Where Ollama or LM Studio focus on running language models, Pinokio works one level up: it installs and runs whole applications, then lets you control them by script. It is a free Windows app from cocktailpeanut, released under the MIT license. The file is about 140 MB and the download comes from github.com, not from our servers.
Setting up AI apps without hand-built environments
Many AI tools need Python, Node.js or conda set up before they will start. Pinokio takes over that work and installs each app automatically, keeping a separate environment for it.
The project describes itself as a browser that can install, run and programmatically control any application. That scripting side is what separates it from a plain launcher.
Remote portal and the eMudhra certificate patch
Version 8.3.1 adds Pinokio Remote, a personal portal for your apps across all your Pinokio computers. It also patches certificates to block the eMudhra exploit, in core modules and in each app environment, and repairs existing venvs that were already affected.
A Windows fix removes stray % characters that had been added to library paths such as C:\pinokio\bin\miniforge\Library\lib.
What to check before installing
Pinokio puts its tools under a C:\pinokio folder, so plan for disk space beyond the 140 MB installer. The default bun dependency was removed, so you add it through shell.run commands if an app needs it. Source code is on GitHub at pinokiocomputer/pinokio if you want to read it first.
What's new in 8.3.1
Version 8.3.1, released November 2, 2026, adds Pinokio Remote and proactive protection against the eMudhra certificate exploit. It also fixes a Huggingface token that showed as expired and the stray % characters in Windows library paths.
Pinokio pros and cons
Pros
- Free and MIT-licensed, with source on GitHub
- Installs and runs apps automatically in their own environments
- Pinokio Remote reaches your apps across several computers
- Certificate patching covers each app environment, including already affected venvs
- Fixes a Windows library path bug
Cons
- Installer is about 140 MB before any apps are added
- Bun is no longer included by default and must be added manually when needed
- No screenshots are published for the Windows build
Is Pinokio safe?
The download is served from the official host github.com, and we do not host the file. The app is open source under the MIT license, published by cocktailpeanut, so the code can be inspected. Version 8.3.1 includes security patches for pip, Node.js and certificate handling.
How to install Pinokio
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Pinokio from the Start menu.
