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Installation

Rubber Duck requires macOS 15.2 or later and an OpenAI API key.

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System Requirements

macOS 15.2+ is required to run Rubber Duck
  • Operating System: macOS 15.2 or later
  • API Key: OpenAI API key for agent functionality
  • Node.js: Version 22 or later (for CLI development only — not required for normal use)

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Installation Methods

Install via Homebrew for easy updates:
1

Add the tap

brew tap mblode/tap
2

Install Rubber Duck

brew install --cask rubber-duck
3

Launch the app

The duck CLI will install automatically on first launch.

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Option 2: Direct DMG Download

Download and install manually:
1

Download the DMG

Download the latest DMG from GitHub Releases.
2

Install the app

Open the DMG and drag Rubber Duck to your Applications folder.
3

Launch the app

The duck CLI will install automatically on first launch.

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CLI Installation

The duck CLI installs automatically when you first launch Rubber Duck.app. You don’t need to install it separately.
The CLI binary is downloaded to: 
~/Library/Application Support/RubberDuck/duck
A symlink is created at: 
/usr/local/bin/duck
Verify the installation: 
duck --help

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CLI Version Matching

When you update Rubber Duck.app, the CLI version is checked automatically. If there’s a mismatch, the correct CLI version is downloaded from GitHub Releases.

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API Key Setup

1

Get your OpenAI API key

Sign up or log in at OpenAI Platform and create an API key.
2

Configure in Rubber Duck

Open Rubber Duck Settings (click the menu bar icon or press Option+Shift+D) and enter your API key.Your API key is stored securely in the macOS Keychain.

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Verify Installation

Check that everything is working: 
duck doctor
This command checks:
  • Rubber Duck daemon is reachable
  • Microphone permission is granted
  • Pi binary is installed and runnable
  • API providers are configured

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Updating

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Homebrew Installations

Update to the latest version: 
brew upgrade --cask rubber-duck

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Direct DMG Installations

Check for updates in the app:
  1. Click the Rubber Duck menu bar icon
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Click Check for Updates…

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Troubleshooting

Try these steps:
  1. Run duck doctor to check system health
  2. Restart the daemon: pkill -f duck-daemon
  3. Relaunch Rubber Duck.app
The CLI should install automatically on first launch. If it’s missing:
  1. Make sure Rubber Duck.app is running
  2. Check if the binary exists at ~/Library/Application Support/RubberDuck/duck
  3. Verify /usr/local/bin is in your PATH
  1. Verify your key is valid at OpenAI Platform
  2. Re-enter the key in Rubber Duck Settings
  3. Make sure you have API credits available

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Next Steps

Quickstart Guide

Learn how to attach a workspace and start your first voice coding session

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