Downloads and installation
Install Dropstone CLI on macOS, Linux, or Windows. Every install method, how to verify it, and how to upgrade or remove it.
Dropstone CLI is a single dropstone binary on your PATH. No Node, no runtime dependencies, no installer wizard. This page is the reference for every way to get it and every way to get rid of it.
For a guided first run, start with Quickstart instead.
Requirements
| macOS | Homebrew, or curl |
| Linux | curl. Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, RHEL, Alpine, and Arch are all supported |
| Windows | PowerShell or CMD. WSL2 recommended |
There is no desktop app and no IDE plugin. Dropstone runs in your terminal and operates on the files in your working directory.
Windows: WSL is worth it
The native Windows binary works for everyday use. WSL2 gives you the same shell experience as macOS and Linux, and avoids the path and line-ending issues that come with running an agent across two filesystems. See Windows and WSL.
Install
macOS
Homebrew:
brew tap blankline-org/dropstone-cli
brew install dropstone
Or the install script:
curl -fsSL https://dropstone.io/install | bash
Linux
curl -fsSL https://dropstone.io/install | bash
Package manager support (apt, dnf, apk) is on the roadmap.
Windows
PowerShell:
irm https://dropstone.io/install.ps1 | iex
From CMD:
curl -fsSL https://dropstone.io/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd
Verify the install
dropstone --version
To check whether you are on the current release, compare that against download.dropstone.io/latest.txt.
Upgrade
The binary checks for and downloads updates when it starts, so you stay on the latest release without doing anything.
The exception is Homebrew. Homebrew owns that binary, so Dropstone will not update it — refresh it yourself:
# Homebrew
brew upgrade dropstone
# Any other install method, if you want to update now rather than wait for the
# next startup check
dropstone update
Auto-update is configurable in dropstone.json:
{
"autoupdate": true
}
Set it to false to turn updates off entirely, or to "notify" to be told when a new version exists without installing it. See Configuration.
Uninstall
dropstone uninstall
This removes Dropstone and its related files. On Homebrew:
brew uninstall dropstone
What the installer touches
Dropstone keeps its state in two directories, and nothing else:
| What | macOS / Linux | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Credentials and sessions | ~/.local/share/dropstone/ | %USERPROFILE%\.local\share\dropstone |
| Cache | ~/.cache/dropstone/ | %USERPROFILE%\.cache\dropstone |
dropstone uninstall clears both. To remove them by hand — or to force a clean sign-in without reinstalling — see Troubleshooting guide.
If the install fails
The usual causes are a missing Homebrew, a stale tap, or running a CMD command inside PowerShell. Common issues walks through each with the exact fix.
Related
- Quickstart — install to first edit
- Common issues — failed installs, auth, and updates
- Windows and WSL — the Windows setup worth using
- Configuration —
dropstone.jsonand theautoupdateoption