Prettygood for Windows is a free, open-source Nostr desktop client for people who want to take part in a decentralized social network and care about who they trust online. It is written in JavaScript and TypeScript on Electron, and its stated goal is to support a decentralized web of trust. Before you install it, note one important detail: the project is at version 0.2.1-alpha, and its most recent code update dates from January 29, 2024. That is more than two years ago, so treat it as an experimental program that is no longer actively updated.
The app is also a refactor of an older project called electron-nostr and is based on electron-react-boilerplate, so it carries over some of that earlier groundwork. It suits readers who want a small, inspectable Nostr client or developers curious how a social app built on Electron is put together. If you need a polished, regularly maintained app for daily use, compare it with the alternatives listed below first.
What Is Nostr and How Clients Fit In
Nostr, short for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays, is an open protocol for social networking. Instead of one company hosting every account and post, users publish signed messages to relays, which are servers that anyone can run. A Nostr client is the app you read and write with. It connects to relays, fetches posts and displays them in a feed.
Because the protocol is separate from any single app, you can switch clients without giving up your identity. An identity is a key pair: a public key that other people use to find you and a private key that signs your posts. That split is why a desktop client such as Prettygood can sit alongside other Nostr apps and read the same network.
The private key matters more here than a typical social login password. No central company can reset it for you if it is lost or exposed, so keeping it secret is your job.
Who Prettygood Is For
Prettygood fits three kinds of readers. The first is a Nostr user on Windows or Linux who wants a standalone desktop window for the network and is comfortable with alpha software. The second is a researcher or hobbyist interested in trust-based social systems who is willing to experiment rather than rely on the app for everyday communication.
The third group is developers. The project is a refactor of an older codebase called electron-nostr and is based on electron-react-boilerplate, which makes it a reasonable starting point for anyone studying how Electron apps connect to Nostr. Because it is licensed under AGPL-3.0, its code can be forked, but forks that run as a network service must publish their changes.
If you need a client with ongoing maintenance and regular updates, Prettygood is probably not the right choice. In that case, look at the alternatives discussed later on this page.
Key features
A Dedicated Nostr Desktop Client
Built Around the Web of Trust Idea
Open Source Under AGPL-3.0
Cross-Platform Foundation With Electron
Supported coins
The project's documentation mentions the Lightning Network and Nostr. Nostr is the social protocol the client is built for. The Lightning Network is a payment network layered on top of Bitcoin, and some Nostr users connect it to their accounts for small payments. Check the GitHub repository to see how far each network is covered in the current code.
How to install Prettygood on Windows
PS> scoop install prettygood- 1
Install Scoop if you do not have it
Scoop is a command-line package manager for Windows. If it is not installed yet, set it up first by following the instructions on its official website. Once it is ready, you can install Prettygood for Windows with a single command.
- 2
Install Prettygood with Scoop
Open PowerShell and run scoop install prettygood. Scoop downloads the package and places it in its own folder, so the install does not touch other parts of your system. Wait for the command to finish and confirm that no errors appear.
-
Verify the version and launch the app
Compare the installed version with the latest release listed on the project's GitHub page, which is currently 0.2.1-alpha. If the versions do not match, update before using the app. Then launch Prettygood like any other Windows application. If you prefer a manual route, download the file from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, check its checksum, and run the installer.
How to use Prettygood
Prettygood is a social client, so your first session is mostly about preparing your Nostr identity and choosing who to follow. The steps below give you a practical starting point after installation.
- Prepare your Nostr keys. Have your public key ready and keep your private key offline or in a password manager.
- Launch Prettygood and sign in with an existing identity, or create a new one by following the prompts the app shows.
- Connect to relays. Relays store and distribute posts, so choose ones you trust and be ready to add or remove them later.
- Build your follow list gradually. Start with a handful of people you know personally, then expand through their connections to test the web of trust idea.
- Give the concept a fair test over several weeks, and note which connections feel useful and which content looks like spam or misleading.
- Keep a second Nostr client nearby for comparison, since alpha software may behave differently from more mature apps.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, so the code can be read and audited
- Runs on Windows and Linux, and the project also lists a web and browser extension option
- Installable on Windows with a single Scoop command
- Built around a clear goal: supporting a decentralized web of trust
- Built on JavaScript, TypeScript and Electron, a stack many developers already know
- Version 0.2.1-alpha, so expect rough edges and possible bugs
- No code updates since January 2024, which makes it a weak choice for long-term use
- Not a good fit if you need a client with ongoing maintenance and support
Is Prettygood safe?
Download Prettygood only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/wds4/pretty-good. If the release page provides a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, verify the file before running it. Scoop installs from its own package manifests, so confirm that the installed version matches the project's latest release. The bigger risk is your Nostr private key, which signs everything you post and cannot be reset by a company. Never enter it on third-party websites, in browser extensions or in support forms. The project is alpha and has had no code updates since January 2024, so check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/wds4/pretty-good. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Prettygood sits among several Nostr clients, but its focus is narrower. Vega is also a cross-platform desktop client for Nostr, so it is the closest match if you want a similar desktop experience. Notedeck is a Rust-based desktop browser from Damus, which takes a different technical path. Nostrid offers binaries for Windows, Linux and other systems, while Blockcore Notes is a Progressive Web App that can be installed on mobile and desktop. Prettygood's distinctive point is its stated goal of a decentralized web of trust, together with its Electron origins and its lineage from electron-nostr.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- AGPL-3.0
- Latest version
- 0.2.1-alpha
- Last update
- 29 Jan 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (available via Scoop)
- Source code
- github.com/wds4/pretty-good
- Install command
- scoop install prettygood
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Prettygood is free and released as open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. There is no purchase needed to install or run it. You can read, modify and redistribute the code under those terms. Modified versions that users access over a network must also make their source available.
Installing it from the official GitHub repository or through Scoop is a low-risk step if you check the version and any published checksum. The real risk is operational: alpha software can contain bugs, and your Nostr private key must never be typed into outside sites. The safety section on this page covers the verification steps in more detail.
The most recent code update is dated January 29, 2024, and the current version is 0.2.1-alpha. No code changes have been published for more than two years, so the project should be treated as inactive. Its code remains available for reading, forking and experimenting with.
Yes. The project is hosted on GitHub, so you can look for a build on the repository's Releases page and run the installer. Scoop is simply the quickest route, since one command handles the download and placement. Either way, verify the file before running it.
A web of trust is a network where people vouch for one another, so you judge an account by its connections rather than by a central authority. Prettygood's stated purpose is to help build this kind of decentralized web of trust on Nostr. The practical features are still early, so expect the idea to develop slowly.
Yes. The project lists Linux as a supported desktop platform alongside Windows, and it also offers a web and browser extension option. The Windows install path described on this page uses Scoop. For Linux, check the GitHub repository for the available build options.
The documentation mentions the Lightning Network and Nostr. Nostr is the protocol the client is built for, and the Lightning Network is a payment layer on top of Bitcoin. Don't assume support beyond what the repository documents.
Nostr is an open protocol for social networking in which posts are sent through independent servers called relays. Users are identified by cryptographic key pairs rather than a company account. Clients such as Prettygood read from and publish to relays, so you can move between apps while keeping the same identity.
Verdict
Prettygood is a free, open-source Nostr desktop client with a clear goal: a decentralized web of trust. It fits technically curious Windows or Linux users, researchers and developers who want a readable Electron codebase. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs a maintained, production-ready app. With version 0.2.1-alpha and no code updates since January 2024, treat it as an experiment, and try it alongside a more established client before relying on it.