Installing on Ubuntu / Linux

Install AI Code Express (ACE IDE) on Linux using either:

• AppImage — portable, no system install (fastest to try)
• DEB package — native install for Ubuntu / Debian / apt-based systems (best for managed workstations)

Download: ACE IDE download page

Before you start

• OS: 64-bit Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora, etc.)
• RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
• Disk: ~500 MB for the app; more for projects
• Network: Required for sign-in and ACE Agent (AI)
• Optional: git (recommended; DEB package lists it as a dependency)

Option A — AppImage (portable)

Best when you want a quick trial or cannot use apt.

Step 1 — Download

1. Open the download page.
2. Under Ubuntu / Linux → AppImage, click Download AppImage.
3. Save AI-Code-Express-{version}-x86_64.AppImage (for example AI-Code-Express-1.0.4-x86_64.AppImage).

Step 2 — Make it executable

Open a terminal in the folder where you saved the file:

chmod +x AI-Code-Express-*-x86_64.AppImage

Step 3 — Run

./AI-Code-Express-*-x86_64.AppImage

On some desktops you can also double-click the AppImage after chmod +x.

Step 4 — Optional desktop integration

• Move the AppImage to a permanent location, e.g. ~/Applications/ or ~/bin/.
• Create a .desktop launcher or use your file manager’s “Integrate” option if available.

AppImage builds do not register with apt; delete the file to uninstall.

Option B — DEB package (apt install)

Best for Ubuntu/Debian machines where you want a menu entry and standard package management.

Step 1 — Download

1. Open the download page.
2. Under Ubuntu / Linux → DEB package, click Download .deb.
3. Save the .deb file (package name: ai-code-express).

Step 2 — Install with apt

From the directory containing the downloaded file:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ./AI-Code-Express-*.deb

If apt reports missing dependencies:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

Alternative:

sudo dpkg -i AI-Code-Express-*.deb
sudo apt --fix-broken install

Step 3 — Launch

• Open AI Code Express from your application menu, or
• Run from terminal:

ai-code-express

Step 4 — Uninstall

sudo apt remove ai-code-express

First launch (both options)

1. Start AI Code Express.
2. Click Sign in if prompted — complete login in your browser, then return to the IDE.
3. Use File → Open Folder and pick a project.
4. Open the ACE Agent panel and send a test prompt.
5. Open the Terminal panel and run a simple command (for example git status).

Verify installation

Auto-updates

Linux builds use electron-updater with a generic release URL. When a new version is published, the IDE prompts you to restart after download. AppImage users can also download a newer AppImage manually from the download page.

Troubleshooting

AppImage: “Permission denied”

• Run chmod +x on the file again.
• Ensure the file is on a filesystem that allows execution (not a mounted drive with noexec).

DEB: dependency errors

• Run sudo apt --fix-broken install after dpkg -i.

Blank window or GPU issues

• Try launching with software rendering:
  AI-Code-Express-*-x86_64.AppImage --disable-gpu
  (DEB: ai-code-express --disable-gpu)

Serial / IoT Monitor

• Your user may need permission to access /dev/ttyUSB* or /dev/ttyACM*. Add your user to the dialout group:
  sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER
  then log out and back in.

For server configuration and database tables used by the IDE backend, see Configuration & database.