if needed, then open your Ubuntu or other WSL2 Linux terminal and run the command on the install page. Cento runs inside that Linux environment; you use the same dashboard and CLI as on any other platform.