Get started with BigIdeasDB Desktop (Beta)

Download

Open the Download page in your Desktop account. It picks the installer for your computer (Mac with Apple Silicon, Mac with Intel, or Windows) and lists the others.

Install

On a Mac, open the .dmg and drag BigIdeasDB Desktop to Applications. On Windows, run the Setup file. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning because the installer is not code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.

Full details, including the Windows warning, are in Install and activate.

Activate

1. 1

   Open the app

   Launch BigIdeasDB Desktop. The first screen asks you to activate.

2. 2

   Press Sign in to activate

   Your browser opens bigideasdb.com. Sign in with the account that owns Desktop.

3. 3

   Confirm

   Confirm the computer. The browser hands the licence back and the app unlocks.

One account can activate up to 3 computers. If your browser does not return to the app, paste the licence instead. See Devices and licence.

Connect your AI

Desktop does the research on your computer. Your own AI agent does the thinking. In the app, open Settings and connect the agent you use, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Codex or OpenCode. Step by step: Connect your AI.

First research

Make a project, then ask your agent about an idea you care about. Desktop gathers the evidence on your computer, such as Reddit threads, search trends, app store reviews and search suggestions, and saves it in the project. Pin the best finds to the evidence board. A good first request is the built-in "validate an idea" skill: type "/" in the chat to find it.

• Where the evidence lands: Evidence board and ideas.
• Where it comes from: Research sources.
• Reddit through your own login: Connect Clipper.

If something goes wrong

• The app says you are not entitled: sign in with the account that has Basic, Pro or the Desktop add-on. Check your Desktop account.
• The browser does not return to the app: paste the licence on the activation screen.
• You hit the 3 computer limit: remove one under Devices.
• Anything else: Troubleshooting, or send feedback from your Desktop account.