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Install Alcuin

Alcuin is in public beta. It runs on Macs with Apple silicon and on x64 Linux. Limits and requirements lists the system and Postgres versions it needs.

Download

Section titled “Download”

Open Alcuin’s releases on GitHub, or Download on alcuin.app, and download the file for your computer from the newest release:

Your computer File
Mac with Apple silicon Alcuin-<version>-arm64.dmg
Debian or Ubuntu, x64 alcuin_<version>_amd64.deb
Any other Linux distribution, x64 Alcuin-<version>.AppImage

The release also lists a -mac.zip. That is the file Alcuin’s updater downloads; you don’t need it to install.

Check the download

Section titled “Check the download”

Each release lists the SHA-256 checksum of every file it built. Before you open the file, compare its checksum with that list: Verify a download gives the commands, and shows how to check the signature too. If a check fails, don’t install the file.

Install on macOS

Section titled “Install on macOS”
  1. Open the .dmg.
  2. Drag Alcuin into Applications.
  3. Open Alcuin from Applications.

The app is signed with Alcuin’s Developer ID and notarized by Apple. The first time you open it, macOS asks whether to open an app downloaded from the internet. Choose Open.

Install on Linux

Section titled “Install on Linux”

On Debian or Ubuntu, install the .deb with apt:

Terminal window
sudo apt install ./alcuin_*_amd64.deb

On any other distribution, make the AppImage executable, then run it:

Terminal window
chmod +x Alcuin-*.AppImage
./Alcuin-*.AppImage

Alcuin keeps saved passwords encrypted with a key held by your desktop’s keyring (the Secret Service). On a system with no keyring, Alcuin keeps a password only until you quit, and asks for it again next time.

Updates and uninstalling

Section titled “Updates and uninstalling”

Alcuin updates itself from the same releases page, and installs a new version when you quit. A macOS preview build that isn’t signed with Alcuin’s Developer ID only tells you a new version is out. Updates says how, and how to install a version by hand.

To remove Alcuin and everything it keeps, see Uninstall.

What you see first

Section titled “What you see first”

The first time, Alcuin opens on its launcher with a box that reads Paste a connection URL. If it finds Postgres servers on your computer, such as a Docker container or Postgres.app, it lists them under On this computer.

Alcuin's launcher: a box reading Paste a connection URL with a Connect button, Open project folder…, and under On this computer a Postgres.app server and a Docker container, each with a button to connect. Import from another tool is at the bottom.

The launcher, the first time it opens, with two servers found on this computer.

From here, run your first query.