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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.dmg.
2. Open it.
3. Drag Aetower.app to Applications.
4. Launch Aetower.

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 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 Settings -> 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.