Installation
Install HydroBot on macOS, Windows, or Ubuntu.
Download a released build
Choose your computer below. Each link always downloads the latest published build.
| Platform | Recommended package | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS Apple silicon | Download .dmg | Apple silicon. Drag HydroBot to Applications. |
| macOS Intel | Download .dmg | Intel. Drag HydroBot to Applications. |
| Windows x64 | Download installer | Per-user installer; Windows signing is not yet available. |
| Ubuntu 24.04 x64 | Download .deb · AppImage | The .deb is recommended; the AppImage is portable. |
macOS first launch
macOS builds are not signed with an Apple Developer ID yet, so macOS blocks the first launch. Try to open HydroBot once, then allow it in System Settings → Privacy & Security and confirm — on older macOS, right-click the app and choose Open. Every package is published with a SHA-256 checksum beside it: macOS · Windows · Ubuntu.
Windows SmartScreen
The Windows installer is not code-signed yet. Windows may show “Unknown publisher.” Verify that you downloaded it from the official download page before choosing More info → Run anyway.
Install an agent CLI
HydroBot needs at least one supported agent engine installed and signed in. Claude and Codex are the most common starting points.
- Install the CLI from its official provider.
- Run it once in a terminal and complete sign-in.
- Restart HydroBot.
- Open the model picker. Available engines appear normally; unavailable engines explain what is missing.
See Agent engines for the complete list and explicit path overrides.
Using HydroBot at work
If your company uses HydroBot Admin, you can sign in with your organization to use the AI models it provides, alongside your own. It is optional. See Use HydroBot at work.
Build from source
Requirements: Node.js 24 or newer, pnpm 10.33.0, and at least one authenticated agent CLI.
git clone https://github.com/example/vendored-app.git
cd HydroBot
corepack enable
pnpm install --frozen-lockfileOne command runs the harness, the web UI and the Electron shell, and stops them all again when you quit:
pnpm dev:desktoppnpm dev is the same without the Electron window (open the printed URL in a
browser), and pnpm dev:server runs just the harness.
Where data lives
HydroBot stores its application data under ~/.hydrobot. Electron window and browser data use the normal per-platform application data directory.