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Installation

Installation

QUI Core installs as a single application on your Linux machine. It sets up everything you need — databases, AI services, and the local dashboard — all running on your device.

System Requirements

Component Minimum Notes
Operating System Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 38+, Arch) x86_64 architecture
Python 3.11+ System Python or pyenv
Node.js 18+ For frontend and Terminal Service
Docker 20+ Installed automatically if missing
RAM 8 GB 16 GB recommended for local models
Disk 20 GB free More if using local LLM models
GPU Optional Required only for local model hosting (Qllama)

What Gets Installed

The QUI Core installer is an Electron AppImage — a single file that serves as both the installer (first run) and the application launcher (every run after).

When you run it for the first time, it sets up:

  • Docker engine (if not already installed)
  • Two PostgreSQL databases — one for core services, one for semantic memory with vector search
  • Redis cache — for session management and event routing
  • 11 AI service containers — each running in its own isolated Docker container
  • SSL certificates — self-signed, for secure local communication
  • JWT keys — for authentication between services

All data is stored in ~/.qui/ on your machine. Nothing is sent to the cloud except authentication and billing requests.

Installation Steps

1. Get the Installer

Download the QUI Core AppImage from qui.is. You need an active subscription or a one-time purchase to proceed.

2. Make It Executable

chmod +x qui-core-*.AppImage

3. Run the Installer

./qui-core-*.AppImage

The setup wizard opens automatically on first run.

4. Log In

Enter your qui.is email and password. The installer verifies your subscription before proceeding.

Note: If your account has two-factor authentication enabled, log in at qui.is first in your browser, then retry the installer.

5. Install

Click "Install & Continue." The wizard runs through six steps:

  1. System dependencies — installs Docker if needed (prompts for your system password)
  2. Directory structure — creates ~/.qui/ with keys, certificates, and configuration
  3. Docker images — downloads 11 protected service images from qui.is
  4. Secrets & certificates — generates unique passwords and SSL certificates for your installation
  5. Start services — launches all containers in the correct order
  6. Desktop registration — adds QUI Core to your application menu

The entire process takes 5-15 minutes depending on your internet connection and hardware.

6. Launch

Click "Launch QUI Core" when the wizard completes. The QUI Core dashboard opens in the Electron window.

[Screenshot: Setup wizard completion screen]

Post-Install Verification

After installation, verify everything is running:

  1. QUI Core dashboard should be accessible in the Electron window or at https://localhost:10009 in your browser
  2. System tray icon should appear — right-click it for quick access to QUI Core, Strings, and service management
  3. Services tab in the dashboard should show all services as running

Browser certificate warning: QUI Core uses a self-signed SSL certificate. Your browser will show a security warning the first time you visit https://localhost:10009. This is expected — click "Advanced" and "Proceed" to continue.

What Happens on Subsequent Launches

After the initial setup, running the AppImage skips the wizard entirely. It:

  1. Verifies infrastructure containers (PostgreSQL, Redis) are running — Docker keeps them alive across reboots automatically
  2. Starts the Terminal Service (a native Node.js process)
  3. Shows the system tray icon
  4. Opens the QUI Core dashboard

You do not need to manually start services after installation. Docker's restart policy keeps everything running.

Uninstalling

To completely remove QUI Core:

  1. Right-click the system tray icon → Services → Reset (Clean Slate)
  2. Or manually remove all containers, volumes, and data:
# Stop all QUI containers
docker rm -f $(docker ps -a --filter "name=qui-" -q) 2>/dev/null

# Remove Docker volumes
docker volume rm $(docker volume ls --filter "name=qui-" -q) 2>/dev/null

# Remove the Docker network
docker network rm qui-network 2>/dev/null

# Remove all local data
rm -rf ~/.qui

# Remove desktop entries
rm -f ~/.local/share/applications/qui-*.desktop

This removes everything. Your qui.is account and subscription are not affected.

Updated on Mar 21, 2026
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