First Launch & Setup

Once you have the app running, you need to activate your student license. This unlocks the AI models without requiring your own API keys.

If You Download a Newer Version During the Course

If you update to a newer build, back up workspace/ first (that’s where your saved work lives in Developer Mode). Then either copy workspace/ into the new folder, or make sure you don’t delete it if you overwrite an existing folder.

For the full upgrade checklist, see Installation Guide.

If You Used an Installer vs Developer Mode

  • Developer Mode: you started two terminals (backend on :8000, frontend on :1420) and opened the browser URL.
  • Installer Build (v4): the desktop app should launch and auto-start the backend in the background (no terminal).

Packaged installers are post‑MVP; for the course we use local hosting.

Activating Your Course Subscription

  1. Open the app in your browser (usually http://localhost:1420).
  2. Navigate to Settings (Gear Icon) → Key Management.
  3. Locate the Subscription Code box.
  4. Enter the course code provided by your instructor.
  5. Click Apply.

Success: You should see a green message: “✓ Subscription active! Free keys enabled.”

What This Unlocks

Your subscription gives you unlimited access to our enterprise cluster of 7 AI models:

  • Gemini Pro 1.5 (Google) - The heavy lifter for large context
  • DeepSeek V3 - Excellent for coding and logic
  • Qwen 2.5 - Strong creative performance
  • Mistral Large - High-quality prose

You do not need to enter any personal API keys in the other fields. The system will automatically route your requests to the best model for the job.

Creating Your First Project

  1. Go to the PREPARE tab.
  2. Click the dropdown menu at the top left.
  3. Select “New Workspace…“
  4. Name your project (e.g., “The Glass Hotel”).
  5. Select a folder on your computer where you want to save your files.

Testing tip (avoids “version drift” confusion):

  • Before running ARCHITECT / VOICE / DIRECTOR, double-check you are still in the workspace you just created (top-left dropdown).
  • If you’re switching between “Story Bible - Research” and other Story Bible folders, be explicit about which one you’re testing.

You are now ready to begin Track 1: Story Development.