Install Hub on macOS

Chartbuddy Hub is a free desktop application. This guide covers the macOS install end-to-end: download the .dmg, move Hub to Applications, and launch it once.

1. Download the installer

Direct download (Apple silicon / arm64 DMG):

Download Chartbuddy Hub for macOS

Or open the download page and click Download for macOS.

The file looks like Chartbuddy_macos_aarch64.dmg (or a versioned name such as Chartbuddy_1.7.x_aarch64.dmg).

2. Open the disk image

1. In Finder, open the .dmg (usually in Downloads).
2. A window appears with the Chartbuddy app and an Applications shortcut.

3. Install into Applications

1. Drag Chartbuddy into the Applications folder.
2. Eject the disk image (sidebar or right-click → Eject).
3. You can delete the .dmg afterward.

Installing into /Applications is strongly recommended for MCP and AI clients — the launcher looks there first:

ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app/Contents/MacOS/chartbuddy

4. Launch Hub once

1. Open Chartbuddy from Applications (or Spotlight: Chartbuddy).
2. Approve any macOS prompts.
3. Leave Hub running while you use MCP tools, or let the MCP server start it on the first tool call.

You should see the Chartbuddy Hub window (desktop chart editor — no prompt box inside the app).

Verify

Check	Command / action
App present	ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app
Binary	ls /Applications/Chartbuddy.app/Contents/MacOS/chartbuddy
Version	Open Hub → About (or check the window title / docs version)
MCP port	After Hub runs, ~/.chartbuddy/mcp-port should exist

Troubleshooting

Symptom	What to try
DMG won't open	Re-download; confirm the file size isn't truncated
MCP tools missing	Hub in /Applications? Client restarted after MCP config?
Hub won't auto-launch	Start Chartbuddy once manually, then retry the MCP tool

Next steps

Connect an AI client or read Desktop basics.