Install and first run

1. ^2

   Download the app

   closed

   Closed: Removed from the account menu in githubnext/ace#572 (Q6).

   ace.githubnext.com

   Start leads to the latest GitHub release (desktop-v0.0.51: ace-0.0.51-macos-arm64.dmg), notarized with a Developer ID and stapled. Stable for the team; Canary is a dev tool.

   1 The account menu has a Download app item, but the app never passes onDownload, so a browser user has no way to the download.

   2 Only an Apple silicon build is offered; Intel Macs have no download.

2. ^3

   Open Ace and let Ace Helper start

   tested

   Ace Helper, the host that runs channels, starts beside the app and keeps running when the window closes. Until it answers, screens say Waiting for Ace Helper….

   3 Tested on Canary 0.0.51.85 (2026-10-22 study), with Ace Helper already running, so not a true first launch.

   apps/desktop/src/helper.ts:35
3. ^4

   Install the command line tool

   tested

   Settings → Ace Helper → Command line tool

   Install links ace (or ace-canary) in ~/.local/bin to the app's own Ace Helper.

   Whether the shell finds it, and what to add to PATH if not. Remove undoes it.

   apps/app/src/command-settings.tsx:45#625^62

Shown when the host has no project. One dialog, two steps: a model key, then the team.

4 First run appears only on a host with no projects, and nothing reopens it; the 2026-10-22 study's hosts had projects, so ^6–^11 need a fresh host.

1. ^6

   See Tailscale and GitHub checks

   visual

   Ticks for Tailscale · <machine> and GitHub · <login> above the welcome.

   
2. ^7

   Add a model key

   partial

   Pick Anthropic or OpenAI, paste a key, Save, then Continue.

   The key is saved in Keychain with key-set.

   5 Not saved in this pass: the smoke host has no Keychain of its own to write to without a prompt.

3. ^8

   Use a key that's already there

   visual

   A key already in Keychain or Ace Helper's environment is picked up: "Using the … key from Ace Helper's environment."

4. ^9

   Skip with Chat only for now

   visual

   Goes to the team step. Agents can't run until a key is added in Settings → Providers (^48).

5. ^10

   See your team

   visual

   "Your team is your tailnet": this Mac and everyone on the tailnet running Ace. Add people in the Tailscale admin console.

   ^101
   
6. ^11

   Start and open a project

   visual

   Open a project: Open folder… or Clone from URL…

   

Desktop only.

1. ^13

   Check for updates

   tested

   Ace menu → Check for Updates…, or Settings → Updates

   6 Tested on Canary 0.0.51.85 (2026-10-22 study).

2. ^14

   Install a downloaded update

   untested

   A toast with View update; Settings → Updates shows Downloading update, then installs and restarts.

   7 Blocked in the 2026-10-22 study: needs a newer Canary build to install.

3. ^15

   Turn automatic checks on or off

   tested

   Settings → Updates → Check automatically

   8 Tested on Canary 0.0.51.85 (2026-10-22 study).

4. ^664

   Resume Ace Helper after a failed update

   untested

   Settings → Updates → Resume Ace Helper

   Shown when Ace Helper didn't come back after an update (Could not resume Ace Helper: …); retries it. Install stays disabled until it does.

   9 Blocked in the 2026-10-22 study: needs an update that fails.

   apps/app/src/updates.tsx:142apps/desktop/src/updates.ts:34

Desktop only. Ace Helper is the host; the app is its window.

1. ^17

   Start, restart or stop Ace Helper

   tested

   Ace menu → Start / Restart Ace Helper; Settings → Ace Helper → Status → Stop

   10 Restart doesn't warn about running work (rest of githubnext/ace#626).

   apps/desktop/src/index.ts:185apps/app/src/host-settings.tsx:133#626
2. ^18

   Show Ace Helper's log

   tested

   Ace menu → Show Ace Helper Log; Settings → Ace Helper → Log

   11 Canary 0.0.51.85: reveals the log in Finder; Ace has no viewer.

   #626
3. ^19

   Open Ace Helper settings

   tested

   Ace menu → Ace Helper Settings…

   #626
4. ^663

   Allow Ace Helper in Login Items

   tested

   Settings → Ace Helper → Status → Open Login Items

   Shown when macOS holds Ace Helper for approval; opens System Settings → Login Items.

   Starting before then fails with Allow Ace in macOS Login Items, then start Ace Helper again.

   12 Tested on Canary 0.0.51.85 (2026-10-22 study).

   apps/app/src/host-settings.tsx:148apps/desktop/src/helper.ts:106

1. ^21

   Open your GitHub profile

   tested
2. ^22

   Open Settings

   tested

   ^41
3. ^23

   Sign out

   closed

   Closed: Removed from the account menu in githubnext/ace#572 (Q6).

   13 Always disabled: the app never passes onSignOut, so the menu shows a dead Sign out <email> item.