> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.riff.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.riff.ai/reference/agent-builder/chat.md).

# Chat

The Chat tab is where you build your agent. You describe what the agent should do, what it should know, and how it should behave — and the Riff agent writes the instructions, adds skills, connects tools, and configures everything in response.

## Layout

Two columns:

**Left sidebar** (collapsible on mobile):

* **Build / Live toggle** — switches which version of your agent you are talking to (see below)
* **Email button** — shows your agent's email addresses in a popover
* **Chats** header with a **+** button — starts a new chat session
* **Show task sessions** checkbox — when on, includes automated schedule runs in the session list alongside your manual chats (off by default)
* **Sessions list** — each entry shows a timestamp, an optional **Task** badge (for scheduled runs), and a delete button on hover

**Right area** — the active chat with the Riff agent. Message history scrolls up; text input is at the bottom. Same controls as the App builder chat panel: Agent dropdown, Build / Plan toggle, skill mentions via `/`, file and image attachments.

See [Riff agent chat panel](/reference/riff-agent/chat-panel.md) for the full control reference.

## Build / Live toggle

| Mode      | What it does                                                                                           |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Build** | Sends your messages to the development version of your agent — use this while configuring and testing  |
| **Live**  | Sends your messages to the deployed production version — use this to verify how the live agent behaves |

Start in Build. Switch to Live only when you want to check that a deployed agent is behaving as expected.

## Sessions

Each session is an independent conversation. Sessions are preserved — you can return to an earlier one or keep different topics in separate sessions.

Toggle **Show task sessions** on to see automated runs (triggered by schedules) alongside your manual sessions. Toggle it off to see only your own conversations.

{% hint style="info" %}
The Chat tab stays mounted even when you navigate to Pipeline, Profile, Triggers, or Activity. If the Riff agent is mid-response when you click away, it keeps running — you will not lose it.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.riff.ai/reference/agent-builder/chat.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.