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Installing on Windows

Daisy ships two Windows builds — an NSIS installer (recommended for most people) and a portable zip that runs without installing. Pick whichever fits your setup; both are the same Daisy underneath.

Heads-up: Windows may flag the download

During the public beta, the Daisy Windows builds are not yet code-signed with an Extended Validation (EV) certificate. Until they are, Windows will likely show one or more warnings when you download and run the installer or the portable build:

  • Edge / Chrome / Firefox may say something like "This file is not commonly downloaded and could be dangerous." You'll need to choose Keep or Keep anyway.
  • Windows SmartScreen may pop up with "Windows protected your PC" after you launch the installer. Click More info, then Run anyway.
  • Windows Defender may quarantine the file briefly while it scans. This usually resolves on its own; if it doesn't, the file may be restorable from Defender's quarantine list.

This is normal for a new, unsigned binary — Windows treats any publisher it hasn't seen before with suspicion until enough installs build up trust, or until the binary carries a valid EV signature. It isn't a sign that anything is wrong with the file.

Is it actually safe?

Yes. A few specific assurances:

  • The Daisy binary you download is the same one we built. SHA-256 checksums are published next to every release on the changelog; you can verify the file on disk matches.
  • No telemetry, no install-time network calls. Daisy doesn't phone home on first launch beyond an optional update check, which you can switch off in setup.
  • Source code review is welcome. If you'd like to inspect what goes on before installing, email studio@smallbricktory.com.
  • Code signing is on the roadmap. Once we're out of beta, the Windows builds will be signed with an EV certificate and SmartScreen will stop showing the warning.

If you'd rather not click through warnings

Two options that avoid them:

  1. Use the portable build instead of the installer. Unzip it to a folder and double-click daisy.exe. SmartScreen may still warn, but there's no installer step to clear.
  2. Wait for the signed release. It's coming. Email daisy+win@smallbricktory.com and we'll let you know when the signed build ships.

Verifying the download (optional)

If you want belt-and-braces confirmation:

  1. Note the SHA-256 for your platform on the changelog.

  2. In PowerShell, run:

    Get-FileHash .\Daisy-Setup.exe -Algorithm SHA256

  3. Compare the hash to the value on the changelog. They should match character-for-character. If they don't, redownload from daisy.smallbricktory.com — never from a third-party mirror.