1. Getting Started

MountainDesk Ultimate is a multiplatform desktop control center for power users. It lets you chat with AI agents, execute system commands, automate browser workflows, schedule recurring tasks, switch between multiple AI models, and manage optional cloud-backed workspaces from Windows or macOS.

Installation

  1. Sign up for a plan at mountaindevs.com/MountainDesk/Landing#pricing. Choose Starter (Free), Professional (€19/month), or Enterprise (€49/user/month).
  2. After sign-up, you will receive setup instructions and platform-specific download links via email.
  3. Install MountainDesk Ultimate on Windows or macOS and launch the desktop application.
  4. On first launch you will be prompted to enter a license key or continue with the free Starter tier.
Tip: Use elevated permissions only when a workflow needs system-level access. On Windows this may mean "Run as administrator"; on macOS this may require granting Terminal or automation permissions.

2. First Launch & Initial Setup

MountainDesk main window - model selector, working folder, flow runner, actions, and agent chat The main workspace - choose a model, set the working folder, run saved flows, create state anchors, and chat with your selected agent in one desktop window.

When MountainDesk Ultimate starts for the first time, the following sequence executes automatically:

  1. License check - The app checks for an existing local license file in the MountainDesk application data folder. If none is found, the License dialog opens. You can activate a Pro key or dismiss it to use the free tier.
  2. Model loading - The app loads your saved models from models.dat. If no models file exists, a default model (gpt-4.1 via GitHub Copilot) is inserted automatically so you always have at least one model available.
  3. Agent initialization - Four default agents are created: Assistant, FileSurfer, Commander, and WebSurfer. These can be customized later.
  4. Options loading - Timeout, theme, confirmation settings, and working folder are restored from app-options.json.
  5. Cloud workspace sync - If cloud features are enabled for your account, workspace state, prompts, and shared automations are synchronized securely.
  6. Welcome message - The chat window displays: "Welcome to MountainDesk. Chat with the assistant, or ask for system actions."
  7. Services start - The job scheduler, Slack integration, and Telegram bot are initialized (if configured).

What if no model is configured?

The app guarantees at least one model is always available through its EnsureDefaultModels mechanism. If your models.dat file is empty or missing, the default gpt-4.1 model (pointing to the GitHub Copilot inference endpoint) is auto-inserted. However, this default model ships with an empty API key. If you attempt to send a message without configuring a valid API key, the request will fail and you will see an error in the chat output.

Important: After first launch, open Model → Manage Models (or press the Models menu) to add at least one model with a valid API key. See the Model Configuration section for details.

3. Model Configuration

MountainDesk Ultimate supports multiple AI models simultaneously. You can switch between them at any time using the model dropdown in the toolbar, and cloud-backed workflows can store model preferences per workspace or automation.

Model setup is now best understood from the live toolbar workflow: choose a saved model from the main window, or open Model → Manage Models to add another provider and make it available everywhere in the app.

Adding a Model

  1. Click Model in the menu bar, then choose Manage Models.
  2. In the Models dialog, fill in the following fields:
    • Model Name - A display name, e.g. gpt-4.1, claude-3-opus, llama-3.
    • URL - The API endpoint. Examples:
      • OpenAI: https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions
      • GitHub Copilot: https://models.github.ai/inference/chat/completions
      • Anthropic: https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages
      • Local (Ollama, LM Studio): http://127.0.0.1:11434/v1/chat/completions
      • Cloud gateway: your hosted OpenAI-compatible endpoint or team inference proxy
    • API Key - Your secret API key from the provider. Leave empty for local models that don't require authentication.
  3. Click Add to save the model.
  4. Select the new model from the dropdown in the main window to start using it.

Provider Auto-Detection

The provider is automatically determined from the model name:

Model Settings

SettingDefaultDescription
Max Tokens32,000Maximum tokens in the AI response. Higher values allow longer outputs but cost more.
Temperature0.1Controls randomness. Low values (0.1-0.3) give precise, deterministic answers. Higher values (0.7-1.0) add creativity.

Auto-Route Models (Cost Optimization)

When enabled in Options, simple messages (under 200 characters with no commands) are automatically routed to a cheaper model (e.g., gpt-3.5-turbo) to save API costs, while complex tasks continue to use your primary model.

4. Supported AI Providers & Models

OpenAI

All OpenAI chat models are supported, including:

Endpoint: https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions

API Key: Obtain from platform.openai.com

Anthropic (Claude)

Claude models use a dedicated Anthropic API integration:

Endpoint: https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages

API Key: Obtain from console.anthropic.com

GitHub Copilot Models

If you have a GitHub Copilot subscription, you can use the GitHub AI inference endpoint alongside any other configured cloud or local model:

Endpoint: https://models.github.ai/inference/chat/completions

API Key: Your GitHub personal access token with Copilot scope.

Local / Self-Hosted Models

Any model that exposes an OpenAI-compatible API works with MountainDesk:

Tip: For local models, leave the API Key field empty. Make sure the local server is running before you send messages.

5. GitHub Copilot Integration

MountainDesk offers native integration with GitHub Copilot. If you have a GitHub Copilot subscription, you can use it to power your AI agents without any additional API costs.

Setting Up Copilot

  1. Open Model → Manage Models.
  2. Add a new model with the name gpt-4.1 (or any Copilot-supported model like claude-sonnet-4-20250514).
  3. Set the URL to: https://models.github.ai/inference/chat/completions
  4. For the API Key, use your GitHub Personal Access Token with the Copilot scope enabled.
  5. Click Add and select the model from the toolbar dropdown.

Supported Copilot Models

The GitHub AI inference endpoint supports a wide range of models through your Copilot subscription:

Auto-Detection

MountainDesk automatically detects Copilot endpoints. When the URL contains models.github.ai, the app switches to the Copilot provider pipeline, which handles authentication and response parsing optimized for the GitHub inference API.

Tip: The default model shipped with MountainDesk already points to the GitHub Copilot endpoint. You only need to add a valid GitHub token to get started immediately.

6. AI Image Generation

Professional & Enterprise

MountainDesk can generate images directly from the chat interface using AI image generation providers. Create diagrams, mockups, visual assets, and creative content without leaving the app.

Supported Providers

How It Works

  1. Ask your AI agent to generate an image in natural language, e.g. "Generate a diagram showing the deployment pipeline".
  2. The agent produces a generateimage command with your prompt and parameters.
  3. MountainDesk sends the request to the configured image provider.
  4. The generated image is displayed inline in the chat and saved to your working folder.

Configuration

Configure image generation in Options → Image Generation:

Example Prompts

Generate a professional flowchart showing user registration, email verification, and account activation steps.

Creative asset:

Create a modern logo concept for a tech startup called "NovaByte" - minimal, geometric, blue and white color scheme.
Note: Image generation requires a Professional or Enterprise plan. Starter plan users will see a prompt to upgrade when attempting to generate images.

7. Prompting Guide & Best Practices

MountainDesk builds a system prompt from your Profile and Personality fields, plus agent-specific instructions. Good prompting dramatically improves results.

Profile & Personality

The Profile field (default: "Desktop automation assistant for Windows and macOS") tells the AI what it is. The Personality field (default: "Direct, reliable, and concise") shapes its tone. These are injected into every system prompt.

Use CaseSuggested ProfileSuggested Personality
General automation Desktop automation assistant for Windows and macOS Direct, reliable, and concise
Software development Senior software engineer specializing in C#, Python, and DevOps Thorough, precise, explains reasoning
Data analysis Data analyst working with CSV, Excel, and SQL databases Analytical, detail-oriented, uses tables
IT support IT administrator managing cross-platform desktops, services, and user provisioning Step-by-step, patient, clear
Creative writing Creative writing assistant for blogs, emails, and marketing Friendly, engaging, adapts tone to audience

Effective Prompt Patterns

Be Specific About the Action

Good:

List all .log files in C:\Logs that were modified in the last 7 days and delete any larger than 100MB.

Weak:

Clean up my logs.
Use Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Search for all .csv files in D:\Reports
2. Read the first file and show me the column headers
3. Create a summary of the file counts by extension
Provide Context When Needed
I'm working on a Node.js project in D:\Projects\myapp. Check if node_modules exists.
If not, run "npm install". Then run "npm test" and show me the results.
Ask for Confirmation Before Destructive Actions
Find all temporary files in C:\Temp older than 30 days. Show me the list first before deleting anything.

Prompt Tips for Command Generation

8. Agent Team System

MountainDesk uses a team of specialized agents. Each agent has a name, description (used as system prompt context), and set of aliases. The AI can route tasks to different agents based on the nature of the request.

Default Agents

AgentAliasesRole
Assistant assistant General-purpose conversational AI. Chats naturally, includes JSON commands only when explicitly asked or when an action is needed.
FileSurfer filesurfer, file surfer Handles all file and folder operations - reading, writing, searching, copying, moving, and scanning directories.
Commander commander Orchestrates complex multi-step tasks. Decides which agent should act next and coordinates the workflow.
WebSurfer websurfer, web surfer Web navigation, search, site analysis, form filling, and browser automation.

Customizing Agents

Open Agents from the menu to access the Agent Settings dialog. For each agent you can customize:

Agent definitions are persisted in agent-settings.json in the application directory.

How Agent Routing Works

When the AI produces a JSON response containing an agent field, the app resolves that agent by checking aliases (case-insensitive), switches the active character, and forwards the task description to the selected agent. This allows the Commander agent to delegate file work to FileSurfer, web tasks to WebSurfer, etc.

Example agent routing JSON produced by AI:

{
  "agent": "FileSurfer",
  "description": "Scan the project folder and list all .cs files"
}

9. Command Execution Loop

MountainDesk's core power is its ability to execute commands on your system. When the AI determines that an action is needed, it produces JSON commands. The app parses, confirms (if configured), and executes them - then feeds results back to the AI for analysis.

Execution Flow

  1. You send a message describing what you want done.
  2. The AI analyzes the request and produces one or more JSON commands.
  3. If Read/Write Confirmations are enabled, a dialog asks for your approval.
  4. Commands execute against your system (files, shell, browser, etc.).
  5. Results are captured and sent back to the AI.
  6. The AI analyzes the output and either responds with a summary or issues follow-up commands.
  7. This loop continues for up to 5 rounds per message.

Command Confirmation Dialogs

When confirmations are enabled, a modal dialog appears before each command executes. The dialog clearly identifies the operation so you always know exactly what will happen before you approve it.

What the Dialog Shows
Dialog Choices

The confirmation dialog offers three choices:

Enabling Confirmations

Open Options from the menu. In the General tab you will find two independent toggles:

Both are off by default for a frictionless experience but are recommended for sensitive environments. Read and write confirmations are tracked separately - choosing "Allow All This Run" for writes does not auto-approve reads, and vice versa.

JSON Command Format

Commands are JSON objects with an action field and parameters. They can be sent individually or as arrays:

Single command:

{"action": "readfile", "path": "C:\\project\\readme.md"}

Array of commands:

[
  {"action": "dirlist", "path": "C:\\project"},
  {"action": "readfile", "path": "C:\\project\\config.json"}
]
Note: You never need to write JSON yourself. The AI generates commands automatically based on your natural language requests.

10. Complete Command Reference

Below is every command MountainDesk can execute. You can ask the AI for any of these operations using natural language.

File & Directory Operations

CommandParametersDescription
readfilepathReads file content (max 12,000 characters).
mkfilepath, content?Creates a new file with optional content.
setcontentpath, contentWrites content to a file (overwrites existing).
appendcontentpath, contentAppends content to end of a file.
textreplacepath, search, replaceReplaces text within a file.
rmfilepathDeletes a file.
mkdirpathCreates a directory.
rmdirpathDeletes a directory recursively.
dirlistpath, filter?Lists files in a directory with optional search filter.
scanfolderpathDetailed folder scan: names, sizes, extensions, dates.
copysource, destination, filter?Copies files or folders.
movesource, destination, filter?Moves files or folders.
renamepath, newnameRenames a file or directory.
existspathChecks if a path exists and returns its type.
pwd-Prints current working directory.
getinfopathDetailed file/directory info (size, dates).
zipsource, destinationCreates a zip archive.
unzipsource, destinationExtracts a zip archive.

Search Operations

CommandParametersDescription
findfilepath, pattern, recursive?Finds files by name pattern.
searchinfilepath, query, caseSensitive?Searches for text in a specific file.
searchinfilespath, querySearches text across multiple files in a directory.
foldersizepathCalculates folder size with extension breakdown.

Shell Command Execution

CommandParametersDescription
cmdcommandExecutes a command via cmd.exe.
powershellcommandExecutes a command via PowerShell.

Web & Browser Automation

CommandParametersDescription
openurlurlOpens a URL in the Playwright browser.
websearchquerySearches DuckDuckGo and returns results.
websourceurlGets raw HTML source via HTTP.
readcontenturl, selector?Reads rendered page content (JavaScript included).
clicklinkselector, text?, href?Clicks a link or button on the page.
fillfieldselector, valueFills a form field with a value.
scrollpagedirection?Scrolls the page and returns visible content.
webloginurl, username, passwordLogs into a website (auto-saves credentials).

Credential Management

CommandParametersDescription
savecredentialsite, username, passwordSaves website credentials.
getcredentialsiteRetrieves saved credentials for a site.
listcredentials-Lists all saved credential sites.
deletecredentialsiteDeletes saved credentials.

System Information & Diagnostics

CommandParametersDescription
systeminfo-Shows OS, machine name, memory, processors, RAM.
disks-Lists disk drives with size and free space.
processes-Lists top 50 processes by memory usage.
killprocessname or pidKills a running process.
ipconfig-Shows network / IP configuration.
environmentname?Lists or reads environment variables.
installedapps-Lists installed applications.
screenshotwindow?Takes a screenshot (full desktop or specific window).
ocrwindow?Performs OCR on screen or window content.

Windows Registry

CommandParametersDescription
readregistrykey, value?Reads registry keys and values.
writeregistrykey, value, dataWrites or sets registry values.

System Management

CommandParametersDescription
devicemanager-Opens Device Manager.
taskmanager-Opens Task Manager.
services-Opens Windows Services.
controlpanel-Opens Control Panel.
openpath or titleOpens a program, file, folder, or URL.
openwithpath, applicationOpens a file with a specific application.

Scheduling & Notes

CommandParametersDescription
scheduletitle, prompt, runat, recurrence?Schedules a task for later execution.
listjobs-Lists all scheduled jobs.
canceljobidCancels a scheduled job.
stickynotetitle, content, color?, font?, size?Creates a sticky note window.

MCP & External Integrations

CommandParametersDescription
mcptooltool, arguments?Calls a tool on a connected MCP server.

11. Browser & Web Automation

MountainDesk uses Playwright (Chromium) for all browser automation. The Browser menu button opens a persistent Playwright browser window that the AI can interact with. The WebSurfer agent specializes in web tasks.

Persistent Browser Profile

The Playwright browser uses a persistent profile stored locally. This means cookies, saved passwords, and session data are preserved between launches - you can log in once and stay authenticated for future sessions. Anti-bot-detection measures are applied automatically to reduce the chance of sites flagging the browser as automated.

Opening the Browser

Click Browser in the menu bar to launch a Playwright Chromium window (defaults to Google). If the browser window was previously closed, a fresh instance is created automatically. The AI can also open pages programmatically via the navigate command.

Playwright Automation

Playwright handles JavaScript-heavy sites, login flows, form filling, and more:

Example Web Automation Prompt

Go to https://example.com/login, fill the username field with "admin"
and the password field with "mypassword", then click the Login button.
After login, read the content of the dashboard page and summarize it.
Security: Credentials used in weblogin are auto-saved locally. Use listcredentials and deletecredential to manage stored credentials. Never share your app-options.json or credential storage files.

12. Flow Builder

Professional & Enterprise

The Flow Builder gives MountainDesk a visual automation layer. Instead of retyping the same multi-step orchestration, you can arrange prompt nodes, reusable templates, and command nodes on a canvas, then connect success and failure paths.

Flow Builder canvas - connect prompt, template, and command nodes into reusable automation graphs The Flow Builder canvas lets you combine prompt, template, and command nodes into reusable automation graphs with explicit success and failure branches.

What the Builder Adds

Typical Builder Workflow

  1. Open Builder from the main toolbar.
  2. Load an existing flow or create a new one.
  3. Add nodes such as Prompt, Template, or Commands.
  4. Connect each node's success and failure paths to control the next step.
  5. Save the flow and optionally expose it in the main Flow dropdown or schedule it for later execution.
Best use cases: follow-up loops, QA routines, browser checks, escalation trees, and recurring operator workflows where branching matters more than a single long prompt.

13. Scheduled Jobs

Pro Feature

Schedule AI tasks to run automatically at specified times. Jobs can be one-time or recurring, and each can use a different model or working directory.

Scheduled Jobs manager - create, edit, and monitor recurring AI prompt or flow tasks The Scheduled Jobs manager - choose prompt or flow mode, route work through a model and agent, define recurrence, and decide how the main workspace should react on success or failure.

Creating a Job

  1. Open Jobs from the menu or press Ctrl+J.
  2. Enter a Title and the Prompt (the message sent to AI when the job runs).
  3. Set the Date using the calendar dropdown picker, and the Time using the time spinner.
  4. Choose a Recurrence: Once, Daily, Hourly, or Custom interval (minutes).
  5. Optionally override the AI model and working directory for this specific job.
  6. Click Save.

Recurrence Options

ModeBehavior
OnceRuns one time, then marked as Finished.
DailyRe-schedules every 24 hours after completion.
HourlyRe-schedules every 60 minutes after completion.
CustomRe-schedules every N minutes (you specify the interval).

Job Execution

The scheduler checks for due jobs every 10 seconds. When a job fires, it sends the prompt to the AI, executes any resulting commands, captures all output into a report, and marks the job as Finished or Failed. If the main window is minimized, a tray notification appears.

Parallel execution: Multiple jobs can run at the same time - each job gets its own isolated AI conversation and history, so they never interfere with each other or with your active chat session.

Output isolation: Scheduled jobs do not inject messages into the main chat window. All progress and results are captured in the job's report. The main window shows only a brief ▶ Started / ✓ Completed / ✗ Failed banner per job so your conversation is never disrupted.

Live progress: Open a job's report while it is still running (double-click the job or click View Report) to watch progress appear in real time. The report window stays open and updates automatically as each step completes. When the job finishes, the final formatted report replaces the live stream.

Fresh start on every run: Each execution - including re-runs of recurring jobs and manual Run Now - starts with a cleared report so old output never mixes with new results.

Jobs are persisted in scheduled-jobs.json and survive application restarts.

Clearing Finished Jobs

Click the Clear Finished button in the Scheduled Jobs dialog to remove all completed and failed jobs from the list. A confirmation prompt appears before deletion.

Example Scheduled Job Prompts

Daily disk cleanup:

Check disk space on all drives. If any drive is below 10% free space,
find and list temporary files older than 7 days in C:\Temp and C:\Windows\Temp.

Hourly log monitor:

Read the last 50 lines of C:\Logs\app.log. If any line contains "ERROR"
or "CRITICAL", create a sticky note with the error summary.

14. Ghost Mode & Daily Memory Files

Professional & Enterprise

Ghost Mode lets MountainDesk keep working in the background. Instead of waiting for manual prompts, the app can monitor folders, watch application changes, react to system events, and launch AI-guided actions automatically.

What Ghost Mode Can Watch

Configuring Ghost Mode

  1. Open Options and go to the Ghost Mode tab.
  2. Enable Ghost Mode and choose whether it should run minimized and show notifications.
  3. Set the polling interval for trigger checks.
  4. Add one or more triggers and define an Action Prompt for each trigger.
  5. Save your settings. Ghost Mode loads from ghost-mode.json on startup.
Risk-free automation: Stop fearing the "Enter" key. MountainDesk creates instant system state anchors before executing complex tasks. Mistake? No problem. One click, and you're back to exactly where you were.

Daily Memory Files

MountainDesk can organize persistent memory into date-stamped daily files so each workday has a clean, reviewable trail. That keeps context tidy and makes recurring automation easier to audit.

Example Trigger Ideas

Folder watcher:

When a new CSV lands in D:\Inbox\Reports, inspect the headers, summarize the contents, and write the summary into today's memory file.

System event:

If free disk space drops below 2048 MB, create a recovery plan, save the findings to today's dated memory file, and notify me with the cleanup steps.

15. Working Folder Scope

The Working Folder feature confines AI operations to a specific directory. When set, the AI is instructed to prefer paths inside that folder and use it as the base path for any file operations where an explicit path is not given.

Setting the Working Folder

  1. Click the Browse button next to the working folder field in the toolbar.
  2. Select a directory from the folder picker.
  3. The status bar updates to show the current scope.

To clear the scope, click the Clear button. The setting is persisted across sessions in app-options.json.

How Scope Affects Behavior

The working folder is saved in app-options.json and restored on next launch.

16. Sticky Notes

MountainDesk can create floating sticky note windows. Notes persist across sessions and can be created manually (via Ctrl+N) or by the AI during command execution.

Ask the AI to create a note:

Create a sticky note titled "Meeting Agenda" with the content:
- Review Q1 results
- Plan Q2 sprint
- Assign new team leads

17. Slack & Telegram Integrations

Pro Feature

Slack

Connect MountainDesk to your Slack workspace. Messages sent to the MountainDesk bot are processed through the AI, and responses are posted back to the channel.

Configure in Options → Slack section:

Telegram

Connect a Telegram bot for mobile AI access:

Both integrations route messages through the same AI pipeline and command execution system.

18. MCP Protocol Integration

MountainDesk supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting to external tool servers. MCP lets you extend MountainDesk's capabilities without increasing token costs - context gathering and tool execution are delegated to MCP-compatible servers.

What is MCP?

MCP is an open standard that allows AI assistants to discover and invoke tools exposed by external servers. Instead of feeding large amounts of context into the AI model (which increases token costs), the AI can call MCP tools to retrieve only the specific data it needs.

Configuring MCP

  1. Open Options from the menu.
  2. Navigate to the Socket tab.
  3. Enter the MCP Server URL (e.g., http://localhost:3000/mcp).
  4. Check Enable MCP.
  5. Click Test MCP to verify the connection and discover available tools.
  6. Click Save.

How It Works

When MCP is enabled, MountainDesk connects to the MCP server on startup and discovers available tools. The AI can then invoke these tools via the mcptool command:

Example MCP tool invocation by AI:

{"action": "mcptool", "tool": "get_weather", "arguments": {"city": "London"}}

Results from MCP tools are fed back to the AI for analysis, just like any other command output.

Tip: MCP is ideal for connecting to databases, APIs, code analysis tools, and other services that would otherwise require large prompt contexts.

19. WebSocket Bridge

MountainDesk can connect to a WebSocket server for real-time bidirectional communication with external tools and services.

Configuring WebSocket

  1. Open Options from the menu.
  2. Navigate to the Socket tab.
  3. Enter the WebSocket URL (e.g., wss://your-server.com/ws).
  4. Click Test Connection to verify connectivity.
  5. Click Save.

How It Works

When a WebSocket URL is configured, MountainDesk connects on startup and begins listening for messages. Incoming messages appear in the chat window. The AI can process and respond to WebSocket messages through the same command execution pipeline.

Messages use a JSON envelope format with type and data fields for structured communication.

Use cases: Connect to automation servers, IoT dashboards, CI/CD pipelines, or custom tools that expose a WebSocket interface.

20. Plan Comparison

MountainDesk offers three plans to fit individual professionals, power users, and enterprise teams. Start with the free Starter tier and upgrade when you need more.

FeatureStarter (Free)Professional (€19/month)Enterprise (€49/user/month)
AI messages per day4UnlimitedUnlimited
Scheduled jobs per day2UnlimitedUnlimited
All AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, local)YesYesYes
System commands (files, shell, etc.)YesYesYes
Agent team systemYesYesYes
Dark mode and themesYesYesYes
Sticky notesYesYesYes
Drag and drop file attachmentsYesYesYes
GitHub Copilot integration--YesYes
AI image generation--YesYes
Web / browser automation--YesYes
Ghost Mode background triggers--YesYes
Date-based daily memory files--YesYes
Instant system state anchors--YesYes
Conversation history and memory--YesYes
Slack integration--YesYes
Telegram integration--YesYes
MCP protocol support--YesYes
Priority support--YesYes
Team seats11Unlimited
SSO and audit logs----Yes
On-premise deployment----Yes
Custom agent templates----Yes
WebSocket bridge----Yes
Dedicated support and SLA----Yes

How the Daily Limit Works (Starter)

The Starter tier tracks usage locally with tamper-resistant cryptographic verification. Each day resets at midnight UTC. When you approach the limit, the status bar shows remaining messages (e.g., "Starter: 2/4 messages used today"). When the limit is reached, the Upgrade dialog appears. You can subscribe via Stripe to Professional (€19/month) or Enterprise (€49/user/month), or enter a license key to unlock unlimited access. Scheduled tasks are also limited to 2 per 24-hour period on the Starter tier.

21. Licensing & Activation

MountainDesk uses a license key to unlock paid features. Subscribe at mountaindevs.com for Professional (€19/month) or Enterprise (€49/user/month) via Stripe, then activate in-app.

Activating Your License

  1. Open the License dialog from the menu bar (or when prompted at first launch).
  2. Enter your subscription email or the license key received after checkout.
  3. The app validates your subscription against the server and activates Pro features.

Expiration & Renewal

The status bar shows your remaining Pro days. When a license expires, the app reverts to the free tier with daily limits (4 messages, 2 scheduled tasks). Your Stripe subscription renews automatically - simply keep your subscription active to maintain Pro access. Manage or cancel your subscription anytime from the product page.

22. Options Reference

Open Options from the menu to configure application-wide settings. All options are saved to app-options.json.

MountainDesk options window - general settings, integrations, and working folder management The Options window centralizes general runtime settings, provider integrations, audio and channel tabs, Ghost Mode, and the list of working folders used across the app.
OptionDefaultDescription
AI Timeout (ms)120,000 (2 min)Maximum time to wait for an AI response. Range: 1,000-600,000 ms.
Require Read ConfirmationOffAsk before executing commands that read files, directories, registry keys, system information, credentials, or web content. The dialog shows the exact resource being accessed (file path, registry key, URL, etc.).
Require Write ConfirmationOffAsk before executing commands that create, modify, or delete files, registry values, credentials, or run shell commands. The dialog shows the exact resource being modified (file path, registry key and value, shell command, etc.).
Persist ConversationsOnSave conversation history to disk for later retrieval.
Auto-Route ModelsOffRoute simple messages to a cheaper model to save API costs.
Cheap Model Name-Model name for auto-routing (e.g., gpt-3.5-turbo).
ThemeLightLight or Dark. Toggle with Ctrl+U.
Daily Message Limit10Maximum free-tier messages per day.
Enable AnalyticsOffUsage analytics tracking.

General Workspace Settings

The General tab is where most teams start: timeout and context size, read/write confirmation behavior, log settings, the storage root, and the ordered list of working folders that can be activated from the main window.

Slack Configuration

Bot Token, Signing Secret, Webhook URL, Events Port, Socket Mode - configure in the Slack section of the Options dialog.

Telegram Configuration

Bot Token, Chat ID, Webhook URL - configure in the Telegram section of the Options dialog.

Socket & MCP Configuration

Configure external integrations in the Socket tab of the Options dialog:

OptionDefaultDescription
WebSocket URL-WebSocket server URL for real-time communication with external tools (e.g., ws://localhost:8080).
MCP Server URL-Model Context Protocol server endpoint (e.g., http://localhost:3000).
Enable MCPOffConnect to the MCP server at startup and expose its tools to the AI agent.

Ghost Mode Configuration

Configure background automation in the Ghost Mode tab of the Options dialog:

OptionDefaultDescription
Enable Ghost ModeOffTurns on trigger monitoring and background prompt execution.
Run MinimizedOffKeeps Ghost Mode active without leaving the main window open.
Show NotificationsOnShows a local alert when a trigger fires or an action completes.
Polling Interval10 secondsHow often MountainDesk checks process and system-event triggers.
Trigger Action Prompt-The AI instruction executed when the trigger fires.

Memory File Behavior

When conversation persistence and memory are enabled, MountainDesk can write memory into daily date-based files for cleaner recall, easier audits, and simpler handoffs between sessions.

23. Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
EnterSend message
Ctrl+NCreate a new sticky note
Ctrl+EExport current conversation
Ctrl+SSave current conversation
Ctrl+HView conversation history
Ctrl+JOpen Scheduled Jobs dialog
Ctrl+UToggle theme (Light / Dark)

24. System Requirements

RequirementDetails
Operating SystemWindows 10/11 or macOS 13+
RuntimeBundled desktop runtime included with the installer
RAM4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended
Disk Space~50 MB for the application + Playwright browsers (~500 MB if using web automation)
InternetRequired for cloud AI models and synced cloud features. Not required for local models (Ollama, LM Studio) when working offline.
Playwright (optional)Run playwright install for browser automation features.

24. Troubleshooting

"There was an error with the AI response"

Commands are not executing

Daily message limit reached unexpectedly

License won't activate

Playwright browser automation not working

Application won't start

25. FAQ

Do I need my own API key?

Yes. MountainDesk connects to AI providers using your API key. You bring your own OpenAI, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot token, cloud gateway credentials, or run a local model. The subscription fee covers the desktop application, not AI API usage.

Can I use multiple models at the same time?

You can configure as many models as you like and switch between them via the dropdown. With Auto-Route enabled, simple queries go to a cheaper model automatically. Scheduled jobs can each specify a different model.

Is my data sent to any server?

Your prompts and command results are sent only to the AI provider or cloud service you configured (OpenAI, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, your cloud gateway, or your local server). MountainDesk does not send model traffic to Mountain Range Developers unless you explicitly enable a MountainDesk cloud feature such as synced workspaces. License activation may contact the activation endpoint once.

Can the AI delete files or break my system?

The AI can only execute commands that MountainDesk supports. Enable Read Confirmation and Write Confirmation in Options to review every command before it runs. Using a Working Folder scope further limits the AI's operational area.

Can I use MountainDesk offline?

Yes, with a locally hosted model (Ollama, LM Studio, or similar). Configure the model endpoint to http://127.0.0.1:<port>/v1/chat/completions and leave the API key empty. No internet connection is required.

What happens when my Pro subscription expires?

The app reverts to free tier with a 4-message daily limit. Your models, agents, settings, and conversation history remain intact. Scheduled jobs will not execute. Renew your subscription at mountaindevs.com and enter a new license key to restore Pro features.

Does MountainDesk Ultimate support macOS?

Yes. MountainDesk Ultimate now ships for both Windows and macOS. Desktop integrations and permissions differ slightly by platform, but the core workflow, model management, scheduled jobs, and cloud workspace features are available across both.

What local models work best?

For command generation, models with strong instruction-following are recommended: llama-3-70b, mixtral-8x7b, codestral, or deepseek-coder-v2. Smaller models (7B parameters) work for simple tasks but may struggle with complex multi-step command chains. Use at least a 13B+ parameter model for reliable automation.

How do daily memory files work?

MountainDesk can split persistent memory into date-stamped daily files. That gives you a clean record for each day, which is especially useful for Ghost Mode triggers, recurring jobs, and audit trails.

26. Roadmap & Future Features

MountainDesk is under active development. Below are planned features and improvements for upcoming releases, based on user feedback and community input.

Email Integration

Send and receive emails directly from the AI agent. Compose via SMTP (Gmail, Outlook, custom servers), read and summarize inboxes via IMAP, extract attachments, and auto-reply with AI-generated responses.

Cloud Storage Operations

Upload, download, list, and sync files with cloud providers like AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, and Google Drive. A dedicated CloudSurfer agent for managing remote storage.

Database Querying

Execute SQL queries against SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases. Browse schemas, run stored procedures, and export results to CSV or Excel - all through natural language.

Git & Version Control

Clone, pull, push, commit, and branch from within the chat. Generate commit messages, review diffs, and analyze repository history with AI assistance.

Batch Job Workflows

Chain scheduled jobs into pipelines (Job A → Job B → Job C) with conditional branching, parallel execution, and dependency graphs for complex automation sequences.

Voice Assistant

Text-to-speech for AI responses and speech-to-text for hands-free input, using native platform speech services for a fully voice-driven automation experience.

Screenshot & OCR Commands

Capture screenshots of the full desktop or individual windows, and extract text from images using built-in OCR. Useful for monitoring, reporting, and visual data extraction.

Prompt Templates

Save and reuse common prompts with variable placeholders. Build a library of templates for recurring tasks and share them across scheduled jobs and agents.

Custom Command Plugins

A DLL-based plugin system that lets you define your own JSON commands, extending MountainDesk's capabilities without modifying the core application.

REST API & Webhook Commands

Send HTTP requests to external REST APIs and webhooks directly from the command loop. Trigger AI workflows from external events and integrate with third-party services. (WebSocket and MCP integrations are already available - see sections 14 and 15.)

Have an idea? Join our Discord community to suggest features, report issues, and vote on what gets built next.

27. Community & Support

Need help, want to share a workflow, or just chat with other MountainDesk users? Join the official community channels.

Discord

Our primary community hub. Get real-time help, share tips, report bugs, and discuss upcoming features with other users and the development team.

Subscribe

Get Professional access for €19/month or Enterprise for €49/user/month via Stripe. Your subscription directly funds development and new features.

Bug Reports & Feature Requests

Found a bug? Drop details in the Discord #support channel with your OS version, model configuration, and steps to reproduce. Feature requests are welcome in #suggestions.

Ready to Get Started?

Sign up for a plan or explore the documentation to learn more.