Download
SideScopes is free, open-source software. Current builds are portable zip archives published with checksums on GitHub.
macOS
Detected platform- macOS 12 or later
- Apple silicon and Intel
- Screen Recording permission required
Windows
Detected platform- Windows 10 or later, 64-bit
- Portable executable in a zip archive
- No separate runtime required
Files are served from the GitHub release, which also contains the tagged source and release notes.
Requirements
macOS 12 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel. Live analysis requires the Screen Recording permission in System Settings. SideScopes needs to be reopened after permission is granted.
Windows 10 or later, 64-bit. Extract the archive and run the executable; there is no installer or separate runtime.
Linux is not currently released. Development status is tracked in the public repository.
Local operation
The desktop application has no network access, account, telemetry, automatic update service, or background process. Captured pixels remain on the computer. SideScopes writes a preferences file and, only when requested, a local diagnostic log.
See the privacy page for the separate behavior of the website and SideScopes Lab.
Unsigned-build warnings
macOS
Current macOS builds are not signed with an Apple Developer ID or notarized. Gatekeeper therefore cannot verify the developer, check the notarization result, or confirm that the application has not changed since it was published.
After verifying the download, try to open SideScopes. If you choose to allow it, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to Security, select Open Anyway, and confirm the exception. Do not override an alert that says the application will damage the computer or appears damaged; those are different warnings.
Apple documents the distinction and the override procedure in Safely open apps on your Mac.
Windows
Current Windows builds are unsigned. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen may show Windows protected your PC because an unsigned file cannot inherit publisher reputation. After verifying the source and checksum, select More info and then Run anyway if that option is permitted by the system policy.
Microsoft explains the file-hash and publisher signals in its SmartScreen reputation documentation.
Verify the download
Compare the archive's SHA-256 with the value published by GitHub Actions. A match confirms that the file is byte-for-byte identical to the release artifact; it does not substitute for code signing or a source audit.
SideScopes-v0.7.0-macos.zip19b35299ebe955b295b71c522bdc6739e416bfd080bf2abb261a94ea26988cd0· checksum fileSideScopes-v0.7.0-windows.zip67f1d69105d334690c3a2cea492fc355deb4dd2eed7b1bc1fe5941817a2bb69c· checksum file
macOS
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/SideScopes-*-macos.zipWindows PowerShell
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 $HOME\Downloads\SideScopes-*-windows.zipIf the value does not match, do not run the file. Download it again from the release page and report the mismatch if it persists.
Build from source
The repository uses CMake and C++20. Platform toolchains and the complete validation commands are documented in CONTRIBUTING.md.