Frequently Asked Questions

AidaIDE is an all-in-one integrated development environment (IDE) designed specifically for IoT development. It combines code editing, device connection (SSH/SFTP), fleet management, over-the-air (OTA) updates, and AI-powered coding assistance in a single application.

Unlike traditional IDEs, AidaIDE is built from the ground up to work with embedded devices and IoT hardware, providing a seamless workflow from writing code to deploying it across your entire device fleet.

AidaIDE is currently available for:

• Windows - 64-bit (Windows 10 and later)
• Linux - AppImage format (compatible with most distributions)

macOS support is coming soon. Sign up for notifications on our download page to be alerted when it becomes available.

Windows:

• Download the installer from our website
• Run the .exe file and follow the installation wizard
• Launch AidaIDE from the Start menu or desktop shortcut

Linux:

• Download the AppImage file
• Make it executable: chmod +x AidaIDE-*.AppImage
• Run the AppImage directly or integrate it with your desktop environment

AidaIDE starts at $7/month on the Single User plan with full access to the core IDE, SSH, and fleet tools. Cancel anytime from your account dashboard.

Annual plans are available at a discount, and Teams plans add multi-seat licensing and live collaboration features.

AidaIDE is designed to work offline for most core functionality. You can:

• Edit code and manage local files without internet
• Connect to local devices on your network
• Use basic AI assistance (with cached models)

An internet connection is required for:

• License activation and validation
• Connecting to remote devices over the internet
• Advanced AI features
• Software updates

AidaIDE supports a wide range of devices that accept SSH connections, including:

• Single-board computers: Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, NVIDIA Jetson
• Network equipment: Ubiquiti, MikroTik, OpenWrt routers
• Embedded Linux devices: Any device running a Linux-based OS with SSH
• Development boards: ESP32 (via serial), Arduino (via serial)
• Cloud instances: AWS EC2, DigitalOcean Droplets, etc.

Adding a new SSH connection is simple:

• Click the "+" button in the Connections panel
• Enter your device's hostname or IP address
• Specify the SSH port (default is 22)
• Enter your username and password, or select an SSH key
• Click "Connect" to establish the connection

AidaIDE will save your connection for future use. You can organize connections into groups for easier management.

Yes! AidaIDE fully supports SSH key authentication, which is more secure than password-based login.

To use SSH keys:

• When adding a connection, select "SSH Key" as the authentication method
• Browse to select your private key file (e.g., id_rsa or id_ed25519)
• If your key has a passphrase, you'll be prompted to enter it

AidaIDE supports RSA, ED25519, and ECDSA key formats.

AidaIDE includes special support for legacy network devices:

Ubiquiti devices:

• Use the default SSH port (22)
• Older EdgeOS devices may require enabling SSH in the web interface first
• AidaIDE auto-detects the shell environment

MikroTik RouterOS:

• Enable SSH service in the router settings
• Use the admin username (not "admin+" format)
• AidaIDE handles the RouterOS-specific command syntax

For devices with non-standard configurations, check the connection advanced settings for SSH options.

Connection drops can happen for various reasons. Here are some solutions:

• Enable keep-alive: In connection settings, enable "Send keep-alive packets" to prevent timeout disconnections
• Check network stability: Verify your network connection is stable
• Adjust timeout values: Increase the connection timeout in advanced settings
• Check firewall rules: Ensure your firewall isn't blocking persistent connections
• Device-side settings: Check the SSH server configuration on your device for timeout settings

AidaIDE will automatically attempt to reconnect when a connection drops unexpectedly.

The Single User plan ($7/mo or $65/yr) covers the everyday IDE:

• Up to 5 device connections
• Full SSH/SFTP file browser
• Code editor with syntax highlighting
• OTA update system (opt-in)
• Standard AI coding assistance

The Teams plan ($30/mo or $300/yr) adds unlimited device connections, the fleet management dashboard, live collaboration, and priority support. AI Hierarchy add-ons are available on top of either plan.

Hobbyist ($9/month):

• Up to 5 device connections
• SSH/SFTP file browser
• Code editor with syntax highlighting
• Basic AI assistance
• Community support

Professional ($19/month):

• Unlimited device connections
• Fleet management dashboard
• OTA update system
• Advanced AI coding assistant
• Priority email support
• Team collaboration tools

Fleet Management (Professional plan) lets you manage multiple devices from a single dashboard:

• Device grouping: Organize devices by location, project, or custom tags
• Bulk operations: Execute commands or deploy updates to multiple devices at once
• Status monitoring: View real-time status, health metrics, and logs from all devices
• Scheduled tasks: Set up recurring maintenance tasks or updates
• Alerts: Get notified when devices go offline or encounter errors

Over-the-Air (OTA) updates let you deploy software to devices remotely:

• Package creation: Bundle your code and configuration into update packages
• Staged rollouts: Deploy to a subset of devices first, then expand
• Version management: Track which version is running on each device
• Rollback support: Quickly revert to a previous version if issues arise
• Progress tracking: Monitor update status across your fleet in real-time

Devices must be online and connected for OTA updates to apply.

Raspberry Pi: Full support via SSH. Connect, edit files, deploy code, and manage your Pi remotely.

ESP32: Connect via serial port for programming and monitoring. AidaIDE integrates with ESP-IDF and PlatformIO toolchains.

Arduino: Serial connection support for uploading sketches and monitoring serial output. Works with the Arduino CLI.

AidaIDE auto-detects common development boards and suggests appropriate configurations.

After purchasing a license, you'll receive a license key via email. To activate:

• Open AidaIDE and go to Help > Activate License
• Enter your license key in the dialog
• Click "Activate" - you'll need an internet connection for this step
• Once activated, you'll see your plan status in the About dialog

Your license is tied to your account, not your computer, making it easy to transfer if needed.

Each license allows activation on up to 2 computers simultaneously. This covers typical scenarios like a desktop and laptop.

If you need to use AidaIDE on more machines, you can:

• Deactivate on one computer to free up a slot (Help > Deactivate License)
• Purchase additional licenses for team members
• Contact us about team/enterprise plans for larger organizations

When your 14-day trial expires:

• AidaIDE will prompt you to choose a plan
• You won't lose any saved connections or settings
• You can continue using AidaIDE in a limited mode (view-only) until you subscribe

We'll send you a reminder email before your trial ends so you have time to decide.

Yes, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If you're not satisfied with AidaIDE for any reason, contact our support team within 30 days of your purchase for a full refund.

To request a refund, email us at support@aidaide.app with your license key or order number.

Yes! We offer custom plans for teams and enterprises that include:

• Volume licensing discounts
• Centralized license management
• Priority support with dedicated account manager
• Custom training and onboarding
• On-premise deployment options

Contact us at enterprise@aidaide.app to discuss your team's needs.

If AidaIDE won't start, try these steps:

• Restart your computer: A simple restart often resolves startup issues
• Check system requirements: Ensure you're running a supported OS version
• Run as administrator: Right-click and select "Run as administrator" (Windows)
• Check antivirus: Some antivirus software may block AidaIDE - add an exception
• Reinstall: Uninstall, download the latest version, and reinstall
• Clear settings: Delete the config folder (backup first) and restart

If none of these work, check the log files in the AidaIDE data folder and contact support.

Connection failures can have several causes:

• Verify credentials: Double-check username, password, and hostname
• Check network: Ensure the device is online and reachable (try ping)
• Verify SSH is enabled: SSH service must be running on the target device
• Check port: Confirm the SSH port (default 22) is correct and open
• Firewall rules: Check both local and device firewalls
• Key format: If using SSH keys, ensure the key format is supported

Enable verbose logging in connection settings to see detailed error messages.

If files won't save to a remote device:

• Check permissions: Ensure your user has write access to the directory
• Disk space: Verify the device has available storage space
• Connection status: The connection may have dropped - check the status indicator
• File locks: Another process may have the file locked
• Read-only filesystem: Some devices mount filesystems as read-only

Check the output panel for specific error messages that can help identify the issue.

We appreciate bug reports! To report an issue:

• Go to Help > Report a Bug in AidaIDE
• This will open our issue tracker with system info pre-filled
• Describe the issue, steps to reproduce, and expected behavior
• Attach log files if relevant (Help > Open Log Folder)

You can also email bugs@aidaide.app or submit issues on our GitHub repository.

There are several ways to get help with AidaIDE:

• Documentation: Comprehensive guides at docs.aidaide.app
• Community Forum: Ask questions and share tips with other users
• Discord: Join our Discord server for real-time chat with the community
• Email Support: support@aidaide.app (priority support for Professional users)
• Video Tutorials: Step-by-step tutorials on our YouTube channel

Professional plan users receive priority email support with faster response times.