Install the relay

Long Lines Relay runs on Windows 10 and 11 (x64), macOS (Apple silicon and Intel) and Linux (x64). Install it on the computer that runs your logging software, because it only listens for contacts sent from that computer.

How it works

The relay is not signed with an Apple or Microsoft developer certificate, so each operating system warns you the first time you open it. The steps below get past that warning once. Updates install without it.

Once installed, the relay checks for a new version 10 seconds after it starts and then once a day. When one is out, a banner says “Version 0.1.4 of the relay is available.” Select Install and restart. The relay restarts on its own and stays signed in. Your settings and any contacts waiting to be sent are kept.

Closing the window keeps the relay running in the system tray (the menu bar on macOS). The tray menu has Open, Open log folder and Quit. The relay starts when you log in to your computer unless you turn off Start when I log in in its Settings card.

Set it up

Download the file for your computer from the latest release. Signed in to Long Lines, the Get the relay button on the API tokens page goes to the same place.

Computer	File
Windows 10 or 11	Long.Lines.Relay_<version>_x64-setup.exe
Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later)	Long.Lines.Relay_<version>_aarch64.dmg
Mac with an Intel processor	Long.Lines.Relay_<version>_x64.dmg
Linux, most distributions	Long.Lines.Relay_<version>_amd64.AppImage
Debian, Ubuntu and derivatives	Long.Lines.Relay_<version>_amd64.deb

Windows

1. Run the -setup.exe file. It installs for your user account only and doesn’t need an administrator.
2. If Windows shows “Windows protected your PC”, select More info, then Run anyway.

macOS

1. Open the .dmg and drag Long Lines Relay to Applications.
2. Open it from Applications. macOS says it can’t check the app for malicious software. To open it anyway:

   • macOS 14 (Sonoma) and earlier: Control-click the app in Applications, choose Open, then Open again.

   • macOS 15 (Sequoia) and later: select Done, open System Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll down to the message about Long Lines Relay, select Open Anyway and confirm with your password.

   • Or, in Terminal:

     xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Long Lines Relay.app"

Linux: AppImage

chmod +x Long.Lines.Relay_*_amd64.AppImage
./Long.Lines.Relay_*_amd64.AppImage

AppImages need FUSE 2. On Ubuntu 22.04 install libfuse2; on Ubuntu 24.04 and later, libfuse2t64.

Linux: .deb

sudo apt install ./Long.Lines.Relay_*_amd64.deb

A .deb install updates itself like the others: select Install and restart on the banner and enter your password when the system asks.

After installing

Sign in with Long Lines, then set up your logging software.

When it doesn’t work

macOS says the app is “damaged” and offers only to move it to the Trash. The download is incomplete or an old build. Download the release again.

Signing in fails on Linux. The relay keeps its sign-in in the Secret Service (GNOME Keyring or KWallet). Most desktops run one; without one, signing in fails.

No tray icon on Linux. The tray icon needs an AppIndicator-capable panel. On GNOME, that is the “AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support” extension (Ubuntu ships it on).

“Couldn’t install version 0.1.4.” The update failed, or on a .deb install you cancelled the password prompt. Select Try again.

“Version 0.1.4 of the relay is available. Download the new package to install it.” Your copy can’t update itself (for example, an .rpm or a bare binary). Select Download and install the new package by hand.

No update banner. The relay checks once a day. Quit it from the tray and open it again to check now. If there is still no banner, look in the log folder (tray menu, Open log folder) for “couldn’t check for updates”.