Requirements

Startica is built from source for now. You need a few developer tools to build it, and an AI API key (Anthropic or OpenAI) to use it. Everything else is optional.

Operating systems

OS	Status
macOS	Tested most. Dev mode and the packaged app have been run end to end, including the Keychain.
Windows	The installer builds, but it hasn’t been run. Expect rough edges.
Linux	The AppImage builds, but it hasn’t been run. Expect rough edges.

macOS

No extra setup. Secrets are encrypted with the macOS Keychain.

Windows

Secrets are encrypted with Windows’ built-in data protection (DPAPI). This is untested.

Linux

Startica encrypts secrets with your desktop keyring (libsecret, for example GNOME Keyring or KWallet). Without a keyring, secrets are only lightly protected, and the app prints a warning in the terminal. AppImages need FUSE; on recent Ubuntu that’s the libfuse2 package.

Tools

Tool	Version	Why
Node.js	24 or newer	Runs the build and dev mode. Startica uses Node’s built-in SQLite (node:sqlite).
Corepack	Ships with Node 24	Installs the exact Yarn version the repo pins.
Yarn	4 (installed by Corepack)	The repo is a Yarn 4 workspace. Don’t install Yarn 1 globally.
git	Any recent version	To clone and update the code.

Check your Node version:

node --version

If corepack isn’t found, install it:

npm install -g corepack

An installed (built) copy of Startica doesn’t need Node. It runs on the Node that’s built into Electron.

Disk space and network

• About 1.5 GB for the cloned repo and its dependencies.
• A few hundred MB more if you build an installer.
• The data folder starts small. It grows with the conversations and drafts you collect, and with scan results, page screenshots and ad images.
• An internet connection. yarn install downloads the Electron binary, and the app calls your AI provider’s API (Claude or OpenAI), Reddit, Hacker News, Bluesky, Mastodon servers, the Discourse forums you watch, the sites you scan, a few free public security data services for verified sites, and any services you connect. An installed copy also checks GitHub for updates. Privacy and security lists every one.

Accounts and keys

Required

• An AI API key, from Anthropic or OpenAI. Every AI step (intel, scoring, drafts, content, ads, roadmap, audits, and the AI help in Accessibility, SEO & GEO and Security) calls Claude or OpenAI with your key. Site scans and checks don’t use AI, so you can use Accessibility, Site health and Security without spending anything. You pay the provider directly for what you use, and Startica stops calling the AI when the month’s spend reaches the budget you set. See Anthropic API key, OpenAI API key and Costs and budget.

Optional

These only matter for Analytics, Search performance, ad pictures and issue trackers. Reddit, Hacker News, Bluesky, Mastodon and Discourse need no accounts or keys. X search is optional and needs your own paid X API token.

Credential	Unlocks	Guide
Google Analytics service account key	Google Analytics 4 traffic and key events	Google Analytics
Umami API key (instead of Google Analytics, or as well)	Umami visits, sources and custom events	Umami
Search Console service account key (can be the GA4 one)	Clicks, impressions and queries from Google search	Google Search Console
Bing Webmaster Tools API key	Clicks, impressions and queries from Bing and Copilot	Bing Webmaster Tools
A read-only database login, made by a SQL script Startica writes and you run (Supabase or any Postgres)	Daily totals from your product’s own database	Product database
Stripe restricted key	Subscriptions, MRR and cancellations	Stripe
OpenAI API key (even if you use Claude for everything else)	AI-drawn pictures for ad creatives	OpenAI API key
GitHub or GitLab token	Issues opened for accessibility problems and security findings	GitHub and GitLab

You bring your own credentials. Startica has no shared keys of its own. See Bring your own credentials.

Next

Install from source.