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The CLI comes included with the Aspect desktop app for macOS and Windows. You can also install it separately on macOS, Windows, or Linux. You do not need to install Node.js, Bun, or Python to use it.

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Supported platforms

Mount prerequisites apply to aspect mount. Uploading, downloading, listing files, and retrieving proxies do not require a mounted drive.

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Install

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With the desktop app on macOS or Windows

Download Aspect at aspect.inc/download, install the version for your operating system, and open the app. The desktop app includes the CLI, so a separate CLI installation is not needed. Open a new terminal and run aspect --version to check it. When the desktop app is running and signed in, the CLI uses the same account automatically.

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Standalone CLI

Use these installers for Linux, headless machines, or a CLI installation without the desktop app:
The installer detects your operating system and processor, downloads the matching release, checks its SHA-256, and installs it under ~/.aspect/bin. It adds that directory to your shell’s path when needed.Open a new terminal, or apply the PATH command printed by the installer.
You can inspect or download the release files directly from GitHub Releases. Keep the release payload together: the mount adapter and helpers accompany the aspect executable.

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Verify the installation

doctor reports local prerequisites and suggested fixes. A mount prerequisite warning does not mean that file transfers are unavailable.

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Linux mounting

Install FUSE 3 with your distribution’s package manager. For Debian or Ubuntu:
Fedora uses sudo dnf install fuse3; Arch Linux uses sudo pacman -S fuse3. The installer tries to install FUSE 3 when it runs as root. Otherwise it prints guidance if FUSE is missing. An interactive aspect mount can offer to install a missing prerequisite. Commands using --json do not prompt to install packages. Provision FUSE before running automated mount jobs.

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Windows and macOS mounting

On Windows, install WinFSP if aspect doctor reports it missing. On macOS, the release includes Aspect’s mount helper; a mount may request permission to install or update it. Follow the diagnostic message if the helper is missing.

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Update

upgrade installs the latest published CLI release. When the CLI manages the filesystem service, an upgrade can restart it; finish work with mounted files before updating. If the signed-in desktop app owns the service, the CLI installs the update and leaves that service running. Restart the Aspect app when instructed to update the service it runs. Next, sign in and find a project.