keynobi
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Getting started

Keynobi runs alongside Android Studio and your editor. This guide matches the shipped app and the user manual.

Requirements

  • macOS 12 Monterey or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel.
  • Android SDK with platform-tools (ADB). The emulator package is needed for virtual devices.
  • A JDK supported by your Android Gradle Plugin (JDK 17+ for AGP 8).
  • An Android project with a Gradle wrapper (gradlew at the repo root).
  • Optional: Android Studio's studio command-line launcher, to open stack-trace lines in Android Studio.

Install

From GitHub Releases (recommended)

Download the latest DMG from GitHub Releases—Apple Silicon or Intel—open it, and drag Keynobi to Applications. Release DMGs are signed and notarized by Apple, and each release publishes SHA256SUMS.txt. Always run Keynobi from /Applications before setting up an AI client. If macOS warns on a local build from source, right-click the app → Open once to satisfy Gatekeeper (see Troubleshooting).

From source (contributors)

Install Xcode Command Line Tools, Rust (the pinned toolchain installs automatically), and Node.js 22. Clone the app repo, run npm ci, then npm run tauri dev. First Rust compile often takes several minutes; later runs are much faster. Full toolchain notes live in the README.

First launch

  1. A Setup wizard runs once (Welcome → Environment → Privacy → Workflow → Summary): auto-detect the Android SDK and JAVA_HOME (or set paths manually), choose workflow defaults such as logcat auto-start, and decide whether to enable anonymous crash reporting (off by default). You can skip it and finish in Settings.
  2. If you enable crash reporting, native reporting fully applies after the next app restart. Details: Privacy & security.
  3. Re-open the wizard anytime: Cmd+Shift+W or Command Palette → “Open Setup Wizard”.

Open a project

Press Cmd+O or choose Add Project… in the left Projects sidebar. Keynobi finds the Gradle root, and registers the project. The last active project restores on the next launch.

The first time you open a project, Keynobi asks whether to trust it, because building runs the project's gradlew and build scripts:

  • Trust — Keynobi detects variants with Gradle and you can build and run.
  • Open in Safe Mode — no project build code runs. Variants are read from the build files only, and Run App, Build Only, and Clean Project are disabled. Trust it later from the Safe Mode badge or by right-clicking the project.

Fix SDK/Java later under Settings (Cmd+,).

What to do next

  • Health Center (Cmd+Shift+H) — check the Android SDK, ADB, Android Emulator, Android Studio CLI, Java / JDK, and the app data directory.
  • Build tab — stream Gradle output, jump to structured errors, review build history, pick variants (Cmd+Shift+V), run Run App (Cmd+R) for build → install → launch.
  • Logcat — connect a device or emulator, start streaming, use filters and crash navigation.
  • Updates — Keynobi checks GitHub on launch. When a newer release exists, a New Keynobi Version Available dialog offers Download or Later, and an Update button stays in the status bar.
  • MCP — optional integration for Claude Code, Codex, and other agents. See MCP for Claude Code & Codex.