Install Simhive and get a token

Download the Simhive app for Windows or Linux, run the installer, pick a name and get your member token. About five minutes, then SimulationCraft downloads itself.

1. Download Simhive #

Download Simhive — Windows 10/11 x64 installer. Linux: AppImage or .deb from the same page. macOS later.

Windows shows a SmartScreen warning the first time ("Windows protected your PC") because the installer is not code-signed by Microsoft: More info → Run anyway. Updates are signed with Simhive's own key and verified before they install.

Check what you download. Every release lists the SHA-256 of each file and links its VirusTotal report. Windows: certutil -hashfile Simhive_x.y.z_x64-setup.exe SHA256, Linux: sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS. The hash must match the one on the release page. The key that signs updates is printed there too, so latest.json can be verified with minisign.

2. Run the installer #

Per-user install, no admin rights needed. Simhive starts afterwards and puts an icon in the tray (next to the clock). Closing its window hides it; Quit is in the tray menu.

Simhive starts with Windows (in the tray) so your machine is in the pool whenever it is on. That is the default because a worker that is not running lends nothing. Opt out any time: Simhive panel → This machine → untick "Start with Windows".

3. Pick a name, get a token #

On first start the window shows the Simhive settings. The pool is already filled in (https://simhive.app). Under New here? type the name you want to be known by in the pool, a character name or a nick, and press Get a token. That is it: the token is saved and the app connects.

A token is per person, not per machine: use the same one on every PC you own (see More machines). See it any time under Settings → This machine, Show or Copy next to Your token; that is also what the web sign-in asks for.

There is no account and no password. Whoever has the token is you, so treat it like one.

Lost it? Press Get a token again on a machine that was in the pool before: the pool recognises the machine and hands your own token back, score, name and all. Type a different name there and that is a rename, not a new member. Joined twice by accident anyway? The operator can merge the two.

Prefer a web page? https://simhive.app/join gives out the same token; paste it into the Your token field.

4. SimulationCraft downloads itself #

The pool runs one exact SimulationCraft commit for everyone. The app fetches that build (about 60 MB, from the public build channel, checksum verified) and the game data, then starts the sim interface inside the window. A minute or two on a normal connection; the settings page shows the progress.

You are in when the header shows Simhive with a green dot and Pool with the number of machines online. Next: sim your character.