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Logswarm

Desktop (Electron)

The desktop edition packages Logswarm as an Electron application. On launch it starts an embedded Next.js server (the standalone build of @logswarm/server) on a loopback port and opens a window against that local UI.

Install

  1. Obtain a Windows installer (NSIS) or portable build from your release channel.
  2. Run the installer (or unpack the portable build).
  3. Start logswarm from the Start menu or the executable.

You do not need a separate Node.js installation on the end-user machine for a packaged build — the app bundles a Node runtime and the standalone server under its resources.

First run

  1. The app creates a local data directory under Electron userData at logswarm-data (database, secrets, license material).
  2. The embedded server listens on a loopback port (default 3847, overridable with LOG_SWARM_ELECTRON_PORT for development).
  3. The main window loads the search UI from that local server.
  4. If no license is active, the onboarding / License activation screen appears with a copyable Hardware key. Send that key to an administrator so they can issue a .logswarm.lic file bound to this machine.
  5. Sign in as an administrator (when required), open license import, select the .logswarm.lic file, and confirm. Search unlocks when the license is valid.

Desktop sessions stay signed in for normal use. The desktop UI does not expose a logout action — the session matches the hardware-bound installation.

What is embedded

Packaged resources include:

  • Standalone Next.js server entry (server/packages/server/server.js)
  • Prisma schema / migrations needed at runtime
  • Bundled Node binary used to run the embedded server

Development builds can point at a local standalone build under packages/server/.next/standalone instead of packaged resources.

Day-to-day use

  1. Open Logswarm.
  2. Confirm license status in the UI (valid / days remaining).
  3. Configure servers, directories, presets, and regex as described in Configuration.
  4. Run searches from the main dashboard — see Search.

Troubleshooting

SymptomWhat to check
Window opens but search is disabledLicense missing or expired — import a valid .logswarm.lic
Cannot reach remote logsSSH server host/port/credentials; use Test connection on the Servers page
App fails to startCheck logswarm-bootstrap.log next to the executable for bootstrap errors
Need a fresh local DBData lives under the Electron userData logswarm-data folder — back up before deleting

Next steps