Download
Download the latest version of Trace from the official website:
buildwithtrace.com/download
macOS Installation
Download the .dmg file
Download the .dmg file for macOS from the link above.
Open and install
Open the downloaded file and drag Trace to your Applications folder.
Launch Trace
Open Trace from Applications. Trace is signed and notarized — no Gatekeeper workarounds needed, even on macOS Sequoia (15+).
Smooth installs on Sequoia — Starting with v1.2, Trace passes Apple’s Gatekeeper checks out of the box. All binary paths are relative, the CLI is properly named, and the Info.plist metadata is correct. No xattr commands or “Open Anyway” steps required.
Windows Installation
Download the installer
Download the .exe installer for Windows.
Run the installer
Run the installer and follow the prompts.
Launch Trace
Launch Trace from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
Linux Installation
Download the AppImage
Download the .AppImage file for Linux from the link above.
Make it executable
Open a terminal and run:chmod +x trace-*-linux-x86_64.AppImage
Run Trace
Double-click the AppImage or run it from the terminal:./trace-*-linux-x86_64.AppImage
AppImage dependencies — Trace’s AppImage uses a modern DwarFS-based runtime that does not require FUSE. If the AppImage won’t start, try extracting and running directly: URUNTIME_EXTRACT=1 ./trace-*-linux-x86_64.AppImage --appimage-extract && ./squashfs-root/AppRun. Trace requires libsecret and webkit2gtk for authentication and the chat UI — these are usually preinstalled on GNOME and KDE desktops.
Open from the Command Line
You can launch Trace from your terminal and open a project directory or file directly — similar to how cursor . or code . works.
Open the current directory in Trace:Open a specific project file:open -a Trace ./my-project.kicad_pro
trace shell commandAdd this to your ~/.zshrc (or ~/.bashrc):trace() {
open -a Trace "${@:-.}"
}
trace .
trace ~/Projects/my-board/my-board.kicad_pro
trace # no argument opens Trace with no project
The Windows installer adds Trace to your PATH. Open a project from Command Prompt or PowerShell:Open a specific project file:trace my-project.kicad_pro
Run the AppImage with a path argument:./trace-*-linux-x86_64.AppImage .
trace commandSymlink the AppImage to a location on your PATH:sudo ln -s /path/to/trace-*-linux-x86_64.AppImage /usr/local/bin/trace
trace .
trace ./my-project.kicad_pro
Passing . opens the current working directory as a project. You can also pass a .kicad_pro, .kicad_sch, or .kicad_pcb file directly.
Signing In
After installation, launch Trace and sign in with your account. You can create an account at buildwithtrace.com/signup if you don’t have one.
Authentication is handled via OAuth. Click “Sign In” in the application, and you’ll be redirected to complete authentication in your browser.
Verifying Installation
Once signed in, you should see the Trace dashboard with options to create a new project or open an existing one. If you encounter any issues, check the Troubleshooting guide.
Important — Do Not Trust AI 100%: Trace is an AI-powered tool designed to assist your PCB design workflow, not replace your engineering judgment. AI can and will make mistakes. Always review and verify all designs, schematics, component selections, routing, and manufacturing outputs before fabrication. Make sure you understand everything on your board — every trace, every component, every connection. Do not send designs to manufacturing without thorough inspection and validation. When in doubt, consult with experienced engineers or use professional design review services.
