Install and update
Download Studio for macOS, Windows or Linux, check the download, and keep it up to date.
This page covers downloading Studio, checking the file, and installing updates.
Download
These links always point to the newest version. Every release also lists its files on the
releases page, with a SHA256SUMS.txt you can
check a download against.
Download spec0-studio-macos-universal.dmg, open it, and drag Studio to Applications. It needs macOS 11 or later, and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel.
The app is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens without a warning. If you do see a warning, something is wrong with the download: check it before you open it.
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/spec0-studio-macos-universal.dmg
spctl --assess --type open --context context:primary-signature -v ~/Downloads/spec0-studio-macos-universal.dmgCompare the first line with SHA256SUMS.txt. The second command should print
source=Notarized Developer ID.
Download spec0-studio-windows-x64-setup.exe and run it. It works on Windows 10 and 11 (x64), and installs for your user only, so it doesn't need admin rights.
The installer isn't code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen will probably say "Windows protected
your PC". Click More info, then Run anyway. To check the file first, compare its hash with
SHA256SUMS.txt. In PowerShell:
Get-FileHash .\spec0-studio-windows-x64-setup.exeStudio uses Microsoft's WebView2 to draw its window. Windows 11 and current Windows 10 already have it. If yours doesn't, the installer downloads it from Microsoft.
Studio needs WebKitGTK 4.1: Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12 or newer, or another distribution of about that age. Builds are x86_64 only.
AppImage (most distributions): download spec0-studio-linux-x86_64.AppImage, make it executable, and run it.
chmod +x spec0-studio-linux-x86_64.AppImage
./spec0-studio-linux-x86_64.AppImageDebian and Ubuntu: download spec0-studio-linux-amd64.deb and install it with apt.
sudo apt install ./spec0-studio-linux-amd64.debTo keep secret values in the system keyring, you need a running Secret Service, such as GNOME Keyring or KWallet. See Where secrets are kept.
Supported systems
| System | Build |
|---|---|
| macOS 11 or later | Universal (Apple silicon and Intel). Signed and notarized by Apple. |
| Windows 10 and 11 | x64. Not code-signed yet. |
| Linux | x86_64, as an AppImage and a .deb. Needs WebKitGTK 4.1. |
Good to know
- There are no ARM builds for Windows or Linux yet.
- The Windows and Linux builds have had much less use than the Mac build. If something looks or works wrong, please open an issue.
Updates
Choose Check for Updates… to see whether there is a newer version. It's in the app menu on macOS, and in the Help menu on Windows and Linux. You can also use Check for updates now in Settings → Updates. If there is one, Studio shows its release notes and offers to install it and restart.
- Studio checks only when you ask. The check is one request to github.com for the latest release. It sends nothing about your specs, environments or history.
- Checking on start is optional. Settings → Updates has a setting to check each time Studio starts. It's off unless you turn it on.
- Updates are signed. Studio refuses an update whose signature doesn't match.
How the update installs depends on how you installed Studio:
| Installed as | What happens |
|---|---|
| macOS app | Studio replaces itself and restarts. |
| Windows installer | The installer runs, then Studio starts again. |
| AppImage | The AppImage replaces itself. |
.deb | Studio asks for your password (through pkexec) to install the new package. |
Good to know
The update check uses the proxy from Studio's network settings, but not its certificate settings. If your network inspects encrypted traffic with a private certificate authority, the check may fail. Download the new version from the releases page instead.
Building from source
You need Node 20 or later and a Rust toolchain. The repository's README has the steps.