# Install

DesktopBeast™ v1.0 Early Access is distributed as a ZIP package. Extract the ZIP to a folder, then run DesktopBeast.exe. A full Windows installer is planned for a later release.

## Requirements

- Windows desktop environment
- .NET Desktop Runtime compatible with this build if not already installed

## Steps

1. Unzip the package into a normal folder.
2. Run `DesktopBeast.cmd` for the main capture app.
3. Run `ArchiveBeast Library.cmd` to open the library directly.
4. Optional: run `Create Shortcuts.ps1` from the package folder to create `.lnk` launchers with the DesktopBeast icon.
5. If Windows SmartScreen warns, review the package source and choose whether to run the unsigned early-access build.

## BrowserBeast Companion

BrowserBeast™ v1.0.1 Freeware is included as a companion browser extension inside the DesktopBeast ZIP. It is loaded separately in Chrome or Edge as an unpacked extension.

BrowserBeast captures browser/web artifacts. DesktopBeast captures desktop/application/window artifacts. ArchiveBeast Library can review BrowserBeast Markdown captures when the Browser shelf is pointed at the folder containing those captures. BrowserBeast does not automatically sync into ArchiveBeast yet.

## Hotkey

The capture hotkey is:

```text
Ctrl + Shift + D
```

Expected behavior:

- User is working in another app or window.
- User presses `Ctrl + Shift + D`.
- DesktopBeast captures the active context.
- The Capture Screen opens full screen.
- The Capture Screen includes buttons for DTB Main Screen and Open Capture Library.

Stable DesktopBeast-owned windows such as ArchiveBeast Library, Settings, About/Notices, and the Main Window can also be intentionally captured with the hotkey. Transient capture/completion windows are blocked by the self-capture guard and produce readable skipped diagnostics.

If another app has already registered this hotkey, DesktopBeast will show a hotkey-unavailable message and manual capture remains available.

## Closing DesktopBeast

The window close button hides DesktopBeast to the system tray so the hotkey can keep working. Use the `Exit` button or tray menu `Exit DesktopBeast` command to fully quit.
