Install kill9

kill9 ships as a desktop app for macOS and Linux. The installer detects your operating system and architecture, downloads the matching build, and places it in the standard location for that platform.

Supported builds

Linux on ARM is not currently a public download target.

Recommended: shell installer

Run:

curl -fsSL https://kill9.ai/install | sh

The script is served from the same kill9 release origin as the download. If you want to inspect it first:

curl -fsSL https://kill9.ai/install

The installer prints the detected platform, architecture, and release channel before downloading anything.

Before installation, the script pins one release tag from the release manifest and verifies the asset's SHA-256 digest. Linux installation also requires GitHub artifact provenance (gh and jq). macOS verifies the downloaded disk image and the mounted app with the operating system's signature checks.

What the installer changes

On macOS it:

1. Downloads the release manifest and pins its exact tag and candidate revision.
2. Downloads the pinned DMG to a temporary directory and verifies SHA-256.
3. Asks Gatekeeper to assess the disk image before mounting it.
4. Mounts the image and verifies the app's code signature and execution policy.
5. Replaces an existing /Applications/kill9.app.
6. Copies the verified app into /Applications.
7. Unmounts the image and removes the temporary files.

On Linux it:

1. Downloads the release manifest and pins its exact tag and candidate revision.
2. Downloads the pinned AppImage to a temporary directory and verifies SHA-256.
3. Verifies GitHub attestation provenance against the release workflow and candidate revision.
4. Creates ~/.local/bin if needed.
5. Moves the verified AppImage to ~/.local/bin/kill9.AppImage.
6. Marks the file executable.

Alternative: direct download

Open kill9.ai/download, select your platform and architecture, and download the installer manually.

• Open the DMG on macOS and copy kill9 into Applications.
• Keep the AppImage in a stable location on Linux and mark it executable.

Launch and verify

On macOS:

open /Applications/kill9.app

On Linux:

~/.local/bin/kill9.AppImage

If ~/.local/bin is already on your PATH, you can run kill9.AppImage directly.

Checkpoint: A kill9 window opens and shows sign-in, project setup, or the workspace you used previously.

Release channels

The build you install determines its update channel. A stable install follows stable releases; an RC install follows release candidates. You cannot switch an installed build between channels from Settings. Use the stable kill9.ai installer unless you intentionally test release candidates.

Update an existing install

Run the same installer again. It replaces the application binary while leaving your kill9 account and workspace data in their normal user-data locations.

Close kill9 before reinstalling so the running application does not hold the old binary open.

If the app does not open

Check these in order:

1. Confirm the platform and architecture in the installer output.
2. Launch from a terminal once so the operating-system error remains visible.
3. Confirm the installed path exists.
4. Close every running kill9 window and reinstall.
5. Use Troubleshooting and include the exact terminal error if you report the problem.

Do not continue to onboarding until the app window opens reliably.

Next step

Attach a workspace and connect a model →