Frequently Asked Questions

AidaIDE is a Windows SSH/SFTP workspace (macOS and Linux in progress) that replaces PuTTY + WinSCP with one window: an AES-256 credential vault, tabbed terminals, dual-pane SFTP, and LCOT (Local Chain of Thought).

The core SSH/SFTP workspace is agentless by default — the remote host needs only standard SSH/SFTP. No agent install is required for terminal, SFTP, and LCOT on a normal host, including Raspberry Pi Zero where VS Code Remote cannot run. The core is free forever; create a free account to download. Optional Pro ($19/mo or $190/yr) adds the AI suite.

An optional Lite agent (port 5050) is opt-in for fleet workflows — not required for the free SSH/SFTP workspace. Optional Lite-micro (aida-lite/micro) is a MicroPython on-device web IDE on MCUs — distinct from Lite and from Hardware Lab. Hardware Lab Run on Device and Record may push a tiny ephemeral HIL helper (hil_device_agent) over SSH/SFTP for that run; it is not a standing Lite, Lite-micro, or “Hardware Lab agent”.

The core SSH/SFTP workspace is agentless: any host with standard SSH/SFTP works.

Stable: Raspberry Pi (all models), NVIDIA Jetson (Nano, Xavier, Orin), BeagleBone, Orange Pi, any Linux SBC, and ESP32.
Beta: ESP8266.

An optional Lite agent (port 5050) is opt-in for fleet — not required for terminal, SFTP, and LCOT. Optional Lite-micro (aida-lite/micro) is a MicroPython on-device web IDE on MCUs — not a standing Hardware Lab agent.

Create a free account to download AidaIDE Full on Windows (macOS and Linux in progress). You need a PC and at least one SSH/SFTP host. The core workspace uses standard SSH/SFTP only — no agent and no paid subscription. Pro is optional if you use the AI suite. If you later deploy optional AidaIDE Lite, its web interface defaults to port 5050.

Walkthrough: /docs/getting-started — vault unlock, main window, and first-run wizards.

Open AidaIDE Full → Fleet → Deploy Lite.... Enter the Pi's IP address, username (pi), and password (raspberry by default — change it!). Click Deploy. AidaIDE installs dependencies, configures the agent, and starts the service.

Access the web IDE at http://<pi-ip>:5050. CLI deploy also works: python lite_deployer.py deploy --host 192.168.1.50 --user pi --password raspberry.

ESP devices can use optional Lite-micro (aida-lite/micro) — a MicroPython on-device web IDE. Prerequisites: MicroPython flashed on the ESP32 (not Arduino firmware) and a USB cable that supports data (many charge-only cables don't). Lite-micro is distinct from Aida Lite (port 5050) and from Hardware Lab's ephemeral HIL helper.

In AidaIDE Full → Fleet Manager → Deploy Micro (Lite-Micro), pick the serial port (COM3 on Windows, /dev/ttyUSB0 on Linux/macOS), and click Deploy. If detection fails, hold the BOOT button while plugging in USB.

Walk through these in order:

1. Device reachable? ping 192.168.1.50 should respond.
2. SSH running? sudo systemctl status ssh; start with sudo systemctl start ssh if it's down.
3. Right IP? DHCP can shuffle addresses; confirm with hostname -I on the device.
4. Firewall? sudo ufw allow 22 (SSH) and sudo ufw allow 5050 (AidaIDE Lite web UI).

The device's SSH identity changed — usually after an OS reinstall or a different device taking the same IP. Remove the stale key, then reconnect:

ssh-keygen -R 192.168.1.50

Replace the IP with your device's. Your next SSH attempt will accept the new key.

Auto-discovery uses mDNS, which needs both devices on the same subnet. Confirm it's working:

avahi-browse -a on Linux
dns-sd -B _aidaide._tcp on macOS

If your network blocks mDNS (common on corporate / segmented networks), fall back to manual IP entry — everything else works the same.

1. Python version? Requires 3.7+. Check with python3 --version.
2. Missing deps? pip3 install flask flask-socketio psutil.
3. Port 5050 in use? sudo lsof -i :5050; kill the holding process.
4. Run manually to see the error: cd ~/AidaIDE/aida-lite && python3 server.py.

No. The waitlist and beta landing pages are archived. Old bookmarks to /notify and /beta permanently redirect to pricing.

There is no waitlist. AidaIDE ships today as a 1.0 release candidate (1.0.0-rc15) for Windows — create a free account to download. The SSH/SFTP IDE core is free forever; optional Pro (AI suite) is $19/mo or $190/yr; Teams Pro is $70/mo or $700/yr. macOS and Linux builds are in progress. We reserve “generally available” until a full GA release.

Open AidaIDE Full → Help → Activate License. Paste the key from your purchase confirmation email. AidaIDE stores it locally, verifies with the license server on launch, and keeps a 7-day offline grace period if the server is unreachable.

You fall back to the Free tier — never a lockout. The free core has no expiry and no trial clock, so the editor, file browser, terminal, SSH engine, saved devices, LCOT, and workspaces keep working exactly as before. Your saved devices, credentials, and settings carry over untouched; only the Pro-only features stop being available.

The same applies if the licence server can't be reached: AidaIDE fails open rather than locking you out of work you already had.

Yes. A Pro license can activate on up to 3 of your machines. Each device gets a per-machine slot you can view and revoke from your dashboard. Teams Pro and Enterprise licenses support multiple concurrent users — contact us for details.

The Hierarchy Builder ships in AidaIDE Pro — $19/mo or $190/yr. It is not a separate add-on (ignore older $12/mo Hierarchy or $7/mo Single User copy). The SSH + SFTP IDE stays free forever.

Full pricing & access FAQ: AI Agent Hierarchy pricing & access. Product overview: /ai-hierarchy.

Activate Pro via Help → Activate License, then AI → Agent Hierarchy Builder (Ctrl+Shift+H). If it stays greyed out, check device slots on your dashboard or see the access FAQ.

AidaIDE checks for updates automatically. When one is available you'll see a notification — click Update Now, or go to Help → Check for Updates manually. AidaIDE downloads the new version, verifies a SHA-256 hash, swaps the files via its built-in updater, and restarts.