---
title: "Technical Details"
canonical_url: "https://usepowerplant.com/docs/technical-details/"
md_url: "https://usepowerplant.com/docs/technical-details.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-14"
---

# Technical Details

Requirements, CLI commands, what leaves your machine, what Powerplant stores locally, and how to uninstall.

## Requirements

- **macOS 26 or later**, with Node.js 20 or later and npm. Background sync runs as a launchd agent, alongside a menu bar app.
	- We have a single-executable Mac build coming shortly, which will obviate the need for you to worry about Node versions.
- **Windows 11 on x64 or ARM.** Background sync runs as a per-user Task Scheduler task.
- **Coding agents:** Claude Code 2.1.186+, Codex 0.134.0+, or Cursor 3.4+.

## Commands

- `powerplant status`: what background sync is doing, and how to fix problems.
- `powerplant doctor`: diagnostics for support. Prints only, uploads nothing.
- `powerplant connect [--client claude|codex|cursor]`: connect agents installed later, or sign in again.
- `powerplant pause` and `powerplant resume`: stop and restart uploads.
- `powerplant folders add|remove <path>`: manually sync an extra folder from this machine, in addition to the team-wide ones.
- `powerplant update [--automatic on|off]`: update now, or change automatic updates.
- `powerplant uninstall [--forget]`: remove background sync. See [Uninstalling](#uninstalling).

`powerplant --help` lists the rest.

## What leaves your machine

- **Redacted sessions in allowlisted repos.** Workspace owners and admins choose the repos in Settings. Until they do, Powerplant syncs your organization's GitHub repos. There's no sync-everything option.
- **CLI crash reports** go to Sentry. They never include transcripts, code, or file contents. Contact us about opting out.

For how synced data is stored and protected, see [Security](/security/) and [Privacy](/privacy/).

## What's stored locally

- **Machine token:** `~/.config/powerplant/collector-production.encrypted.json`, AES-256-GCM encrypted, readable only by your user. Its key is in the macOS Keychain (`powerplant-collector-encryption`) or, on Windows, protected by DPAPI in `collector-production.key.dpapi` beside it.
- **Agent MCP sign-ins:** in each agent's own config.
- **Agent hooks:** `~/.claude/settings.json`, `~/.codex/hooks.json`, `~/.cursor/hooks.json`.
- **Background sync:** `~/Library/LaunchAgents/sh.powerplant.collector.production.plist` on macOS, or the `Powerplant-<SID>` scheduled task on Windows.
- **State and logs:** `~/.config/powerplant/`, plus `~/Library/Application Support/Powerplant/` and `~/Library/Logs/powerplant-collector-production.log` on macOS.

Of course, on Windows, `~` is `%USERPROFILE%`.

## Verifying the Windows installer

You can check the installer before running it:

```powershell
Invoke-WebRequest https://api.usepowerplant.com/install.ps1 -OutFile install.ps1 -UseBasicParsing
Get-AuthenticodeSignature .\install.ps1 | Format-List Status, SignerCertificate
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy AllSigned -File .\install.ps1
```

The status should be `Valid`, signed by `O="Forestwalk Labs, Inc.", C=CA`.

## Uninstalling

```bash
powerplant disconnect          # remove the Powerplant MCP and its sign-in from your agents
powerplant uninstall --forget  # remove background sync, hooks, and this machine's credentials
```

Without `--forget`, credentials are kept so you can reinstall without re-approving using `powerplant init`.

To remove the CLI itself:

- **macOS:** `npm uninstall -g @usepowerplant/cli`, and delete `~/Applications/Powerplant.app`.
- **Windows:** delete `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Powerplant` and remove it from your user `Path`.

Optionally, delete the state and logs listed above. To revoke an agent's access on the server too, use your [profile](https://app.usepowerplant.com/profile).

## Get help

We're rapidly improving Powerplant based on teams' feedback, so let us know how things could be better in your team's shared Slack channel with us, or email [support@usepowerplant.com](mailto:support@usepowerplant.com).