# Installing TempoWeave Studio

TempoWeave Studio runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. This guide walks you through downloading, installing, and getting started on each platform.

***

### Downloading TempoWeave Studio

Visit the TempoWeave Studio website to download the installer for your operating system. You'll see options for:

* **macOS** — PKG installer (recommended — required for automatic updates) or DMG disk image (contact us)
* **Windows** — Standard installer
* **Linux** — AppImage (available for both x64 and arm64 processors)

***

### macOS Installation

#### Using the PKG Installer (Recommended)

The PKG installer is the recommended way to install TempoWeave Studio on macOS. It enables automatic updates, so you'll always have the latest version without needing to re-download.

1. Double-click the downloaded `.pkg` file
2. Follow the on-screen prompts — the installer will place TempoWeave Studio in your Applications folder
3. Open TempoWeave Studio from your Applications folder or Launchpad

**First Launch on macOS**

macOS may show a security prompt the first time you open TempoWeave Studio. This is normal — Apple requires all applications to be verified before running.

If you see a message saying the app "cannot be opened":

1. Open **System Settings** (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Go to **Privacy & Security**
3. Scroll down and you'll see a message about TempoWeave Studio being blocked
4. Click **Open Anyway**

You only need to do this once. After that, TempoWeave Studio will open normally every time.

**Tip:** You can also right-click (or Control-click) the app and choose **Open** from the menu. This bypasses the security dialog directly.

#### Using the DMG Installer

If you prefer a DMG disk image:

1. Double-click the downloaded `.dmg` file to mount it
2. Drag the TempoWeave Studio icon to the Applications folder shortcut shown in the window
3. Eject the disk image
4. Open TempoWeave Studio from your Applications folder

**Important:** DMG installations do not support automatic updates. You'll need to download and install new versions manually. For this reason, we **strongly** recommend using the PKG installer instead.

#### macOS Compatibility

TempoWeave Studio runs natively on both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) and Intel Macs. You don't need to choose a version — the PKG installer includes support for both processor types and will use the right one automatically.

***

### Windows Installation

1. Double-click the downloaded installer
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation
3. TempoWeave Studio will appear in your Start Menu

**Windows SmartScreen**

If Windows shows a SmartScreen warning ("Windows protected your PC"), click **More info** and then **Run anyway**. This can happen with newly released versions and is not a security concern.  If your other anti-virus interferes with the installation, you may need to refer to your antivirus software instructions to temporarily allow installation.

Once installed, TempoWeave Studio will check for updates automatically and notify you when a new version is available.

***

### Linux Installation

TempoWeave Studio is distributed as an AppImage, which is a self-contained application that doesn't require a traditional installation.

1. Download the AppImage for your processor architecture (x64 or arm64)
2. Make the file executable: right-click the file, go to Properties, and check "Allow executing file as program" — or run `chmod +x` on the file from a terminal
3. Double-click the AppImage to launch TempoWeave Studio

No root or administrator access is required. The AppImage bundles everything it needs to run.

**If the AppImage won't launch**

Some Linux distributions (Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 36+, and others) don't include a library called `libfuse2` that AppImages need in order to run. If you double-click the AppImage and nothing happens, you'll need to install it first.

On Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, open a terminal and run:

```
sudo apt install libfuse2
```

On Fedora, run:

```
sudo dnf install fuse-libs
```

After installing, the AppImage should launch normally. You only need to do this once.

***

### Automatic Updates

TempoWeave Studio checks for updates automatically in the background. When a new version is available, a green <mark style="color:$success;">**Update**</mark> button appears on the right side of the application just below the ribbon. Click it to open the update dialog, which shows:

* The new version number
* Release notes describing what's changed
* A download size estimate

From there you can choose to:

* **Update Now** — Downloads and installs the update, then restarts the app. If you have unsaved work, you'll be prompted to save first.
* **Later** — Dismisses the notification. You'll be reminded next time.
* **Skip This Version** — Won't ask about this specific version again. You'll still be notified about future versions.

Update checks happen every two hours while the app is running. You can disable automatic update checks in **Settings** if you prefer to update manually.

**Note:** Automatic updates require the PKG installer on macOS. If you installed from a DMG, you'll see a message suggesting you switch to the PKG installer for automatic updates.

***

### Uninstalling

**macOS:** Drag TempoWeave Studio from your Applications folder to the Trash.

**Windows:** Use "Add or Remove Programs" in Windows Settings, or the uninstaller in the Start Menu.

**Linux:** Simply delete the AppImage file.

Your settings and preferences are stored separately and are not removed when you uninstall, so if you reinstall later your preferences will still be there.

***

## Chromebook Installation

TempoWeave Studio runs on Chromebooks through the built-in **Linux development environment** (sometimes called Crostini). This guide walks you through enabling Linux on your Chromebook and installing TempoWeave.

### Is my Chromebook compatible?

Most Chromebooks made from 2019 onward can run Linux apps. To check:

1. Open **Settings**
2. Look for **About ChromeOS** → **Additional details**
3. Confirm your ChromeOS version is 80 or newer
4. Open **Advanced** in Settings and look for **Developers**

If you see a **Linux development environment** option, you're good. If you don't see it at all, your Chromebook is too old or was sold into a school/enterprise account that restricts Linux. Ask your IT administrator, or try a different Chromebook.

#### Recommended specs

* **RAM**: 4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended for larger drafts
* **Storage**: At least 10 GB free on your Chromebook
* **Processor**: Intel, AMD, or ARM — TempoWeave supports all three

### Step 1: Turn on Linux

1. Open **Settings**
2. Click **Advanced** in the left sidebar, then **Developers**
3. Click **Turn on** next to **Linux development environment**
4. Follow the setup wizard — accept the defaults. Choose a username (any name is fine) and allocate at least **10 GB** of disk space
5. Wait a few minutes for the setup to finish. A **Terminal** app will open when it's ready

You only need to do this once.

### Step 2: Find out if your Chromebook is ARM or Intel/AMD

TempoWeave Studio comes in two Linux builds — one for ARM processors and one for Intel/AMD. Most newer, lightweight Chromebooks use ARM. Most larger or higher-end Chromebooks use Intel or AMD.

In the **Terminal** app, run:

```
uname -m
```

* If it says **`aarch64`** — download the **ARM64** build
* If it says **`x86_64`** — download the **x64** build

### Step 3: Install the required library

TempoWeave uses the AppImage format, which needs a small library called FUSE. In the **Terminal**, run:

```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libfuse2
```

Enter your Linux password when prompted. This only needs to be done once.

### Step 4: Download TempoWeave Studio

1. Open the **Files** app on your Chromebook
2. Sign in to your account at [tempoweave.com](https://tempoweave.com) and download the Linux build that matches your architecture from Step 2
3. The file will land in **Downloads** (the ChromeOS Downloads folder, not the Linux one)

#### Move the download into the Linux container

Linux apps can't see ChromeOS files by default. You need to share the file with Linux:

1. In the **Files** app, find the downloaded TempoWeave AppImage
2. Right-click the file and choose **Share with Linux**, or drag it into the **Linux files** folder in the sidebar

### Step 5: Make it executable

In the **Terminal** app:

```
cd ~
chmod +x TempoWeave*.AppImage
```

(If you put the file somewhere other than your Linux home folder, adjust the path accordingly.)

### Step 6: Launch TempoWeave

Double-click the AppImage in the **Linux files** folder, or in the **Terminal**:

```
~/TempoWeave*.AppImage
```

The first launch takes a few seconds longer than later launches.

TempoWeave will appear in your ChromeOS app launcher after the first run, so you can pin it to your shelf for quick access.

### Working with your draft files

#### Opening WIF files from ChromeOS

Linux apps can only open files that live in the **Linux files** folder, or folders you've explicitly shared with Linux. To work with your WIF files:

* **Easiest**: Keep your WIF files in the **Linux files** folder
* **Alternative**: Right-click any folder in the Files app and choose **Share with Linux** — that folder and its contents become visible to TempoWeave

#### Saving files

When you save from TempoWeave, files are saved inside the Linux container by default. They show up in the ChromeOS **Files** app under **Linux files** — you can copy, email, or upload them from there.

#### Google Drive and cloud storage

Google Drive files don't sync into the Linux container automatically. To open a Drive file in TempoWeave, first copy it from **Google Drive** into **Linux files** using the ChromeOS Files app.

### Automatic updates

TempoWeave checks for updates automatically after the first launch. Updates install in the background — you don't need to download new versions manually.

### Performance notes

* **Lightweight Chromebooks** (4 GB RAM, older ARM chips) run TempoWeave fine for small to medium drafts. Very large drafts with 3D Interlacement or Cloth Simulation may feel slow.
* **Higher-end Chromebooks** (8 GB+ RAM, newer chips) handle large drafts comfortably.
* TempoWeave's rendering is optimized for low-end hardware — viewport culling means only visible cells are drawn.

### Known limitations on Chromebook

* **Printing**: Direct printing from the Linux app may not reach ChromeOS printers. Workaround: export your draft to PDF (File → Page Setup → save as PDF), then open and print the PDF from ChromeOS.
* **File associations**: Double-clicking a .wif or .twa file in the ChromeOS Files app won't open TempoWeave automatically. Instead, open TempoWeave first, then use **File → Open**.
* **Audio chimes**: The Weave Assistant's chime feature depends on Linux audio passthrough. On most Chromebooks this works, but if chimes are silent, try adjusting your ChromeOS volume or restart the Linux container (Settings → Developers → Linux → **Shut down**).

### Troubleshooting

**"AppImages require FUSE to run"** — Go back to Step 3 and install libfuse2.

**"Permission denied" when launching** — Go back to Step 5 and run `chmod +x` on the AppImage.

**The app window is blank or flickers** — Restart the Linux container (Settings → Developers → Linux → **Shut down**), then try launching again.

**Fonts look wrong or blocky** — Install a basic font package in Terminal:

```
sudo apt install fonts-liberation fonts-noto
```

**The app won't launch at all** — Run it from the Terminal to see the error message:

```
~/TempoWeave*.AppImage
```

Copy the error and send it to **<barry@loftyfiber.com>**.

### Getting help

For Chromebook-specific issues, contact **<barry@loftyfiber.com>** with:

* Your Chromebook model (Settings → About ChromeOS)
* The output of `uname -m` from Terminal
* The error message (if any)

For general TempoWeave questions, the full documentation is at [tempoweave.com](https://tempoweave.com).