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Desktop App

The desktop app is the primary CiteTraverse surface. It has local filesystem access and stores projects as ordinary directories.

Download​

Download the latest desktop release from GitHub:

  • macOS Apple Silicon: choose the macOS aarch64 .dmg asset.
  • macOS Intel: choose the macOS x64 or x86_64 .dmg asset.
  • Windows: choose the .msi installer.
  • Linux: choose the .AppImage or .deb asset for your distribution.

Welcome Page​

When no project is open, the desktop welcome page offers New project, Open project, and recent-project shortcuts. Recent projects are stored by the desktop runtime so you can return to local review folders quickly.

Project Files​

A project contains BibTeX box files plus JSON state for graph edges, queue entries, metrics, settings, and event history. This layout keeps the review portable and inspectable outside the app.

Because the files are ordinary project data, you can back up a review folder, inspect BibTeX boxes outside CiteTraverse, and keep long-running literature reviews separate from browser site data.

Desktop-Only Capabilities​

  • Create and open local project folders.
  • Import seed BibTeX files from disk.
  • Open local PDFs from the paper detail pane.
  • Reveal project folders and keep review data in ordinary files.
  • Persist recent projects through the desktop host.

When To Use It​

Use the desktop app when you want the full local-first workflow: direct access to project directories, PDFs, BibTeX files, and long-lived workspaces that can be inspected or versioned outside CiteTraverse.

The desktop app is also the better choice for serious reviews with large libraries, repeated sessions, or PDFs stored beside the bibliography. Use the browser app for demos, lightweight exploration, or when installation is not available.