Installation

System Requirements

Before installing DBWillow, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Windows: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• macOS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Linux: Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, or other modern distributions
• RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB recommended)
• Disk Space: 200MB free space

Windows Installation

Step 1: Download the Installer

1. Visit the Download page on the DBWillow website
2. Click the "Download for Windows" button
3. The installer file (.exe) will download to your computer

Step 2: Run the Installer

1. Locate the downloaded .exe file (usually in your Downloads folder)
2. Double-click the installer to launch it
3. If Windows shows a security warning, click "More info" then "Run anyway"
4. Follow the installation wizard:
   • Accept the license agreement
   • Choose installation location (default is recommended)
   • Select additional options if desired
   • Click "Install"

Step 3: Launch DBWillow

1. After installation completes, click "Finish"
2. DBWillow will launch automatically
3. You can also launch it from the Start Menu by searching for "DBWillow"

macOS Installation

Step 1: Download the DMG

1. Visit the Download page on the DBWillow website
2. Click the "Download for macOS" button
3. The DMG file will download to your computer

Step 2: Install DBWillow

1. Open the downloaded .dmg file
2. Drag the DBWillow icon to the Applications folder
3. Open Applications and double-click DBWillow
4. If macOS shows a security warning:
   • Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy
   • Click "Open Anyway" next to the DBWillow message

Step 3: Launch DBWillow

1. DBWillow is now installed in your Applications folder
2. You can launch it from Applications or add it to your Dock

Linux Installation

Step 1: Download the .deb package

1. Visit the Download page on the DBWillow website
2. Click the "Download for Linux" button
3. The Debian package (.deb) will download to your computer

Step 2: Install the package

From a terminal:

sudo dpkg -i DBWillow-*.deb

If you see dependency errors, fix them with:

sudo apt-get install -f

Step 3: Launch DBWillow

• Open it from your applications menu, or
• Run dbwillow from a terminal (if your distro adds it to PATH)

Supported distributions

• Debian, Ubuntu, and other Debian-based distributions
• For other distros, you may need to convert the package (e.g., with alien) or wait for a native format.

First Launch

When you first launch DBWillow:

1. You'll see the welcome screen
2. Your 14-day free trial starts automatically
3. You can start creating database connections immediately
4. No account required for the trial period

Troubleshooting

Windows: "Windows protected your PC" Warning

This is normal for unsigned applications. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" to proceed.

macOS: "DBWillow cannot be opened" Error

1. Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy
2. Click the lock icon and enter your password
3. Click "Open Anyway" next to the DBWillow message

Linux: Permission Denied or "No software to install this type of file"

AppImages are not installed like .deb packages - they're standalone executables. Follow these steps:

1. Make it executable:

   chmod +x DBWillow-*.AppImage
   

2. For Ubuntu 22.04+, install libfuse2:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install libfuse2
   

3. Run it from terminal:

   ./DBWillow-*.AppImage
   

Note: The "no software to install this type of file" message is normal - AppImages don't need installation, just execute permissions.

App Won't Launch

• Check that your system meets the minimum requirements
• Try restarting your computer
• Download the latest version from the website
• Check for error messages in the terminal (Linux) or Event Viewer (Windows)

Next Steps

Now that DBWillow is installed, learn how to create your first database connection.