Install Dashcat

Preview

During the preview, builds go to early-access users. Get early access and we’ll send you the downloads. Signed installers and public downloads come before launch.

Which download

Download	Use it on	What’s inside
Dashcat	Your own computer, and any desktop you also want as a node	Dashcat Dashboard in a window, plus Dashcat Agent and Dashcat Bridge. On first run you choose what this computer does.
Dashcat Agent	Servers, Raspberry Pis, and machines you roll out in bulk	Dashcat Agent, plus the dashcat-bridge command for Direct mode. No window and no sign-in.

Both make a machine a node in the same way: with an invite link from Dashcat Dashboard. See Quickstart.

The Dashcat app

Windows

Run Dashcat-Setup-<version>.exe. It installs for you alone, with no admin rights needed. The Set up this computer page offers:

• Make this computer a node, with an optional box for an invite link. With a link, the computer joins that account while it installs.
• Use Direct mode here, which puts dashcat-bridge on your PATH.

The finish page has Open Dashcat now. A newer version installs over the old one in place.

Preview builds are unsigned: when Windows SmartScreen warns you, choose More info › Run anyway.

macOS

Open the Dashcat .dmg and drag Dashcat to Applications.

Preview builds are unsigned: the first time, right-click Dashcat in Applications and choose Open.

Linux

Use the AppImage, or the .deb on Debian and Ubuntu:

sudo apt install ./dashcat-desktop_<version>_amd64.deb

The .deb also registers the dashcat:// links that Google sign-in uses. An AppImage only does if you integrate it, for example with AppImageLauncher.

On first run, Dashcat asks what this computer is for. Pick any:

• Manage my nodes: always on. Sign in to see your nodes and add new ones.
• Make this computer a node: paste an invite link to join that account straight away, with no sign-in. Without one, Dashcat adds this computer once you sign in.
• Use Direct mode here: shows how to connect an AI on this computer through Dashcat Bridge. See Direct mode.

You can change these later from the Dashcat icon. See The Dashcat app.

Dashcat Agent only

Windows

Run Dashcat-Agent-<version>-windows-x64.msi. It installs for you alone into %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Dashcat Agent and puts it on your PATH. Then join with your invite link:

dashcat-agent join "https://app.dashcat.ai/join#…"

For scripted rollouts, the .zip holds the same binaries.

macOS

Run Dashcat-Agent-<version>-macos.pkg. At the end it asks for your invite link and joins the account for you. Skip it, and join later from Terminal:

dashcat-agent join "https://app.dashcat.ai/join#…"

The universal .tar.gz holds the same binaries for Intel and Apple silicon.

Linux and Raspberry Pi

.deb packages and .tar.gz archives come for amd64, arm64 and armhf (32-bit Raspberry Pi OS):

sudo apt install ./dashcat-agent_<version>_arm64.deb
dashcat-agent join "https://app.dashcat.ai/join#…"
dashcat-agent autostart enable

On a machine with no desktop, autostart enable also turns on lingering, so the agent starts at boot without anyone logging in. From an archive, put dashcat-agent somewhere on your PATH first.

Dashcat Bridge only

For Direct mode on a machine that won’t run the Dashcat app, use the dashcat-bridge command that comes with every Dashcat Agent download. See Direct mode.

Uninstalling

Remove the node in Dashcat Dashboard first, so it stops counting toward your plan. Then uninstall Dashcat or Dashcat Agent the usual way for the OS (Settings › Apps on Windows, drag to the Bin on macOS, sudo apt remove dashcat-agent on Linux). Its files stay in its configuration folder until you delete them.