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Install Timo

Timo is a lightweight Rust CLI tool. You can install it using Homebrew or build it from source.

Prerequisites

Before installing Timo, ensure you have:
  • macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL
  • Terminal access
Timo stores all data locally in a SQLite database in your home directory

Installation methods

The easiest way to install Timo is with Homebrew:
1

Install with Homebrew

brew tap yourusername/timo
brew install timo
2

Verify installation

timo --version
You should see:
timo 0.2.4
3

Add your first thought

timo add "My first thought"
Homebrew automatically handles updates. Run brew upgrade timo to get the latest version

Data storage location

Timo stores your thoughts in a SQLite database at:
~/.timo/timo.db
The database is created automatically the first time you run Timo. No configuration needed.
Back up your thoughts by copying the ~/.timo/timo.db file

Upgrading Timo

To upgrade to the latest version:
brew upgrade timo

Uninstalling

To remove Timo from your system:
brew uninstall timo
To also remove your data:
rm -rf ~/.timo
Deleting ~/.timo will permanently remove all your thoughts. Back up the database first if needed

Troubleshooting

Command not found

If you get a “command not found” error after installation:
  1. Make sure Cargo’s bin directory is in your PATH:
    echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
    source ~/.bashrc
    
  2. For Zsh users, add to ~/.zshrc instead:
    echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
    source ~/.zshrc
    

Permission denied

If you encounter permission errors:
chmod +x ~/.cargo/bin/timo

What’s next?

Now that Timo is installed, head to the quickstart guide to add your first thought.

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