MacinAI - Private Beta Testing Guide

Thank you for helping test MacinAI - an AI chat client for vintage Macintosh systems running System 7.5.3 and later. This guide will help you get started and provide valuable feedback.

What is MacinAI?

MacinAI brings modern AI conversations to your classic Macintosh. Currently supporting ChatGPT (GPT-4o-mini), with Claude, Gemini, and Grok planned for future releases. Features an authentic System 7 interface with all the vintage charm and cutting-edge AI intelligence.

System Requirements

• System: Mac OS 7.5.3 or later (tested on System 7.5.3 and Mac OS 9.2.2)
• Processor: 68K Macintosh or PowerPC
• Network: Open Transport 1.1+ installed
• TCP/IP: Configured with DNS servers
• Memory: 4 MB RAM minimum (8 MB recommended)
• Disk Space: ~500 KB for application + conversation storage

Installation

1. Download latest MacinAI beta from the provided link (password is AI0nM@c)
2. Extract to your hard drive (Applications folder recommended)
3. Double-click MacinAI to launch

First Launch:

• MacinAI will create a "MacinAI Settings" file and "Conversations" folder in the root folder
• This stores your server preferences & conversations

Getting Started

Step 1: Launch MacinAI

On launch, you'll see the splash screen with MacinAI branding and a connection test. The app will verify it can reach the server before proceeding to the main chat interface.

Step 2: Configure Server (should not be needed)

Click the + (Settings) button to configure:

• Server - Default: ai.oldapplestuff.com
• Port - Default: 2025
• Test Connection - Verify settings before chatting

Step 3: Start Chatting!

You'll see the main chat interface:

• Type your message in the input box at the bottom
• Press Enter or click Send to send your message
• ChatGPT responses appear in the conversation area above

Interface Overview

Top Banner

[Menu]  MacinAI - New Chat    [Settings]

• [Menu] (Hamburger) - Show/hide conversation sidebar
• [Settings] - Configure server and port

Sidebar (Left)

• + New Chat - Start a fresh conversation
• Conversation List - Click any saved conversation to load it
• Up/Down Arrows - Scroll through conversations (when list is long)

Main Area

• Output Area - Scrollable conversation history (read-only with text selection)
• Input Box - Type your messages here (multi-line supported with scrollbar)
• Send Button - Send your message

Status Bar (Bottom)

Shows connection status (server name or "Offline mode") and copyright information

Implemented Features (Ready to Test!)

[IMPLEMENTED] Core Chat Functionality

• Send/receive messages - Chat with GPT-4o-mini
• Multi-line input - SHIFT+ENTER for new lines, ENTER to send
• Input scrollbar - Always visible, handles long messages
• Auto-scroll - Conversations auto-scroll to bottom on load
• Offline mode - Read-only access to saved conversations when server unavailable

[IMPLEMENTED] Conversation Management

• Create new conversations - Click + New Chat
• Save conversations - CMD+S to save as .oas files
• Load conversations - Click sidebar items to load
• Save As (Export) - CMD+SHIFT+S to export to new file
• Open files - CMD+O to import conversation files
• File validation - Only valid .oas files can be opened
• Auto-save - Saved conversations auto-save after every message
• Real-time sorting - Sidebar sorts by most recent automatically
• UTC timestamps - Server-synced timestamps in file headers

[IMPLEMENTED] Text Editing & Selection

• Copy/Paste - Full system clipboard integration
• Text selection - Click and drag in output area to select
• Cut/Copy/Paste - CMD+X/C/V keyboard shortcuts
• Select All - CMD+A in both input and output areas
• Edit menu - Full Edit menu with all standard operations
• Cross-app clipboard - Copy from MacinAI to other apps and vice versa

[IMPLEMENTED] Window Management

• Resizable windows - Drag grow box (bottom-right)
• Text rewrapping - Automatic on resize
• Sidebar toggle - Show/hide with [Menu] button, preserves content
• Multiple windows - CMD+N for new conversation window
• Close window - CMD+W (app stays open)
• No rendering corruption - Clean redraws on all operations
• No screen flicker - Smooth updates

[IMPLEMENTED] AI Memory System

• Persistent memory - AI remembers facts across the conversation
• "Remember" requests - Tell AI to remember information
• Memory saved - Persists in saved conversation files
• Per-conversation - Each conversation has independent memory

[IMPLEMENTED] Settings & Connection

• Settings dialog - Configure server address and port
• Test connection - Built-in connection testing
• Persistent settings - Server preferences saved in "MacinAI Settings" file
• Connection test on splash - Tests before entering chat
• Status display - Connection status in footer

[IMPLEMENTED] Keyboard Shortcuts

• CMD+N - New conversation window
• CMD+S - Save conversation
• CMD+SHIFT+S - Save As
• CMD+O - Open file
• CMD+W - Close window
• CMD+Q - Quit application
• CMD+C/V/X/A - Copy/Paste/Cut/Select All
• ENTER - Send message
• SHIFT+ENTER - New line in input

[IMPLEMENTED] Polish & UX

• About dialog - Professional About MacinAI screen
• Button styling - Consistent across all dialogs
• Proper centering - All dialog elements properly aligned
• Save prompts - Smart prompts for unsaved changes
• Backwards compatibility - Reads old conversation file formats
• Debug logging - Toggle-able for troubleshooting
• Clean compilation - No errors or warnings

Planned Features (Not Yet Implemented)

Future Releases

• Additional AI models - Claude, Gemini, Grok support
• Model selection - Choose AI model in settings
• Streaming responses - Character-by-character AI responses
• Conversation search - Search within conversations
• Export to text - Export conversations as plain text
• Custom themes - Font and color customization
• Sound effects - Audio feedback for messages
• Message timestamps - Individual message timestamps
• Conversation folders - Organize conversations
• Character counter - Message length indicator
• Undo support - Edit menu Undo functionality (currently greyed out)

What to Test

Core Functionality

• Launch application and pass splash screen connection test
• Send messages and receive ChatGPT responses
• Create new conversation
• Save conversation with title
• Load saved conversation from sidebar
• Switch between multiple conversations
• Save As to export conversation
• Open conversation file from disk

Text Editing

• Type multi-line messages with SHIFT+ENTER
• Copy text from conversation output
• Paste text into input box
• Cut/copy/paste work correctly
• Select All (CMD+A) in both input and output areas
• Cross-app clipboard (copy from MacinAI to SimpleText, etc.)
• Input scrollbar handles long messages
• Edit menu shortcuts work (CMD+C/V/X/A)

Window Management

• Resize window with grow box
• Text rewraps correctly on resize
• Toggle sidebar on/off (content preserved)
• Close window with CMD+W
• Quit with CMD+Q
• Multiple window support (CMD+N)
• No rendering corruption on resize/toggle
• No screen flicker during operations

AI Features

• ChatGPT responds appropriately to questions
• AI memory works ("remember that..." and recall later)
• Long conversations load and scroll correctly
• Auto-scroll to bottom when loading conversation
• Auto-save updates sidebar sorting in real-time

Settings & Network

• Change server address and port in Settings
• Test connection works in Settings dialog
• Server settings persist after quit and relaunch
• Offline mode activates when server unavailable
• Status bar shows correct connection status
• Server time synchronization (UTC timestamps in files)

File Operations

• Save As creates new file with new title
• Open validates conversation files
• Invalid files show error dialog
• File headers show correct UTC timestamps
• Backwards compatibility with old file formats
• Auto-save after each message in saved conversations

Edge Cases

• Very long messages (1000+ characters)
• Rapid message sending
• Large conversations (100+ messages)
• Special characters in conversation titles
• Network disconnection during chat
• Low memory conditions
• Multiple conversations open simultaneously
• Resize to very small window size
• Many conversations in sidebar (20+)

Known Limitations

1. DNS Lookups: May take 5-10 seconds on vintage hardware (synchronous)
2. No Message Editing: Can't edit sent messages (by design)
3. No Search: No built-in conversation search yet
4. ASCII Text: Best results with standard ASCII text
5. ChatGPT Only: Other AI models not yet implemented
6. No Undo: Edit menu Undo is disabled (planned for future)

How to Report Issues

When you encounter a problem, please note:

1. What you were doing - Step-by-step actions
2. What happened - Exact error message or behavior
3. What you expected - What should have happened
4. Your system - Mac model, System version, memory
5. Can you reproduce it? - Does it happen every time?

Reporting Methods:

• Post bug reports in the MacinAI Beta group chat with details above
• Save conversation as "Bug Report - [Description].oas" and share
• Screenshots of error dialogs (CMD+SHIFT+3 on Mac)
• Note the exact date/time of the issue
• Contact the developer with any questions or issues

Tips for Beta Testing

Good Bug Reports Include:

• [YES] "When I click Save As and type a title with '/' character, I get an error"
• [YES] "After sending 50 messages, scrolling becomes slow on my Mac Plus"
• [YES] "CMD+V paste doesn't work in input box after copying from SimpleText"
• [YES] "Connection test on splash screen hangs for 30+ seconds on System 7.5.3"

Less Helpful Reports:

• [NO] "It doesn't work"
• [NO] "Something is wrong"
• [NO] "It crashed" (without details)

Best Practices:

• Test regularly - Use MacinAI for real conversations
• Try to break it - Push boundaries, unusual inputs
• Compare to modern apps - Does it feel right for vintage Mac?
• Note annoyances - Even small UI quirks matter
• Test on your hardware - Different Macs behave differently
• Test both Systems - System 7.5.3 AND Mac OS 9 if possible

Performance Notes

Expected Behavior:

• Message send: Instant (messages appear immediately)
• ChatGPT response: 2-10 seconds depending on server/network
• File save: Under 1 second for typical conversations
• Conversation load: Under 1 second for typical conversations
• Sidebar update: Instant after save
• Connection test: 5-15 seconds (includes DNS lookup)

If things feel slow:

• Check network connection quality
• Monitor server response times
• Note if slowdowns happen after specific actions
• Report persistent sluggishness with system details

Privacy & Data

What MacinAI Stores Locally:

• Conversation files (.oas) in locations you choose
• Settings file (server address and port)
• Debug logs (only if debug logging enabled by developer)

What Gets Sent to Server:

• Messages you send to ChatGPT
• Basic connection test pings

What Does NOT Leave Your Mac:

• Conversation files (unless you manually share them)
• Settings file
• Your full conversation history (only current message sent)

Troubleshooting

"Connection Failed" Error

1. Check server address in Settings
2. Verify network connectivity (can you browse the web?)
3. Confirm TCP/IP control panel has DNS servers configured
4. Confirm server is running (contact the developer)
5. Try using IP address instead of hostname to bypass DNS

"Authentication Failed" or Similar Errors

1. Verify server address is correct in Settings
2. Check that server is running (contact the developer)
3. Try Test Connection in Settings dialog
4. Verify network connectivity

Conversation Won't Load

1. Check file hasn't been moved or deleted
2. Try File → Open and browse to the file
3. Verify file isn't corrupted (open in text editor - should show "MacinAI - " header)
4. Check file has proper .oas extension

App Freezes During Connection Test

1. This is normal on vintage hardware - DNS lookups take 5-10 seconds
2. Try using IP address instead of hostname in Settings
3. Ensure DNS servers configured in TCP/IP control panel
4. Wait patiently - it will complete or timeout

Text Wrapping Issues

1. Resize window slightly to force refresh
2. Toggle sidebar off and back on
3. Report if text is consistently cut off at same position

"Out of Memory" Error

1. Close other applications
2. Increase MacinAI memory allocation (Get Info)
3. Save and restart MacinAI
4. Note conversation size when this happens (number of messages)

Sidebar Shows No Conversations

1. Verify you've saved at least one conversation
2. Check conversations folder for .oas files
3. Ensure files have correct format (MacinAI - {title})

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which AI model does MacinAI use?
A: Currently ChatGPT (GPT-4o-mini). Claude, Gemini, and Grok are planned for future releases.

Q: Is there a message limit?
A: No message limits during the beta testing period!

Q: Can I export conversations to text?
A: Yes! .oas files are plain text. Open with any text editor.

Q: Does MacinAI work offline?
A: You can read saved conversations offline (read-only), but can't send new messages.

Q: Can I run multiple conversations at once?
A: Yes! Use CMD+N to open additional windows.

Q: Why does the AI sometimes forget things?
A: Each conversation has independent memory. Memory only persists within one conversation, not across different conversations.

Q: Can I change the font or colors?
A: Not yet. Planned for future enhancement.

Q: What's the .oas file format?
A: "Old Apple Stuff" - plain text files with metadata header and conversation content.

Q: Why is connection testing so slow?
A: DNS lookups on vintage Mac OS are synchronous and can take 5-10 seconds. This is normal.

Beta Testing Priorities

High Priority Testing

1. System 7.5.3 compatibility - Primary target system
2. Connection reliability - Server communication
3. File save/load - Conversation management
4. Memory leaks - Long-running stability
5. UI corruption - Rendering issues on resize/toggle

Medium Priority Testing

1. Mac OS 9 compatibility - Secondary target system
2. Multiple window support - CMD+N functionality
3. Clipboard integration - Copy/paste across apps
4. Large conversations - 100+ message performance
5. Network error handling - Disconnection scenarios

Low Priority Testing

1. Edge cases - Unusual input/behavior
2. Visual polish - Minor UI details
3. Keyboard shortcuts - All combinations
4. Settings persistence - Rare configuration edge cases

Contact & Support

Developer Contact: alex@oldapplestuff.com

Thank You!

Your testing helps make MacinAI better for the entire vintage Mac community. Every bug report, suggestion, and piece of feedback contributes to creating the best possible AI chat experience for classic Macintosh systems.

Happy testing!

- Alex Hoopes

Quick Reference Card

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
------------------
CMD+N         New conversation
CMD+S         Save conversation
CMD+SHIFT+S   Save As (export)
CMD+O         Open file
CMD+W         Close window
CMD+Q         Quit

CMD+C         Copy
CMD+V         Paste
CMD+X         Cut
CMD+A         Select All

ENTER         Send message
SHIFT+ENTER   New line in input

INTERFACE
---------
[Menu]     Show/hide sidebar
[Settings] Settings dialog

TIPS
----
• Click conversations in sidebar to load
• Drag grow box to resize window
• Click + drag in output to select text
• Auto-saves after each message (if previously saved)
• Most recent conversation always at top

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