Get the desktop app for your platform

The same OBI-1 experience as the browser version, wrapped in a self-contained app for Windows, macOS and Linux. No browser needed — serial access is built in. Nothing leaves your machine.

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Pick your platform

Installers are built automatically from this repository for every release.

Windows

NSIS installer for Windows 10 and 11. Works with the same Arduino and USB drivers as the web version.

Download for Windows 64-bit · .exe

macOS

Apple-silicon and Intel builds packaged as a DMG. Right-click → Open the first time to bypass Gatekeeper.

Download for macOS Intel + Apple Silicon · .dmg

Linux

AppImage for any distro plus a .deb for Debian/Ubuntu. Serial access is native, so no browser setup needed.

Download for Linux AppImage + deb · .AppImage

Why the desktop app?

Same hardware, same tool — with fewer steps to get going.

No browser needed

Serial access is built straight into the app, so there's nothing to install or configure first. Just run it and connect.

Offline and private

The app bundles the OBI-1 page itself. It works without internet, and your battery data never leaves your machine.

Always up to date

Downloads come from GitHub Releases. Every new tag builds fresh installers in CI, so you always grab the latest firmware.

System requirements

  • An Arduino Uno with a USB cable The desktop app talks to the board over a native serial connection, so the same genuine-or-compatible Uno with the optiboot bootloader is required.
  • A supported battery Currently the Makita LXT 18 V packs (BL18xx / BL14xx) via the Arduino OBI interface, matching the web version.
  • Open source Everything is GPL-3.0 licensed. Build it yourself from source any time — instructions are in the README.

Note about macOS Gatekeeper

The macOS build is not notarized with Apple, so the first launch shows a "cannot verify developer" warning. Right-click the app and choose Open, then confirm. If you prefer, build it yourself from source with your own signing identity.

Frequently asked questions

About the desktop build.

Is the desktop app different from the browser version?
Functionally it's the same code, packaged with Electron. The only real difference is that serial access is native — no browser or secure HTTPS page required — and the page ships bundled with the app.
Why is there no installer for my architecture?
Installers are built in CI for the main targets: Windows x64, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Linux x64. If you need something else, open an issue or build from source — it takes one command.
Do I still need to flash the Arduino firmware?
Yes. The desktop app bundles the same firmware uploader as the web version — open the "Flash firmware" page inside the app, plug in the Uno and flash. The newest firmware ships with each release.
How are the installers built?
Every tagged release triggers a GitHub Actions workflow that packages the app on Windows, macOS and Linux runners and attaches the installers to the release. Build logs are public.