Install the Desktop App

The CMDOP desktop client is the recommended surface. It bundles the same Go core as the CLI, plus a GUI with seven tabs, a Spotlight-like launcher, a system tray, and a per-machine inspector chat.

Download

Grab the right installer from cmdop.com/downloads :

Platform	File	Notes
macOS	`.dmg` (universal)	Apple Silicon and Intel in one image.
Windows	`.msi`	x64.
Linux	`.AppImage`	x64. Mark executable, then run.

The desktop installer includes the cmdop CLI. You do not need to install both.

Install steps

macOS

Open the .dmg.
Drag CMDOP.app to Applications.
Launch from Spotlight or Launchpad.
On first launch, macOS may prompt for accessibility permission so the global hotkey (Option+Space) works. Grant it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

Windows

Run the .msi.
Walk the installer; defaults are fine.
Launch from the Start menu.
The global hotkey is Alt+Space.

Linux

chmod +x cmdop-desktop-x.y.z.AppImage
Double-click or run ./cmdop-desktop-x.y.z.AppImage.
For a desktop entry that survives reboots, drop a .desktop file under ~/.local/share/applications/ pointing at the AppImage. (Distro-specific niceties beyond that.)

First-run flow

Sign in — click “Sign in with browser”. The cabinet handles OAuth; the app picks up the token when you return.
Workspace — pick the active workspace if your account has more than one.
Daemon starts in the background — the status pill at the top flips to ONLINE once the relay handshake completes.

You are now on the Chat tab. Type a prompt to test it — see Quickstart.

What the desktop installs

Component	Notes
`cmdop-desktop` (or app bundle)	The GUI.
`cmdop` CLI	Same binary the standalone CLI install uses, on `PATH`.
Auto-update	Daily check, applied on next launch with confirmation.
Launcher	Spotlight-like window: `Option+Space` (macOS) / `Alt+Space` (Windows / Linux).
System tray	Menu-bar icon with Connect / Disconnect, “Stay disconnected” checkbox, status.

Layout modes

The desktop is responsive:

Workspace mode — sidebar rail (64 px) plus an optional lists panel (250 px) plus main content plus an optional inspector (300 px). Four inner variants depending on window width.
Compact mode — header nav only.
Inspector embedding — the right column is either embedded (3-column layout) or shown as an overlay.

Toggle layout from Settings → Appearance.

Auto-start

If you want the desktop running on login:

macOS: Settings → System → Auto-start turns on a launchd agent.
Windows: same setting writes a Run registry entry.
Linux: AppImage installs a ~/.config/autostart/cmdop-desktop.desktop entry when the toggle is on.

For a headless always-online setup (no GUI, just the daemon), see Install the headless agent.

Updating

The desktop app shows an update prompt in Settings → About when a new version is staged. Click “Apply” to relaunch onto the new binary.

To update from the CLI even when the desktop is open, quit the desktop first:


cmdop update apply

Uninstall

Platform	How
macOS	Quit the app, drag `CMDOP.app` to Trash. Delete `~/.cmdop/` and `~/Library/Logs/cmdop/` to remove all state.
Windows	Settings → Apps → CMDOP → Uninstall. Optionally delete `%USERPROFILE%\.cmdop` and `%LOCALAPPDATA%\cmdop`.
Linux	Delete the AppImage. Optionally delete `~/.cmdop/` and `~/.cache/cmdop/`.

Troubleshooting

Status pill stuck on STARTING. Open Settings → Connection and click “View daemon log”, or run cmdop agent logs -f from a terminal.
Sign-in window never returns. Quit the app, relaunch, retry. The OAuth callback occasionally needs a fresh window.
Hotkey does not toggle the chat. macOS: re-grant Accessibility permission. Windows: another app may already own Alt+Space; remap in Settings → Shortcuts.