bim is a small program your AI assistant runs on your Windows PC to work with Revit models, PDFs, Excel files, Google Sheets, and site data. Longer explanation →
Does it use the cloud?
bim runs entirely on your machine. Individual drivers can hit external endpoints when you ask them to — a flood zone lookup calls a FEMA API, a Sheets push calls Google with your OAuth token. bim also sends anonymous usage telemetry by default (command names and exit codes only — see privacy policy). Set BIM_NO_TELEMETRY=1 or DO_NOT_TRACK=true to opt out.
Does it require admin rights?
No. bim installs per-user into %LOCALAPPDATA%\bim-cli\. No administrator password, no system-wide changes, no other users affected.
Do I need an account?
No account is required to install or use bim. The Google driver requires a one-time browser sign-in to your existing Google account, but that's a driver-level choice — most workflows don't require it.
Is it free?
Yes. No license key, no seat fee, no usage tier. Paid services may be added later (a hosted index, longer-running cloud verbs), but the local program stays free.
What does the install command actually do?
iwr -useb https://bimcli.com/install.ps1 | iex downloads a PowerShell script from this site, verifies a SHA256 checksum against a signed release on dl.bimcli.com, expands the program into %LOCALAPPDATA%\bim-cli\, and adds that folder to your user PATH. No admin prompt, no registry changes outside your user profile, no service installed. Read the script →
What does bim send over the network?
Two things: anonymous usage telemetry (on by default — command name, exit code, version; no file paths, no argument values; opt out with BIM_NO_TELEMETRY=1), and whatever external calls you explicitly trigger. bim site flood lookup queries a FEMA API. bim google sheets append calls Google with your stored OAuth token. bim revit exec sends a request to a local port only. See the privacy policy for the full telemetry field list.
What if my assistant does something wrong to my Revit file?
Every destructive verb supports --dry-run. A well-configured assistant runs that first and shows you the expected changes before committing. If a transaction fails mid-way, Revit's standard undo restores the prior state. bim does not touch files outside the targets you explicitly name.
Do I have to use an AI assistant?
No. Everything your assistant can ask bim to do, you can run yourself from PowerShell. bim site flood lookup --address "..." --geocode works the same whether a person or an AI is typing it. The site is organized agent-first because that's where most of the leverage is, but the program is just a program.
Does it work with Claude Code?
Yes. Paste the bootstrap prompt from the home page into Claude Code's chat. It installs bim, runs bim doctor --json and bim describe --json to orient itself, and waits for your first task. No configuration, no MCP setup. Step-by-step guide →
Does it work with Cursor, Codex, or Copilot?
Yes. bim is a CLI — any AI tool that can run shell commands works. Cursor, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, and Aider call bim from their terminal the same way they call git or curl. No special integration required.
Do I need an MCP server?
No. bim works as a shell tool your AI coding tool calls directly — no server process, no config file to edit. Revit 2027 ships with a built-in MCP server, but bim works with Revit 2024, 2025, and 2026 today. No upgrade required. MCP vs. CLI comparison →
How do I uninstall?
iwr -useb https://bimcli.com/uninstall.ps1 | iex — removes %LOCALAPPDATA%\bim-cli\ and the PATH entry. No leftovers. Read the script →
Which versions of Revit are supported?
Revit 2024, 2025, and 2026. Run bim revit doctor --json to confirm your installation.
Which operating systems are supported?
Windows 10 and Windows 11 (x64). Mac and Linux are not currently supported.