Install and launch
Current Free Beta availability
Section titled “Current Free Beta availability”Astramar is in a controlled Free-tier Beta. Near-term public distribution is a Developer ID signed and notarized direct download promoted by the website release record. The public website download button stays closed until an exact build completes signing, notarization, stapling, Gatekeeper acceptance, and clean-install verification.
Mac App Store distribution is parked for now and is not the current Free Beta install path. StoreKit remains the planned commercial path if App Store distribution is unparked later.
Controlled cohorts receive private install instructions. Do not install from GitHub source archives, raw .app bundles, or Xcode archives.
For the live authorization record, see Release status and known limitations.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”- macOS 26.4 or newer
- Accessibility permission only when you want automatic paste or supported direct insertion
- Notification permission only if you want banners for scheduled triggers (optional)
Approved install channels
Section titled “Approved install channels”| Channel | When to use |
|---|---|
| Verified DMG or ZIP | Current Free Beta / controlled-cohort path when promoted by the website release record |
| Mac App Store | Future commercial Free/Pro path after Store approval (parked for near-term public release) |
| Not supported | Repository clones, unsigned zips, “source code” archives, and development DerivedData builds for everyday use |
On disk the application bundle remains PhrasePilot.app. The Dock, menu, and window chrome show Astramar (lockup Astramar by SeaSoup). Some system dialogs may still say PhrasePilot.
Direct-install flow (after a verified package is promoted)
Section titled “Direct-install flow (after a verified package is promoted)”- Use the download control on the official Astramar product page only when it shows a verified release.
- Confirm the published version, build identity, and checksum guidance on the site.
- Open the DMG and drag the app to Applications, or unzip the verified ZIP and move the app to Applications.
- Launch from Applications (not from a Downloads folder or temporary mount).
- Grant Accessibility only when you are ready for automatic insertion.
- Review the starter library, then import an existing
.phrasepilotlibrary if you already have one.
Verified direct builds currently update through a deliberate manual reinstall until an approved updater path ships. Mac App Store installs (when available) would update through the App Store.
First launch
Section titled “First launch”- Open Astramar from Applications.
- If a one-time display-name welcome notice appears, read it and choose Continue.
- Review the Astramar Starter Guide folder — short examples for templates, triggers (often disabled in the samples), and actions.
- Open Settings from the toolbar gear and confirm the global palette hotkey under Settings → Palette (or the controls labeled for opening the phrase palette).
- Optionally create your own folders and phrases, or duplicate starter samples and delete the starter folder when you no longer need it.
- Grant Accessibility when you want automatic paste or direct insert into other apps.
- Press the global hotkey (or use Open Phrase Palette) and deliver a phrase.
- With the main window active, try ⌘⇧P (Command Palette) for app actions and ⌘P (Go to Anything) to jump to a phrase, folder, or Settings page without inserting text.
Without Accessibility, Astramar can still copy resolved phrase text to the clipboard so you can paste manually. A permission denial does not erase your library and does not require AI.