winget install --id=YogeshSharma.NullByte -e NullByte - AI Coding Assistant powered by Gemini
NullByte is a lightweight Electron-based desktop tool that gives you instant access to Google's Gemini AI while you code. It sits on top of your IDE, browser, or terminal as a non-intrusive floating panel — perfect for quick code explanations, debugging help, and on-the-fly learning.
> ⚠️ Disclaimer: NullByte is designed as a personal productivity and learning tool. It is not intended for use during interviews, exams, proctored assessments, or any scenario where external assistance is prohibited. Please use this tool ethically and responsibly.
The fastest way for macOS users to install NullByte and keep it updated is through our custom Homebrew tap:
brew tap 101yogeshsharma/nullbyte
brew install nullbyte
> [!CAUTION]
> ### ⚠️ macOS Security Note
> Because NullByte is currently an unsigned developer tool, macOS will block it from opening the first time with a "Apple could not verify..." warning.
>
> 
>
> To fix this, you have two options:
>
> 1. Open your terminal and run the following command to remove the quarantine tag:
>
> 2.
> - Go to > .
> - Scroll down to the section.
> - Click next to the NullByte block notice.
bash > xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/NullByte.app > Note: You may be prompted to allow the application to open since it is an unsigned release currently.
Windows users can soon install NullByte natively via Microsoft's Winget package manager!
winget install NullByte
(Note: NullByte relies on central submission to microsoft/winget-pkgs. If the latest release isn't available immediately, give the pull request a few hours to merge).
Make sure you have the following installed on your machine:
| Tool | Version | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js | v18 or higher | nodejs.org |
| NPM | Comes with Node.js | — |
| Git | Any recent version | git-scm.com |
git clone https://github.com/101yogeshsharma/NullByte.git
cd NullByte
npm install
NullByte uses Google's Gemini AI under the hood. You'll need a free API key:
> Note: Your API key may have restrictions. If the default gemini3 27B model fails, try selecting another model from the app's dropdown menu.
npm run start
This launches NullByte directly. You can also use:
npm run dev
To create a standalone installer that you can share or install on any machine:
# To build macOS (.dmg)
npm run build:mac
# To build Windows (.exe)
npm run build:win
The output installers will be placed in the dist/ folder.
> 💡 Tip for Git Bash / WSL users: You can also use the included build script:
> bash > chmod +x build.sh > ./build.sh >
> It handles dependency checks, cleans previous builds, and creates the .exe in one step.
NullByte/
├── main.js # Electron main process — window creation, hotkeys, AI logic
├── preload.js # Preload script — bridges main ↔ renderer securely
├── renderer/ # Frontend UI files
│ └── overlay.html # The overlay's HTML, CSS, and client-side JS
├── assets/
│ └── icon.png # App icon (512×512)
├── build/
│ └── installer.nsh # NSIS installer customization script
├── verify_key.js # Gemini API key validation utility
├── electron-builder.yml # Electron Builder configuration
├── package.json # Project metadata and scripts
└── build.sh # Bash build helper script
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl + Shift + S | Capture a screenshot (adds to queue) |
Ctrl + Shift + G / Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Solve with AI |
Ctrl + Shift + D | Solve (alternative shortcut) |
Ctrl + Shift + Q | Toggle NullByte visibility |
Ctrl + Shift + X | Clear screenshot queue |
Ctrl + Shift + M | Toggle AI model selection |
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys | Scroll through the solution |
BrowserWindow with alwaysOnTop enabled, using a frameless, transparent design for minimal visual footprint.setIgnoreMouseEvents API so the tool doesn't block interaction with underlying apps.assets/icon.png with your own 512×512 PNG.renderer/overlay.html to customize colors, fonts, and layout.| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
npm install fails | Make sure you have Node.js v18+ installed. Run node -v to check. |
| NullByte doesn't appear | Press Ctrl + Shift + Q to toggle visibility. Check if the app is running in the system tray. |
| "Invalid API Key" error | Double-check your Gemini API key at Google AI Studio. Make sure there are no extra spaces. |
| Build fails with privilege errors | Run your terminal as Administrator and try again. |
| Screenshots are blank | Make sure you're not running the app in a virtual machine, as some VMs restrict screen capture APIs. |
Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:
git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name
git commit -m "Add: your feature description"
git push origin feature/your-feature-name
main branch of this repository.This project is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 — see the LICENSE file for details.