Get started · Beacon
From download to your first chat
The first time you open Beacon, it asks one question: do you already have Prometheus? Here is what each answer does, screen by screen.
What you need
- A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later), macOS 13 or later, and about 2 GB free. Beacon checks all three before it sets anything up, and tells you what is missing.
- An account with a cloud AI: OpenRouter, Anthropic or OpenAI. Your assistant thinks with it, and the company you pick charges for use. Running the model privately on your Mac is in Beacon too, marked “Coming soon”.
On Linux or an Intel Mac, Beacon can’t set Prometheus up for you yet; it connects to a Prometheus you already run on another computer.
Every path
Open Beacon
Welcome to Beacon
Beacon is the app you chat in; Prometheus is your assistant’s brain, on a computer you own. Choose Get started.
Do you already have Prometheus?
Pick the answer that fits, then Continue. Each one is below.
If Beacon finds Prometheus already running on this Mac, the list changes to offer connecting to it first.
No, set it up on this Mac
Let Beacon set up Prometheus
You won’t type any commands. Beacon fetches Prometheus, checks it, starts it, and connects this Mac to it as its owner.
Checking this Mac
It makes sure Prometheus will run well here: the chip, the macOS version and the free space. If anything is short, it says which and how to fix it.
Set up Prometheus on this Mac
Beacon tells you what it is about to do: get Prometheus from OAra Labs, put it in your Applications folder and start it. Prometheus keeps running when you log in, so your assistant is there whenever you open Beacon. Choose Set up Prometheus.
Setting up Prometheus
Beacon gets Prometheus, checks it’s genuine, puts it in Applications, starts it and connects. You can keep using your Mac meanwhile.
macOS shows a note that Prometheus was added to Login Items. That’s expected: it keeps your assistant running when Beacon is closed.
How should your assistant think?
Choose With a cloud AI, then either Sign in with OpenRouter (one account that gives your assistant Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and more, with no key to copy) or paste a key from Anthropic or OpenAI. The account needs credit before your assistant can answer. A key you paste stays on this Mac.
Say hello to your assistant
Send one of the suggestions, or type your own. When the first reply arrives, Beacon says You’re all set; choose Start chatting.
To use another computer too, open Beacon there. This Mac will ask you to approve it.
Yes, connect to it
Connect to a Prometheus you already have
For when Prometheus is already running, on this Mac or another computer you use.
Walkthrough coming
The screens for this answer, and a short video of it, are on their way. Until then, if you need a hand, write to [email protected].
I’m just looking
Look around first
Nothing is installed and nothing connects. You can set it up whenever you like.
Choose I’m just looking
Then Continue.
Here’s what Beacon does
Chat with your assistant. Watch it work, step by step. And stay in charge: it asks before doing anything important, and you approve or decline. Set it up takes you back to the question; Not now finishes here.
Beacon isn’t connected yet
Beacon stays open, without an assistant. Whenever you’re ready, choose Set it up and you’re back at the question.
Stuck?
The setup screens have Need help? in the corner, and if setting up hits a problem, Beacon can copy its details for whoever helps you. Or write to [email protected].
If Beacon’s window doesn’t appear on Linux, launch it with --disable-gpu.