Getting started with the desktop app

This guide walks you from zero to your first agent reply in the desktop app — account, installer, Ollama, and (optional) Simulink MCP. Follow the steps in order; each section links to deeper docs if you need troubleshooting.

Before you start

For Simulink prerequisites see MATLAB MCP requirements.

Step 1 — Create a free account

1. Go to mbdmind.com/signup.
2. Enter your email and a password (8+ characters). Display name is optional.
3. Click Create free account. No payment is required for the soft launch.

You can also use Continue with Google when Google sign-in is enabled.

Signing up creates a personal workspace (one seat) tied to your email. Details: Installation.

Step 2 — Install the desktop app

1. Open mbdmind.com/download.
2. Download the installer for your platform (Windows or macOS).
3. Run the installer and launch MBD Mind.

The installer bundles MathWorks skills under resources/skills/ as a fallback for Simulink workflows.

Step 3 — Sign in on desktop

1. On the welcome screen, leave Remember me on this device checked if this is your machine.
2. Click Sign in with browser (or Continue with Google).
3. Complete sign-in in your browser. The desktop app receives the session via mbdmind://auth/callback and returns you to the main window.

On Windows, allow the browser redirect to open MBD Mind when prompted. macOS may ask you to confirm opening the app from your browser.

If sign-in stalls, confirm you created an account on the web first, then try again from the desktop login screen.

Step 4 — Install and configure Ollama

Ollama runs LLMs locally — no API key and no per-token cloud cost. Recommended for solo engineers.

4a. Install Ollama

1. Download from ollama.com for Windows or macOS.
2. Run the installer and start the Ollama app (or ensure the background service is running).
3. Default API URL: http://127.0.0.1:11434

Verify from a terminal:

curl http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags

You should get JSON (possibly an empty models list before your first pull).

4b. Pull a model

Choose a model that supports tool calling for the best agent experience:

ollama pull llama3.1:8b
ollama pull qwen2.5:7b

Larger models need more RAM and GPU memory. Start with a 7B–8B model on a typical laptop.

4c. Connect Ollama in MBD Mind

1. Open Settings (Ctrl+,) → Connection.
2. Under Ollama, confirm the URL matches your server (default http://127.0.0.1:11434).
3. Click Refresh models. Available models from Ollama should appear.
4. In the model toolbar on the Agent view, select Ollama and your pulled model.

More detail: Ollama setup.

Step 5 — Install Simulink Agentic Toolkit and enable MCP

Skip this section if you only need general LLM chat. For inspecting and editing Simulink models, you need MATLAB, Simulink, and the Simulink Agentic Toolkit on the same machine as MBD Mind.

5a. Install the toolkit

Recommended: Open Settings → Connection and click Install Simulink toolkit. The wizard downloads the MCP server, MATLAB toolbox, and toolkit files, then shows the MATLAB commands to run.

Manual fallback:

1. Follow MathWorks Simulink Agentic Toolkit setup for your OS.
2. Confirm skills exist (e.g. building-simulink-models) under %USERPROFILE%\.agents\skills\ or use the copy bundled with MBD Mind.
3. Note the toolkit root folder and MCP server executable path from the installer.

5b. Start MATLAB

1. Launch MATLAB on the same PC as MBD Mind.
2. Run the toolbox install command from the wizard (once per MATLAB version), then click Initialize SATK in the wizard (or run satk_initialize manually).
3. Open your target .slx model, or leave Pre-open .slx models before edit workflows enabled in Settings → Tool permissions (default on).

5c. Configure paths in MBD Mind

1. Open Settings → Connection and check Simulink MCP status.

2. If you used the installer, paths are filled automatically. Otherwise click Edit paths or Advanced diagnostics and use Load defaults or enter paths manually:

   • MCP server path — toolkit MCP executable
   • Toolkit root — Simulink Agentic Toolkit install folder
   • MATLAB root — optional; only if auto-detection fails
   • Project path for eval — usually your active project folder

5d. Verify connection

On Settings → Connection, click Test connection for a quick MCP ping. In the wizard, use Verify connection after Initialize SATK.

For deeper checks, open Advanced diagnostics and run:

Settings → Connection should show Simulink MCP status OK.

More detail: Enabling MATLAB MCP and What it does.

Step 6 — Open a project and send your first prompt

1. In the sidebar, click Open project… (or File → Open project…, Ctrl+Shift+O).
2. Choose the root folder where your Simulink models and scripts live.
3. Confirm your provider and model in the model toolbar (Ollama + pulled model from Step 4).

Start with a simple prompt to verify the loop:

What models are loaded in Simulink right now?

Or, with a project open:

Summarize the Simulink models in this project folder.

Toggle the Activity panel (Ctrl+J) to see Ollama calls, MCP tools, and agent steps.

More detail: First run.

Step 7 — Verify everything works

Use this checklist before you rely on MBD Mind for real work:

• Settings → Connection — Ollama shows a healthy status
• Settings → Connection — Simulink MCP shows OK (if you use model tools)
• Agent toolbar shows your chosen provider and model
• A second message in the same session includes prior turns as context
• Usage in the sidebar shows token tracking after a reply
• Activity panel (Ctrl+J) shows tool calls for Simulink prompts (not just text replies)

Troubleshooting

Next steps

• Connecting a model — switch providers and models during a session
• Cloud providers — optional stronger models for complex edits
• Reading usage — track tokens and cloud spend
• FAQ — common questions