Frequently asked questions

Common questions for solo engineers using MBD Mind during soft launch.

Do I need to pay?

No. Sign up is free. Ollama is free to run locally. Cloud LLM providers bill you separately only if you add API keys.

Do I need the web app after install?

You create your account on the web, but day-to-day work happens in the desktop app. The website handles signup, download, docs, and browser sign-in for desktop. Follow Getting started with the desktop app for the full setup checklist.

Can I use MBD Mind without MATLAB?

Yes for general LLM chat. Simulink MCP tools (model read/edit/test) require MATLAB, Simulink, and the Agentic Toolkit on your machine.

Is my model source code uploaded to the cloud?

Agent execution for MATLAB/Simulink runs locally. Cloud providers receive prompt text you send to them; choose Ollama or local only mode if prompts must not leave your PC.

Why does sign-in open a browser?

Desktop uses secure OAuth with PKCE. After you authenticate, the browser redirects back to the app via mbdmind://auth/callback.

Ollama works in terminal but not in MBD Mind

1. Confirm URL http://127.0.0.1:11434 in Settings → Connection.
2. Click Refresh models.
3. Ensure no VPN or security software blocks localhost.

The agent describes edits but nothing changes in Simulink

• Run Settings → Connection → Install Simulink toolkit if you have not set up the Agentic Toolkit yet.
• Check Simulink MCP status is OK in Connection settings.
• MATLAB must be running with the toolkit initialized (use Initialize SATK in the wizard or satk_initialize in MATLAB).
• Open the Activity log — you want Native MCP tool loop, not text-only replies.
• Name the .slx file explicitly if it is not loaded.

How do I start fresh in a conversation?

Use New agent session (Ctrl+N) in the sidebar. Old sessions remain in history.

Where are plans saved?

/plan writes markdown plans under .mbdmind/plans/ in your project folder. /build opens a new session with the latest plan as context.

How do I get updates?

Sign in so the app can fetch your org update channel (stable by default). Enable auto-update in Settings → Security unless IT policy says otherwise.

I'm on a team — where is admin stuff?

Personal accounts are single-seat. Team features (multiple users, org config, admin usage) live in the admin console. See Managing org and Adding users.

Still stuck?

1. Re-run MATLAB MCP diagnostics.
2. Try a known-good model (Ollama pull + cloud fallback).
3. Contact support from the website with your desktop version (shown on the login screen).