> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.aiola.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a Workspace

> Open an existing project, clone a repository, or adopt an Aiola project on this machine.

## Ways to add a workspace

Aiola supports three real entry paths from the **Open** screen:

* **Open a local folder** and point Aiola at your project root
* **Clone from GitHub, GitLab, or a repository URL**
* **Adopt an existing Aiola project** by linking a local folder to a project that already has cloud data

## Open a local folder

1. Open Aiola.
2. Go to **Open**.
3. Pick your project folder.
4. Let Aiola create or resume the workspace for that folder.

If the project is already onboarded, Aiola takes you straight into the workspace. If not, it continues with setup.

## Clone a repository

From **Open**, choose a clone source:

* **GitHub** to pick from your repositories
* **GitLab**
* **URL** to paste a clone URL directly

Aiola asks where the repository should be cloned locally, then creates the workspace from the cloned folder.

## Adopt an existing Aiola project

If a project already exists in your Aiola account, the Open screen can show that cloud project and whether it already has:

* an API key
* analytics
* app logs
* feedback

Use **Adopt on this machine** to choose the local folder that should be linked to that existing project.

## Open a workspace from the terminal

Aiola also supports opening a local project through the desktop URL handler:

```bash theme={null}
open "aiola://open?path=/path/to/your/project"
```

On Windows, use:

```bash theme={null}
start "aiola://open?path=C:\path\to\your\project"
```

This opens Aiola and routes the folder into the same workspace creation flow.