Beta program · pre-launch · Windows
Help shape Precursor before launch.
Read this page before you apply. It covers what the beta is, what it isn’t, what to expect at install time, and what we ask of testers in return.
What it is
What this beta is
Precursor is a working desktop application that has been tested successfully on real medical records. To date, testing has been limited to the devices and medical records available to the maker. It isn’t yet polished, isn’t yet code-signed, and isn’t yet generally available (GA). The beta is how we polish it, surface what we missed, and get it to GA.
If you’re approved, you get:
- A working build of Precursor for Windows, distributed via GitHub Releases.
- A direct line to the maker for bugs, questions, and feedback. There is no support ticket queue — you’re emailing a person.
- Free use during the beta period.
- Influence on what ships at GA. Your feedback shapes the product before launch.
Beta testers will not be billed retroactively for anything they did during the beta. Pricing and licensing for the GA release have not been set yet; we’ll share details with beta testers before launch.
What it isn’t
What this beta isn’t
- Not finished. You will hit rough edges. Some are known; some won’t be until you find them.
- Not code-signed. Windows will show a SmartScreen warning the first time you run the installer. The next section walks through it.
- Not Mac or Linux. Windows only for now. Mac and Linux are on the roadmap; the launch list at the bottom of this page is the place to ask to be notified.
- Not a permanent free tier. Pricing decisions come at GA. Beta use is free; GA pricing has not been set.
Install
What to expect at install time
Precursor’s installer isn’t yet code-signed. Code-signing is a paid certificate that tells Windows “the publisher is who they say they are.” It costs money we’d rather spend on the product during beta. We’ll sign before GA.
What this means for you: the first time you run the installer, Windows shows a blue Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warning. This is the standard appearance for early-stage independent software. Bypassing it takes two clicks.
- 01
Initial warning.
SmartScreen says it “prevented an unrecognized app from starting.”
Screenshot pending// Clean Windows VM · SmartScreen warning on first run · annotate the “More info” link.
- 02
Click More info.
A second screen appears showing the publisher and a Run anyway button.
Screenshot pending// Expanded SmartScreen view · “Run anyway” button visible.
- 03
Click Run anyway.
The installer proceeds normally.
Screenshot pending// Inno Setup installer welcome screen.
If you see something different from these screenshots — different warning text, no Run anyway button, an entirely different dialog — screenshot what you see and email it back. That’s useful feedback.
One more step after Setup finishes
Two of Precursor’s underlying tools — Ghostscript (for PDF rendering) and NLM Scrubber (for redaction) — aren’t bundled with the installer for licensing reasons. The first time you launch Precursor, it walks you through a short setup wizard for those two tools. It’s mostly clicking through file pickers; total time is around a minute.
Requirements
System requirements
Partially confirmed — measurement pending
- Operating system
- Windows 10 (version 21H2 or later) or Windows 11.
- Processor
- 64-bit Windows PC (Intel or AMD). Not supported on ARM-based Windows PCs (e.g., Surface Pro X).
- Memory
- Minimum and recommended values pending measurement.
- Storage
- Approximately 500 MB for the installed application, plus working space scaled to your input PDFs. Final values pending measurement.
- Internet
- Not required. Precursor’s redaction runs on your computer.
Reciprocity
What we’re asking from testers
The point of the beta is to find what we missed. Concretely, what’s useful:
- Run it on real records. Test files don’t surface the same issues as actual provider charts and billing PDFs.
- Tell us when something breaks, surprises you, or confuses you. Bugs are useful; “this step wasn’t obvious” is also useful. Email is fine; a bug-tracker link is fine.
- Don’t share the build. The download link is for approved testers. Pointing a colleague at this page so they can apply is fine; forwarding the binary isn’t.
- No formal time commitment. Use Precursor when a real matter calls for it. We’re not asking for hours of unpaid QA.
What we’ll do in return
- Read every piece of feedback and respond personally.
- Keep what you tell us confidential. Precursor processes records on your machine; we never see them and have no mechanism to.
Apply
Request beta access
Tell us a bit about your work and we’ll review and follow up. Approvals go out in small batches.
Beta access is reserved for testers who plan to use Precursor on real work and share feedback. Drive-by signups will be deprioritized.
// Form is a visual sketch — not yet wired to the email backend. Submissions don’t go anywhere yet.
Or wait
Not ready to test?
Beta testing is a real commitment of attention, even if not of time. If you’d rather wait for the polished version, drop your email and we’ll let you know when Precursor is generally available.