Install and update Kensa
Download a verified Kensa build, install it on your system, and keep it up to date.
Kensa for desktop is distributed through the download page, which lists only builds verified against the current release manifest — each with its signing state and an algorithm-tagged checksum.
Quick path
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Open Download Kensa and pick the build for your operating system and processor. No account is required.
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On macOS, open the DMG and copy Kensa to Applications — or extract the ZIP and move Kensa to Applications.
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macOS only: the build carries an ad-hoc signature (not Developer ID signed or notarized), so before first launch run:
xattr -cr /Applications/Kensa.app -
Launch Kensa and sign in — the setup wizard opens on first run.
Every listed build shows its version, exact size, signing state, and checksum so you can verify the file before installing. If your platform shows no verified download, none is currently available for it — the page never substitutes an unverified build.
First-run setup wizard
The wizard runs once and can be re-run any time from Settings → About → Re-run Setup Wizard:
| Step | What it does |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | Checks for agent CLIs and the optional GitHub CLI |
| Repository | Connects a Git provider and selects repositories |
| Trackers | Optional — Jira, Linear, and similar trackers for richer PR context |
| Team | Optional — join or create an organization |
| Workspace | Preferred editor and terminal, worktree location, notifications |
Closing the wizard early leaves setup incomplete, and it reopens on the next launch.
Update Kensa
- Kensa checks for updates automatically on launch and shows a toast when one is available — choose Download, then Restart when it is ready.
- A manual check lives in Settings → About → Check for updates.
The in-app updater reads the private Kensa release feed, so it needs your GitHub
connection (on macOS also the gh CLI). Without one, install the latest verified build
from the download page instead.
If something goes wrong
- macOS refuses to open Kensa after installation — run
xattr -cr /Applications/Kensa.appafter copying it to Applications, as the download page instructs, then launch again. - The download page shows an unavailable state — release delivery can be temporarily offline; use the page's retry control or come back later.
- The update check fails — confirm your GitHub connection under Settings → Integrations, or install the latest verified build manually.