# Building an unofficial Nano Cortex desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Looking for feedback!
**URL:** https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710
**Category:** Nano Cortex
**Tags:** feedback
**Created:** [July 13, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710 "2026-07-13T15:42:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/1 "2026-07-13T15:42:25Z")
Hi everyone! I’ve been building an unofficial desktop app for the Nano Cortex as a side project. I know there are already some great community tools out there, and this isn’t meant to replace them - it’s simply another option with a different approach.
The app is cross-platform (macOS, Windows, and Linux), and I’m looking for feedback, feature requests, and Linux testers in particular. If there’s something that would make your Nano Cortex workflow easier, I’d love to hear about it.
repo: [https://github.com/rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex](https://github.com/rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex)
installer: [Releases · rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex · GitHub](https://github.com/rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex/releases)
thanks
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### Author:  [@MP\_Mod](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/MP_Mod)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/2 "2026-07-14T14:24:38Z")
Nice work! The Linux users will welcome this! 🙂
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### Author:  [@keith](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/keith)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/3 "2026-07-14T16:19:05Z")
My ecosystem is all Apple, and would still love the opportunity to test-drive when you feel comfortable enough in sharing your work. Will the app communicate only when connected via usb, or will it work via bluetooth as well?
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 5:50am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/4 "2026-07-15T05:50:33Z")
@keith it works either way, but there’s a limitation as to what each connection can do. Depends on the situation:
- **USB only:** preset recall, FX toggles, tap tempo, tuner, and expression all work, but the UI can’t show what the device is doing - no knob positions, preset names, or signal path.
- **Bluetooth only:** live state shows up in the UI, but most commands can’t be sent - no preset recall, FX toggles, tap tempo, or tuner.
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 9:48am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/5 "2026-07-15T09:48:55Z")
Quick follow-up - a credits update.
Part of the app’s Bluetooth command support is derived from @chriso’s MIT-licensed [nano-cortex-web-editor](https://github.com/choldy/nano-cortex-web-editor). Attribution is now in the repo:
- [deskop-nano-cortex/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md at main · rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex · GitHub](https://github.com/rixrix/deskop-nano-cortex/blob/main/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md)
- Credits section in the app’s About screen
The notices also list [nanoCortexPresetSwitcher](https://github.com/AlieksieievOU/nanoCortexPresetSwitcher), reviewed as an early reference, along with other Nano Cortex community projects surveyed along the way (CortexControl, nano-cortex-monitor, captain-cortex, and more - see the notices for the full list). Thanks to everyone building and sharing tools for this device.
Feedback and Linux testers still welcome!
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### Author:  [@keith](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/keith)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/6 "2026-07-15T13:44:24Z")
@rixrix fair enough, sounds like you’ve done some killer work. Passed this along to my linux friend, he’s got an NC and QC mini so I imagine this will be up his alley to check out. He once joked that he has trouble staying in “ubun-tune” … so I think you’ll be in good hands lol
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### Author:  [@Anxel](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Anxel)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2026, 7:30am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/7 "2026-07-16T07:30:42Z")
Out of curiosity: does this have extra capabilities compared to the web editor by chriso´s?
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 6:22am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/8 "2026-07-17T06:22:20Z")
Good question. Short version: the deep editing is roughly on par, because that part of the Bluetooth protocol is chriso’s reverse-engineering that I built on (credited in the repo). Where mine differs is everything around the editing.
What’s the same: capture, cab/IR, gate, FX model and parameter edits, amp knobs, save. Both apps cover that.
What mine adds today:
- Native desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux) instead of browser-only, so no Chrome/Edge requirement and it runs offline as a normal app.
- Native Bluetooth and USB MIDI in one app.
- Footswitch deck for assigning presets, a preset rail with banks and renaming, and live device-state monitoring with clear “USB needed / Bluetooth needed” labels so you’re never clicking dead controls.
- Diagnostics (protocol/MIDI monitor, exportable debug bundle) and settings backup/restore.
- Desktop niceties: system tray, auto update check, offline-first, local files.
To be clear, chriso’s editor has one real advantage mine doesn’t: it’s zero install, just open the page. And a lot of what I can do exists because he open-sourced the protocol under MIT. Credit where it’s due.
Where I’m hoping to take it (being a native app opens up things a web page can’t easily do):
- An offline preset librarian: back up all your presets and captures to your machine, organize them, and restore to any slot.
- Setlists / gig mode with quick recall.
- Preset file export/import so you can share tones without any cloud or account.
- Global shortcuts and a tray quick-switcher for fast preset changes.
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### Author:  [@Anxel](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Anxel)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 6:45am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/9 "2026-07-17T06:45:22Z")
Great! Thank you for such a fantastic development!
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/10 "2026-07-19T03:28:27Z")
you’re welcome - as always, feedbacks and suggestions are always welcome
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 3:29am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/11 "2026-07-19T03:29:50Z")
I’ve got a spare machine to play around, so hopefully full testing over the next few days with Linux OSs.
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### Author:  [@dirtiharri44](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/dirtiharri44)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/12 "2026-07-22T12:48:22Z")
A documented API would enable third-party integrations, automation, accessibility tools, research, and other innovative workflows that simply aren’t possible through a manual editor alone. It would allow the community to build new tools that add value to the Cortex ecosystem while keeping everything within a supported and stable framework. I am willing to test this.
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### Author:  [@mrd\_11886](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/mrd_11886)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/13 "2026-07-22T15:50:28Z")
Hi everyone, how are you doing? I have to say I’ve tried it out and, visually, it’s very good; however, I’ve personally run into an issue where it doesn’t sync my delay or noise gate settings correctly—the parameters configured on my Nano don’t match what I see in the app. I’ve noticed the same behavior whether connecting via Bluetooth or USB cable. Could this be a mistake on my part, or is there perhaps something else that needs adjusting in the app? Thanks for the effort—cheers!
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### Author:  [@MP\_Mod](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/MP_Mod)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/14 "2026-07-22T15:58:48Z")
Instead of repeating the same thing everywhere, please submit a feature request. Thanks
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### Author:  [@Anxel](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Anxel)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2026, 10:33am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/15 "2026-07-24T10:33:45Z")
Hey rixrix! Since the official Cortex Cloud app is having issues (several of us here are suffering from it, the Android app goes all black and doesn´t work), and our NC is fully dependant on the app (which is a very concerning characteristic of the pedal), i wonder if your editor would work on Android phones. That would be a workaround and also a relief, since We´d know that We can use your independent editor to manage everything on the Nano.
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/16 "2026-07-27T10:41:29Z")
I’ll try and poke around if i can port it to android, I’ll update this thread
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### Author:  [@rixrix](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/rixrix)
#### Post date: [July 27, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/17 "2026-07-27T10:42:46Z")
can you please DM the logs, there’s log button and also advanced capture log.
DM it to me, thanks
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### Author:  [@Chriso](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Chriso)
#### Post date: [July 28, 2026, 9:27am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/18 "2026-07-28T09:27:03Z")
Great to see that you’ve taken this so far and continue to improve it @rixrix, you’ve done a lot more than my ADHD brain has the attention span for!
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### Author:  [@heho](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/heho)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2026, 6:04am UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/19 "2026-09-01T06:04:31Z")
> [@Public javascript SDK / API for Custom Apps](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/public-javascript-sdk-api-for-custom-apps/19998):
>
> It would be great to have a js SDK or API to let developers build custom apps (for example using JavaScript/Electron) to control the Nano Cortex / NanoS. This would make it possible to create personalized tools for preset creation, amp tweaking, and flexible button/knob assignments — without being limited by the default app, which can sometimes lack flexibility. Even a limited, read-only or local SDK (for preset management and control mapping) would make it easier for the community to create n…
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### Author:  [@Galaxy](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/u/Galaxy)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://unity.neuraldsp.com/t/building-an-unofficial-nano-cortex-desktop-app-for-macos-windows-and-linux-looking-for-feedback/22710/20 "2026-09-15T19:14:08Z")
Amazing work. Thanks so much making life so much easier.
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