Quick Start

From install to your first AI analysis in under 10 minutes.

Step 1 — Download

Choose your platform below and download the latest release from the AppStudio pricing page.

  1. Download AppStudio-win-x64.zip from keysecnexus.com/#pricing
  2. Extract the zip to a folder of your choice
  3. Double-click AppStudio.exe to launch
Windows SmartScreen: If you see "Windows protected your PC", click More info then Run anyway. AppStudio is not code-signed yet — this is expected.
  1. Download AppStudio-mac-arm64.zip from keysecnexus.com/#pricing
  2. Extract the zip and move AppStudio.app to your Applications folder
  3. Double-click to open
Gatekeeper block: If macOS says "App can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer", go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.
  1. Download AppStudio-linux-x64.zip from keysecnexus.com/#pricing
  2. Extract the zip
  3. Make the binary executable and run it:
chmod +x AppStudio
./AppStudio

Step 2 — Activate your license

1
License screen on first launch

On first launch, AppStudio opens directly to the License Activation screen.

2
Enter your license key

Paste the key from your purchase confirmation email (sent by Lemon Squeezy from support@keysecnexus.com).

3
Click Activate

Activation requires internet once. After that, AppStudio works fully offline.

Need help with tiers, moving to a new machine, or activation errors? See the full License guide →

Step 3 — Connect your AI

AppStudio runs AI 100% locally — no OpenAI key, no cloud, no per-query costs. It needs a local AI server running on your machine. Pick whichever one you prefer:

OLLAMA
ollama.com · CLI-based · GPU-accelerated · auto-detected
LM STUDIO
lmstudio.ai · GUI model browser · localhost:1234
JAN
jan.ai · privacy-first · localhost:1337
ANY OPENAI-COMPATIBLE
Koboldcpp, LlamaFile, or any local API server

Example: Ollama (CLI-based)

1
Install Ollama

Download from ollama.com — available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Install and launch (runs as a background service).

2
Pull a model 
ollama pull qwen3:14b

On 8 GB VRAM or less:

ollama pull qwen3:8b
3
AppStudio auto-connects

No config needed — AppStudio detects Ollama automatically on localhost:11434. For all other servers, set your Base URL in Settings → Advanced.

Using LM Studio, Jan, or another server? See the full LLM Setup guide →

Step 4 — Capture your first idea

1
Open the quick-capture panel

Press Ctrl+Space from anywhere on your desktop, or click the ⚡ button in the app sidebar.

2
Fill in the idea form

Enter a title, description, the problem it solves, your target audience, and a category.

3
Click Save

Your idea is stored in your local vault. You can add more details anytime.

Step 5 — Run your first analysis

1
Open the idea and click "Run Analysis"

Make sure your local AI server is running. AppStudio will warn you if it can't connect.

2
Watch the 7-step agent run live

The agent streams results step by step: Plan → Market → Compete → Revenue → Risk → Verdict → Mitigate. Each step builds on the last. Takes 2–5 minutes depending on your model and hardware.

3
Review your results

You'll get a viability score, revenue score, effort score, and a final verdict: BUILD, VALIDATE, or SHELVE.

You're all set! You now have a full AI-scored business analysis. Explore the Build tab for the Coder Agent, Manage for your AI roadmap, Marketing for go-to-market content, and Security for a pentest simulation.