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Getting Started with Aetower Developer Preview

This guide is for technical users installing a direct-download Developer Preview build.

Install

1. Download the signed and notarized Aetower.pkg for the default installer path, or Aetower.dmg for drag-and-drop installs.
2. Run the package installer, or open the DMG and drag Aetower.app to Applications.
3. Launch Aetower.
4. Open Settings -> Setup and complete the readiness checklist.

If macOS warns that the app cannot be verified, do not continue with that artifact. Use a Developer ID signed and notarized build.

Before sharing the app with others, review Known Limitations.

First-run checklist

Open Settings -> Setup and review:

• Keep heavy views safe: operator-safe mode should stay enabled for large Activity History and Timeline datasets.
• Choose collection behavior: Balanced is the recommended default.
• Connect Chau7: optional, but recommended when Aetower is used alongside Chau7 terminal sessions.
• Expose MCP to local AI clients: optional. Enable only for local agents you trust.
• Keep exports safe: use redacted or operator privacy by default.
• Confirm direct-download updates: packaged builds should show Sparkle as configured.

Recommended Developer Preview setup

• Leave Endpoint Security helper disabled.
• Leave telemetry export disabled unless you have a local or enterprise OTLP/HTTP collector.
• Use the default Chau7 socket auto-detection unless you know you need a custom path.
• Keep automatic MCP registration disabled on shared machines.
• Use System -> Diagnostics before filing an issue or exporting data.
• Use Settings -> Advanced -> Reset Aetower local data before handing off a test machine or after a heavy preview run.

For AI agents

Aetower starts a local app-owned MCP server when the app launches. Supported agents can query the bundled aetower-mcp helper, which connects to the running app instead of starting a second monitoring engine.

See Local MCP for discovery and troubleshooting.

Before reporting an issue

Capture:

• Aetower version and build number
• macOS version and hardware model
• whether Chau7, Docker, telemetry, or MCP clients are enabled
• a short description of what was happening
• Diagnostics summary or a privacy-tiered support bundle

Questions this page answers

How do I install Aetower?

Download the signed installer package or DMG from aetower.dev, or use Homebrew: brew tap aeptus/aetower && brew install --cask aetower. macOS 14+ on Apple silicon.

What should I check on first run?

Open Settings → Setup and walk the checklist: operator-safe mode for heavy views, collection behavior, optional Chau7 and MCP exposure, and export privacy tiers.

How do I reset Aetower's local data?

Settings → Advanced → Reset Aetower local data clears persisted history and diagnostics and restores safe defaults.