Skip to content

INSTALL.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
149 lines (111 loc) · 7.77 KB

INSTALL.md

File metadata and controls

149 lines (111 loc) · 7.77 KB
Raw

Install Strata

This page is for anyone installing or updating Strata (version 0.2.5). Use the desktop app for a graphical interface, or the Terminal for strata launch and coding tools. Both use released engine packages. A normal install does not need a source checkout or a startup .bat file.

Quick start

I want Do this
A window with chat Download the installer from the latest release (steps)
The terminal, or my coding tool Run the one-line install, then strata launch (steps)
DeepSeek V4.1-Flash Pick it in the app, or run strata launch --family deepseek41 (model page)

Requirements · Desktop app · Terminal · Update · Files and folders · Build from source

What you need

Computer Guide
Windows 10/11 or Linux x86-64 with an NVIDIA RTX GPU Use the app or the Terminal. The engine for your card is downloaded for you. Older NVIDIA cards use the CUDA 12 engine. DeepSeek V4.1-Flash runs on RTX 30, 40 and 50 cards in the app and the Terminal.
Windows or Linux x86-64 with a supported AMD Radeon AMD guide, including the card-to-package table. DeepSeek V4.1-Flash runs on the Radeon AI PRO R9700 under Linux, in the app and the Terminal.
Linux x86-64 with Intel Arc Intel Arc guide; install the driver/compute runtime and check model preparation requirements
Apple Silicon Mac, macOS 15 or newer Mac guide. Intel Macs are not supported by the Mac package.
AMD Ryzen AI Max / Strix Halo Strix Halo guide
NVIDIA DGX Spark (Linux ARM64) DGX Spark guide. Use the Terminal; there is no desktop app for ARM64 Linux.

Memory and disk needs depend on the model, quantization, context and enabled features. Check which model fits; download size is not the same as RAM use. Unified memory counts once. Use an SSD and leave room for helper files and model preparation. The Terminal's --plan prints what is missing.

Install a graphics driver that supports the package you choose. CUDA 13 packages require NVIDIA driver 580 or newer; older NVIDIA cards use CUDA 12. AMD and Intel requirements are in their guides. Packaged GPU runtimes do not replace hardware drivers. Models and updates need an internet connection to download.

The app

  1. Open the latest release.
  2. Download the one installer for your system. There is one per system, not one per graphics card:
    • Windows: run Strata-0.2.7-windows-x64-setup.exe. It installs for your user and needs no administrator rights.
    • Linux: make Strata-0.2.7-linux-x86_64.AppImage executable, then open it. If FUSE is unavailable, run the downloaded file with --appimage-extract-and-run. Linux help.
    • Mac: open Strata-0.2.7-macos-arm64.dmg, drag Strata into Applications, then open it. Mac help.
  3. On Windows and Linux the installer has no engine inside. On first start the app shows the engine for your graphics card with its size and one Download button, with progress and resume. If you already downloaded the engine file, choose I already have the file and it installs without internet. The Mac file keeps its small Metal engine inside.
  4. Choose a model and its storage folder, let it download, then chat. DeepSeek V4.1-Flash is in the model list on the supported cards (model page); it has three sizes, an 8K context and a Speed choice, Faster or Full quality.

The strata-engine-… and strata-control-… archives on the release page are components, not installers. The installer is the same file for a first install and for an update. There is no Intel desktop installer yet; Intel Arc runs on Linux only, through the Terminal.

The first launch can take time to check and prepare large model files. Watch its progress and logs; there is no fixed startup time for every model or computer. Closing the desktop app stops its managed engine.

The provider order recommended here is ISTA-DASLab, Unsloth, Gyro, then others, when a compatible pack fits. Current app recommendations can differ; choose the model explicitly when you want a particular provider.

The Terminal

Install once, then use strata launch. The Terminal includes Python and downloads the engine for your computer.

Linux / Mac

curl -fsSL https://github.com/Niko1221/Strata/releases/latest/download/install.sh -o install.sh && sh install.sh

Windows PowerShell

irm https://github.com/Niko1221/Strata/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex

On Windows, open a new terminal afterwards. On Linux and Mac, if strata is not found, use the full path printed by the installer (normally ~/.local/bin/strata) or add that folder to your shell's PATH.

strata launch

Follow the screens to choose a model, context, storage folder and access settings. The monitor opens after startup. Use the address printed by Strata; the default local endpoint is http://127.0.0.1:8080. The Terminal opens a browser only when you add --open.

For a script or AI agent, inspect a plan before downloading. This example selects ISTA-DASLab Q2_0 explicitly:

strata launch --family qwen --model q2_0 --plan
strata launch --family qwen --model q2_0 --yes --no-tui

--no-tui leaves the server running in the background. Check it, connect a tool, or stop it:

strata launch --status
strata connect
strata launch --stop

If a model is already running with different settings, add --restart to replace that run; --yes alone does not restart it. A restart interrupts current answers. See all launch options, advanced Terminal commands, and agent setup.

Updating

Desktop app: open Settings and find the update controls, check for updates, and use the offered app or engine update. Unload running models before replacing the engine. Your model files and settings are kept.

Terminal:

strata update --check
strata update
strata --version

Stop models first. The next Terminal command uses the updated Control component. The app, Control and engine have separate version numbers, so they can differ.

Use strata components rollback to return to the previous engine. See update details. Source checkouts have a separate update workflow.

Where things are stored

Item Default location
Desktop chats and host state ~/.strata (or STRATA_HOME)
Engine components, Windows %LOCALAPPDATA%\Strata\components
Engine components, Linux / Mac $XDG_DATA_HOME/strata/components, normally ~/.local/share/strata/components
Terminal files The terminal folder beside components; the installer prints the exact path
Models The folder chosen in the app or launch screens; an existing model library is reused

The desktop app normally proposes Documents/Strata/Models for a new library. The Terminal discovers saved folders from earlier installs. Use the path shown by the app or strata models list, not an assumed folder name. --data-dir changes where new downloads go; it does not move existing models unless you add --move-data. See model discovery.

More options