How-to guide

Install Bristlenose

Get Bristlenose onto macOS, Windows, or Linux.

Bristlenose runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. On macOS it is also available as a desktop app that needs no command line.

macOS — desktop app

  1. Download Bristlenose for Mac.
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg and drag Bristlenose to your Applications folder.
  3. Open it. The first time, macOS asks "Bristlenose was downloaded from the Internet — are you sure you want to open it?" — click Open.

The app is signed and notarised by Apple, so there is no "unidentified developer" block. It bundles Python, FFmpeg, and the transcription model, so there is nothing else to install. It requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) on Apple Silicon (M1 or later).

macOS — Homebrew

brew install cassiocassio/bristlenose/bristlenose

This installs Python, FFmpeg, and all dependencies.

Windows

  1. Install Python from python.org, and tick Add python.exe to PATH.
  2. Install pipx: python -m pip install --user pipx, then python -m pipx ensurepath.
  3. Install FFmpeg: winget install FFmpeg.
  4. Install Bristlenose: pipx install bristlenose.

Linux

  1. Install FFmpeg: sudo apt install ffmpeg (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo dnf install ffmpeg-free (Fedora).
  2. Install Bristlenose: pipx install bristlenose (or uv tool install bristlenose).

Verify the installation

bristlenose doctor

This checks FFmpeg, the transcription backend, API keys, network access, and disk space, and prints a fix for anything missing.

Next, set up a provider, then run your first analysis.

Previous Your first analysis