Install Hub (macOS)

Chartbuddy Hub is a free desktop application. This page covers the macOS install end-to-end — download the .dmg, put Hub in Applications, and verify it launches.

Windows builds are coming soon; see the download page for availability.

1. Download the macOS installer

Direct download (Apple silicon / arm64 DMG):

Download Chartbuddy Hub for macOS

Or open the download page and click Download for macOS.

The file looks like Chartbuddy_macos_aarch64.dmg (or a versioned name such as Chartbuddy_1.7.x_aarch64.dmg).

2. Open the disk image

1. In Finder, open the .dmg (usually in Downloads)
2. A window appears with the Chartbuddy app and an Applications shortcut

3. Install into Applications

1. Drag Chartbuddy into the Applications folder
2. Eject the disk image (sidebar or right-click → Eject)
3. You can delete the .dmg afterward

Installing into /Applications is strongly recommended for MCP and AI clients — the launcher looks there first:

ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app/Contents/MacOS/chartbuddy

4. Launch Hub once

1. Open Chartbuddy from Applications (or Spotlight: Chartbuddy)
2. Approve any macOS prompts
3. Leave Hub running while you use MCP tools, or let the MCP server start it on the first tool call

You should see the Chartbuddy Hub window (desktop chart editor — no prompt box inside the app).

5. Connect your AI client (optional)

Hub is operated from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other MCP clients. After Hub is installed:

1. No separate install — the MCP server is built into the Chartbuddy binary (chartbuddy --mcp)
2. In Hub, open Help → Connect Cursor… (copies config; can write ~/.cursor/mcp.json), or follow Connect Cursor
3. Refresh MCP in Cursor and open a new agent chat

Verify

Check	Command / action
App present	ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app
Binary	ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app/Contents/MacOS/chartbuddy
Version	Open Hub → About (or check the window title / docs version)
MCP port	After Hub runs, ~/.chartbuddy/mcp-port should exist

Troubleshooting

Symptom	What to try
DMG won't open	Re-download; confirm the file size isn't truncated
MCP tools missing	Hub in /Applications? Client restarted after MCP config?
Hub won't auto-launch	Start Chartbuddy once manually, then retry the MCP tool

Next steps

• Connect MCP — overview + per-client guides
• Desktop basics — everyday editing workflow
• Push & pull — move charts between surfaces