Before you start

Giles Engine 0.3.3 keeps the workshop locked until every detected requirement passes. There is no Skip or “I installed it” override.

Install the programs

  1. KiCad for Windows - the tested version is 10.0.6. Open PCB Editor with a practice board. Enable Preferences > Plugins > Enable KiCad API.
  2. FreeCAD - tested 1.1.4.
  3. Blender - tested 5.2.2 LTS. Needed for previews as well as art.
  4. Bambu Studio - tested 2.8.2.60. Use its standard installation folder.
  5. Official OpenAI Windows desktop app for Codex - follow its Download link and sign in using your own account. This checker detects the current user's OpenAI.Codex or OpenAI.ChatGPT Windows package.

Download buttons open official websites; they do not install anything silently. Already have the working tested versions? Keep them.

Find the connector folders

The checker first looks at enabled Codex server settings using the existing KiCad runtime. It reads connector paths only, never credentials. It checks the detected connector before unlocking anything.

Use Find connector folders to search a folder you choose. Start with Documents, the folder where you extracted the sender's connector package, or your Windows user folder (C:\Users\your-name). Common KiCad location: C:\Users\your-name\kicad-mcp. Common 3D locations: Documents\The Giles Engine\Bridges\PrintForge or a PrintForge folder inside Documents\Codex. These are suggestions, not guaranteed installations.

The scanner looks for connector code plus its runtime, skips system links and model/runtime internals, and checks at most 8,000 folders to eight levels. Select a found connector, then let the real checks verify it. Repeat for the other connector if needed. No matches does not prove the files are absent everywhere; search the correct parent folder. Scanning does not download or create missing code.

Set up the two bridges

These are not included in the launcher or third-party installer pack. Request the sender's verified bridge/runtime setup. Installing the desktop programs alone is insufficient.

  1. Choose KiCad connector: select the folder containing server.py and .venv/Scripts/python.exe with KiPy and MCP. It must use a working API connection for this Windows account.
  2. Choose 3D connector: select the folder containing engine.py, server.py, enclosure.py, render.py, examples/mounting_plate.py, examples/friendly_monster.py and runtime/Scripts/python.exe with MCP, numpy and trimesh. FreeCAD and Blender paths in that engine must point at installed applications.
  3. In Codex configure the existing servers using their actual runtime/server paths. Do not copy the sender's personal settings or credentials. Official MCP configuration instructions.

Check and continue

Click Check requirements again. Any missing files, denied access, timeout, disabled configuration or failed tool response keeps the workshop locked. Select a row for its explanation. All rows must be Ready before Continue to workshop is enabled. Rechecks and folder changes lock the gate again. Checks expire after ten minutes for work actions; rerun them when asked. New recipe builds perform fresh prerequisite checks.

What detection proves

It proves required files/package entries exist, required 3D runtime packages import, background CAD tests run, the two original read-only bridge tools answer and Codex configuration matches the selected engines. It does not certify account sign-in, current-chat tool availability, slicer profiles, printer connectivity or physical print quality.

After continuing, ask Codex to test KiCad without modifying anything and to call PrintForge modeling_status. Authentication/tool access must be confirmed in Codex itself. The app does not inspect credentials.

Before installation

The separate Check before installing.exe starts the same setup gate in preinstall mode. Put it beside GilesEngine-Setup-0.3.3.exe. Its Install Giles Engine button is guarded by the same detected checks. Directly running the installer can still install the launcher; the installed app repeats the gate and stays locked if requirements are missing. Installing a checker must be possible on a PC that needs setup.