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What is the Syft Space desktop app?

The Syft Space desktop app is a native application built with Tauri that provides a seamless way to run your Syft Space node locally. It bundles the complete Syft Space stack—frontend, backend, and dependencies—into a single installable package.
The desktop app is the recommended option for users who want a one-click setup without managing Docker containers or Python environments.

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Key features

System tray integration

Monitor your Space status, tunnel connection, and published endpoints from your system tray.

Auto-updates

Automatic update checks with one-click installation when new versions are available.

Autostart

Configure Syft Space to start automatically when you log in.

Background operation

Runs quietly in the background—close the window and the app continues running.

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How it works

The desktop app uses a multi-process architecture:
  1. Main process (Rust/Tauri) - Manages the application window, system tray, and lifecycle
  2. Backend process (Python) - Runs the FastAPI server bundled with PyInstaller
  3. Process monitor - Ensures child processes are properly cleaned up on exit
When you launch the app:
  • The backend server starts automatically on localhost:8080 (or a random available port)
  • The frontend opens in a native window with WebView2 (Windows), WKWebView (macOS), or WebKitGTK (Linux)
  • A system tray icon appears showing real-time status
  • The app stays running in the background when you close the window

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System tray menu

Right-click (or click) the system tray icon to access:
  • Open Syft Space - Show the main window
  • Status indicators:
    • Server: Running ✓ / Stopped
    • Tunnel: Connected ✓ / Disconnected / Not Configured
    • Endpoints: X published
  • Restart Server - Restart the application
  • Copy Public URL - Copy your tunnel URL to clipboard (when connected)
  • Autostart - Toggle launch at login
  • Check for Updates - Manually check for new versions
  • About Syft Space - View version and license information
  • Quit - Exit the application completely
The tray status updates automatically every 5 seconds by polling your backend.

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Platform support

PlatformSupportInstallation format
macOS (Intel)✅ Full.dmg
macOS (Apple Silicon)✅ Full.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)✅ Full.deb
Linux (Fedora/RHEL)✅ Full.rpm
Linux (Universal)✅ Full.AppImage
Windows🚧 Planned.msi / .exe

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Minimum requirements

  • RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
  • Disk space: 500MB for application + space for datasets
  • OS versions:
    • macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
    • Ubuntu 20.04 or later (Linux .deb)
    • Fedora 36 or later (Linux .rpm)
    • Any modern Linux distribution (AppImage)

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Logs and data location

The desktop app stores logs and configuration in: 
~/.syft-space/
├── logs/
│   ├── syft-space-desktop.log    # Main app logs
│   ├── syft-space-backend.log    # Backend server logs
│   └── syft-space-process-wick.log  # Process monitor logs
└── app.db                         # SQLite database
Do not delete the ~/.syft-space directory while the app is running. This will cause data loss.

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Comparison with other installation methods

FeatureDesktop AppDockerFrom Source
One-click install✅⚠️ Requires Docker❌
Auto-updates✅❌❌
System tray✅❌❌
Background operation✅✅❌
Production ready✅✅❌
Custom deployment❌✅✅
Development setup❌⚠️ Good enough✅

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Next steps

Install the desktop app

Download and install for your operating system.

Explore features

Learn about autostart, updates, and system tray controls.

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