Installation Overview
Pick the path that matches what you are trying to do.
| I want to... | Start here | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Try the desktop app on Apple Silicon | macOS | Shortest packaged path. Signed and dogfooded, but still beta. |
| Run OpenAlice on Windows | Windows | Source install is the recommended Windows path today. |
| Develop, debug, or contribute | Source & Dev | Best logs, fastest fixes, closest to main. |
| Keep Alice running on a server | Docker | One long-lived Compose service with persistent data. |
| Reach Alice from another device | Remote Access | Prefer localhost, LAN, or Tailscale before public internet. |
OpenAlice does not need a database. State is file-backed: config, sessions, trading history, news, issues, inbox entries, workspace artifacts, and provider settings live under ~/.openalice by default. Docker uses a persistent volume for the same role. See Data & Credentials when you need the exact layout, admin token recovery, sealed broker credentials, or port configuration.
Recommended path
For daily dogfooding today:
- Mac user who wants the shortest path: use the signed Apple Silicon
.dmg. - Windows user: run from source with Node, pnpm, and Git for Windows.
- Contributor or debugging user: run from source with
pnpm dev. - Server user: use Docker Compose, then put access behind LAN, Tailscale, or a reverse proxy.
The packaged desktop builds are improving, but OpenAlice is still moving quickly. If something breaks and you want visibility, the source path is the easiest way to see logs, patch locally, and report a useful bug.
First thing after install
Once OpenAlice opens, do the core loop before connecting broker accounts:
- Open Quick Start.
- Ask Alice for a research task.
- Track an entity.
- Create or schedule an issue.
- Read the result in Inbox.
Broker execution is optional beta infrastructure. Use simulator, paper, demo, or testnet accounts first; read What is UTA before connecting live funds.
Next Steps
- macOS - Install the signed desktop build.
- Windows - Run from source on Windows.
- Source & Dev - Clone, run, debug, test, and build.
- Docker - Run a long-lived server instance.
- Remote Access - Reach Alice from another device safely.