Quick Start Guide - Install Dropstone Desktop | Windows & macOS

Overview

Dropstone is an AI-powered platform (powered by D3 Engine) for code analysis, debugging & automation. This guide will walk you through downloading, installing, and configuring Dropstone on Windows and Apple Silicon macOS.

System Requirements

Download & Installation

Windows Installation

Step 1: Get the Installer

1. Open your browser and go to dropstone.io.
2. Navigate to the Downloads.
3. Select Windows and download the .exe file.
4. Save the installer to an accessible location (e.g., Downloads folder).

Step 2: Install Dropstone

1. Double-click the installer file.
2. Accept the license agreement.
3. Choose an installation directory (default is recommended).
4. Click Install and wait for setup to complete.
5. Launch Dropstone via Start Menu or Desktop shortcut.

macOS Silicon Installation

Prerequisites

Homebrew is required for this installation method.

If you don't have Homebrew installed, open Terminal and run:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

For Existing Users

If you already have Dropstone installed, upgrade to the latest version:

brew upgrade --cask dropstone

Installation Steps

1. Add Dropstone Tap
Add the official Dropstone repository to Homebrew:

brew tap blankline-org/dropstone

2. Install Dropstone
Install the Dropstone desktop application:

brew install --cask dropstone

3. Launch Dropstone
Open Dropstone from Launchpad, Applications folder, or Spotlight.

If macOS blocks the app (Gatekeeper), go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway.

Initial Configuration

Step 1: Launch Dropstone

Open Dropstone Desktop after installation.

Step 2: Login or Sign Up

Creating an Account:

1. Click Sign In or Login button in the Agent panel
2. You'll be redirected to the Dropstone authentication page in your browser
3. Create a new account with email or use OAuth (Google, GitHub)
4. After authentication, you'll be automatically redirected back to Dropstone Desktop

Logging In:

1. Click the Login button or user icon
2. Complete authentication in browser
3. Return to Dropstone Desktop - you'll see your account info

Account Benefits:

• Free tier: Access to basic agent features
• Pro/Team/Enterprise: Full access including Horizon Mode

Step 3: Grant Permissions

• Windows: Allow access to project files (Admin recommended)
• macOS Silicon: Grant Full Disk Access if prompted (System Settings → Privacy & Security)

Step 4: Add Your Project

Point Dropstone to your codebase root directory.

Step 5: Ignore Unnecessary Folders

Exclude node_modules, dist, build, or similar directories.

Using Dropstone

Setup Project

• Define the project root folder.
• Configure supported languages (if prompted).
• Integrate with Git for version history and dependency tracking.

Run First Scan

1. Start a full analysis so Dropstone can build its internal models.
2. Wait until scanning finishes — large projects may take longer.

Using Horizon Mode (Pro Feature)

Horizon Mode is a full-screen, distraction-free AI experience:

1. Click Horizon in the menu bar → Open Horizon
2. The interface transforms to a focused chat view
3. Enjoy personalized greetings and dedicated history
4. Click the "HORIZON MODE" status bar indicator to return to Editor Mode

Note: Horizon Mode requires a paid subscription (Pro, Team, or Enterprise).

Best Practices

• Exclude generated directories (node_modules, build, dist, target) to save scan time.
• Keep Dropstone updated for new features and bug fixes (use brew upgrade --cask dropstone on macOS).
• Always use version control before applying automated code changes.
• On large codebases, monitor CPU & RAM usage during scans.

Troubleshooting

This guide covers Windows and Apple Silicon Macs (command-line installation via Homebrew).