# Installation
clipmem runs on macOS and requires Apple Silicon for the prebuilt Homebrew
package. Intel Macs and source builds are supported through Cargo.
## Requirements
- **macOS** — clipboard capture uses `NSPasteboard` via `objc2` /
`objc2-app-kit` and only runs on macOS. The database and search layers
compile on other platforms for development, but capture won't work.
- **Apple Silicon** — required for the prebuilt Homebrew package (target
`aarch64-apple-darwin`). Intel Macs can use `cargo install` instead.
- **Rust 1.88+** — required only if you're building from source.
## Homebrew (CLI only)
Install the CLI binary on Apple Silicon:
```bash
brew install tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem
clipmem setup
```
Verify the installation:
```bash
clipmem --version
clipmem doctor
```
If Homebrew reports that `tristanmanchester/tap` is not trusted, trust the
formula and rerun the install command:
```bash
brew trust --formula tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem
brew install tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem
```
## Homebrew (CLI + menu bar app)
Install the CLI and the native SwiftUI menu bar app together:
```bash
brew install --cask tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem-app
open -a ClipmemMenuBar
```
The cask depends on the CLI formula, runs `clipmem setup` after
installation, and enables launch at login by default.
If Homebrew reports that `tristanmanchester/tap` is not trusted, trust the
formula and cask before installing:
```bash
brew trust --formula tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem
brew trust --cask tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem-app
brew install --cask tristanmanchester/tap/clipmem-app
```
## Cargo
Install on Apple Silicon or Intel:
```bash
cargo install clipmem
clipmem setup
```
Verify the installation:
```bash
clipmem --version
clipmem doctor
```
## Build from source
Clone the repository and build:
```bash
cargo build --release
```
Or install the current checkout into `~/.local/bin`:
```bash
cargo install --path . --root ~/.local --force --locked
```
All install methods (Homebrew CLI, Cargo, source) produce the same
`clipmem` binary.
## Upgrading
Upgrade using the same method you installed with:
```bash
# Homebrew
brew upgrade clipmem
# Cargo (overwrites the existing binary)
cargo install clipmem
# Source
git pull && cargo build --release
```
Re-running `clipmem setup` after an upgrade is safe and updates the
managed service definition as needed.
## Next steps
- [Getting started](getting-started.md) — set up background capture
and run your first queries
- [Menu bar app](menu-bar-app.md) — install and configure the native
macOS menu bar frontend
