Installation details

This page keeps alternative installation and service details out of the normal user path. The recommended route is on Installation.

Linux packages

Download the matching asset from the latest release.

Debian or Ubuntu:

sudo dpkg -i pix_<version>_amd64.deb   # x86_64
sudo dpkg -i pix_<version>_arm64.deb   # ARM64

Fedora, RHEL, or another RPM-based distribution:

sudo rpm -i pix-<version>-1.x86_64.rpm   # x86_64
sudo rpm -i pix-<version>-1.aarch64.rpm  # ARM64

Run pix setup after installation to authorize a workspace, configure connectivity, and pair a device.

Manual archive installation

For a tarball install without a package manager:

tar -xzf pix-<version>-<target>.tar.gz
mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
cp pix-<version>-<target>/bin/pix "$HOME/.local/bin/pix"
chmod 0755 "$HOME/.local/bin/pix"

Make sure $HOME/.local/bin is on PATH before running pix.

Build from source

Source builds need Rust 1.91 or newer and a supported Pi installation:

git clone https://github.com/ZainCheung/pix.git
cd pix
cargo build --release -p pix-cli --locked
mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
cp target/release/pix "$HOME/.local/bin/pix"

Run the CLI without copying it into PATH with:

cargo run -p pix-cli -- status

Build the public macOS menu-bar client from the macOS development guide.

Updating

For a released installer or app installation, update in place with:

pix update

The command downloads the matching latest release asset and replaces the running CLI. On macOS it also updates ~/Applications/Pix.app when the app bundle is available. If a host service is running, restart it after the update so the service uses the new executable. A source build should be rebuilt with Cargo instead.

Background service

pix setup installs and starts a per-user service on supported macOS and Linux hosts. For service commands, ownership checks, and uninstall behavior, see Service management.

Uninstalling Pix

Stop and remove the service first:

pix service uninstall

Then remove the installed CLI and, on macOS, ~/Applications/Pix.app. The service command does not delete host configuration or Pi data. Check the path shown by pix status before removing the Pix configuration directory.