Pythinker Code CLI Docs

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Pythinker Desktop ​

Pythinker Desktop is a native desktop application for macOS and Windows. It packages the Pythinker Code runtime together with the browser interface, so you get the same agent as the CLI in a normal application window — no terminal, and no manual server start.

The application starts a local Host process on the loopback interface and shows its interface in the application window. Nothing is exposed on the network.

Download and install ​

Download the installer for your platform from the Pythinker Desktop releases page:

PlatformFile
macOSPythinker-<version>-arm64.dmg
WindowsPythinker-<version>-x64-Setup.exe
  • macOS: open the DMG and drag Pythinker into Applications.
  • Windows: run the installer. It installs for the current user, so administrator rights are not necessary, and you can select the installation directory.

There is no Linux desktop distribution at this time. On Linux, use the CLI, or run pythinker web for the browser interface.

Unsigned builds

If a release is published without code-signing credentials, macOS Gatekeeper or Windows SmartScreen shows a warning at first launch. A signed build is much less likely to show one.

First launch ​

Start Pythinker as you start any other application. A splash window appears while the local Host starts, and the main window replaces it when the Host is ready.

The desktop application uses the same data directory as the CLI (~/.pythinker-code/ by default), so configuration, providers, MCP servers, and session history are shared. If you already logged in with the CLI, the desktop application uses the same credentials. If you did not, complete the login in the application interface. To connect OpenAI Codex, open the provider manager from the sign-in page or Settings and choose "Sign in with ChatGPT". If the automatic callback fails, paste the redirect URL from the address bar; see the OAuth section for this fallback.

For the directory layout, see Data locations.

Window and tray behavior ​

  • Closing the window hides it. The Host continues to run and your session stays alive.
  • The tray icon menu has two items: Open Pythinker shows the window again, and Quit stops the Host and closes the application. The tray icon animates while the Host starts, and becomes static when the Host is ready.
  • The window stays on the local Host origin. http and https links open in your system browser.

Updates ​

The desktop application updates itself. Open Settings in the application to control this:

  • Automatic updates — download and install new versions automatically. This is the default.
  • Check for updates — check immediately.
  • Restart to update — appears when an update is downloaded and ready to install.

When a new version is available, the application also shows an update prompt. Choose Update to download the version if needed, close the application, install it, and restart. Choose Skip to ignore that version.

The update controls apply to installed builds only. A development build shows them as unavailable.

The local Host port ​

An installed application uses port 24827 on 127.0.0.1. If that port is already in use, set the PYTHINKER_DESKTOP_PORT environment variable to a free port from 1 to 65535 before you start the application.

Troubleshooting ​

  • The window stays on the splash screen: the Host did not report readiness. Quit from the tray menu and start the application again. If the problem continues, run pythinker server run in a terminal and read the error it prints.
  • The application reports that the port is in use: another Pythinker Host, or an unrelated process, holds port 24827. Stop that process, or set PYTHINKER_DESKTOP_PORT.
  • The agent cannot use a model: the desktop application reads the same configuration as the CLI. Examine ~/.pythinker-code/config.toml and see Providers and models.

Next steps ​