Scoop Nostr is a Scoop bucket that gives Windows users access to Nostr software through the command line. It is aimed at people who already install and update their programs with Scoop and want Nostr tools managed the same way. The project is free and open source, with its code published on GitHub.
Nostr is an open protocol for social messaging in which posts travel through independent relay servers instead of one company's platform. Your identity is a key pair rather than a platform account, so how you install and manage Nostr software matters. This bucket does not replace a Nostr client; it is a route to getting that software onto your machine and keeping it current. The repository has seen a recent code update, which is a useful sign for anyone deciding whether to rely on it.
What Nostr Is and Why It Matters
Nostr, short for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays, is an open protocol for social messaging. Instead of posting to a single company's servers, a user signs messages with a private key and sends them to relays, which are independent servers that anyone can run.
Your public key, usually shown with the prefix npub, identifies you to other people. Your private key, shown with the prefix nsec, proves that you wrote a message and must stay secret. Because your identity is a key pair rather than an account a platform can suspend, losing the private key means losing access, so experienced users learn early how to back it up safely.
Scoop Nostr sits one level below this. It helps you get the software that speaks the protocol onto your Windows machine, while the protocol itself remains open for any client to implement.
Who Scoop Nostr Is For
The bucket suits Windows users who already rely on Scoop and prefer to manage software with a few commands. A typical case is a developer who wants to test a Nostr client on a clean machine and later update it with the same tool used for everything else.
It also fits people who try several Nostr programs and want a single place to search, install and remove them. Someone who wants a polished app with a graphical setup wizard may find a direct download more comfortable, and that is a reasonable choice.
Power users who script their setup can include bucket installs in a repeatable routine, so a new Windows installation can be brought back to the same state with a short list of commands.
How Scoop Buckets Work
Scoop does not store programs inside its core tool. Instead, it reads manifest files, small descriptions that list where to download a program, the expected file hash, and how to install it. A bucket is simply a collection of these manifests, usually kept in a Git repository.
This model keeps things transparent. Because manifests are plain text, you can open a file, check the download address and the hash, and see what a package will do before installing it. That is a practical advantage over running an unfamiliar installer without knowing its contents.
Updates follow the same logic. When a manifest changes to point at a newer version, running the update command picks up the change, so the bucket and the installed programs stay aligned without manual downloads.
Key features
Scoop-based installation
Focused on the Nostr ecosystem
Free and open source
Supported coins
The network this bucket covers is Nostr, a messaging protocol rather than a cryptocurrency. The bucket does not add coin or wallet features of its own, so its role is limited to installing Nostr software on Windows.
How to install Scoop Nostr on Windows
- 1
Install Scoop
Install Scoop, the command-line package manager for Windows, from its official website first. Follow the commands shown there in PowerShell as your regular user, then confirm the tool works by running scoop help.
- 2
Add the Scoop Nostr bucket
Add the bucket from its GitHub repository at github.com/nostorg/scoop-nostr using scoop bucket add, followed by a short name of your choice and the repository address. Download the bucket only from the official website or GitHub, never from a copy shared by a third party.
- 3
Search and install a program
Run scoop search to list entries from the bucket, then install the one you want with scoop install followed by its name. Scoop checks the file hash defined in the manifest during installation, which helps catch corrupted or altered downloads.
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Keep everything updated
Run scoop update to refresh your buckets and upgrade installed programs. Check the release notes of a major version before updating, since a larger change can affect how the program stores its settings.
System requirements
- Windows, with the Scoop package manager installed
How to use Scoop Nostr
Once Scoop and the bucket are in place, the workflow is short. Commands are typed in PowerShell, and you can explore the bucket before installing anything.
- Open PowerShell and run scoop search to see what the bucket offers.
- Pick an entry and note its name and version in the search output.
- Run scoop install followed by the entry name to install it.
- Launch the program from the Start menu or the location Scoop reports, then create or import your Nostr keys inside the program.
- Run scoop update from time to time to refresh the bucket and upgrade installed programs.
- Remove anything you no longer need with scoop uninstall followed by the program name.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with public code on GitHub
- Focused on the Nostr ecosystem
- Installs and updates through the familiar Scoop workflow
- Easy to script and repeat on new Windows machines
- Requires comfort with PowerShell and the command line
- Depends on Scoop being installed and working first
- Installs software but is not a Nostr client on its own
Is Scoop Nostr safe?
Scoop Nostr is open source and published on GitHub, so start there and avoid copies or mirrors offered by strangers. Read the repository's README and releases page before installing, and compare any hashes you see with the values in the manifest. Scoop checks downloads against these hashes during installation, which catches corrupted or swapped files. Antivirus warnings can appear with new or unsigned tools; investigate the flag rather than ignoring it. The most serious risk with Nostr software is your private key. Never paste an nsec or recovery material into a website, form or chat that asks for it, and enter it only into programs you have verified. The last code update is recent, but check the official repository for the latest state before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/nostorg/scoop-nostr. 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
Scoop Nostr differs from the programs listed alongside it because it is a delivery channel rather than an application. Amethyst, Coop, Gossip and Vega are apps you open to read and publish notes, while NAK and Nostr Commander RS are command-line tools for working with the protocol. Nostr VPN builds a mesh network on top of Nostr signaling, and Blockcore Notes runs as an installable web app. Scoop Nostr does not compete with any of them on features. If you already use Scoop, it gives you one place to manage installs, whereas a client such as Gossip or Vega is what you use day to day.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 29 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/nostorg/scoop-nostr
Frequently asked questions
Scoop Nostr is a Scoop bucket, a collection of package manifests, for installing Nostr software on Windows. It is aimed at users who already manage programs from the command line. The bucket is a free, open source project published on GitHub, and it works through Scoop rather than as a standalone application.
Yes. The bucket is free, and its source code is open for anyone to read. Programs you install through it may carry their own licenses and terms, so check those before using them for anything important.
Yes. The bucket is an add-on for Scoop, so you need to install Scoop first. Once it works, adding the bucket takes a single command, and you can then search and install its entries like any other Scoop package.
It is an open source project with its code on GitHub, so you can review it yourself. Compare file hashes with the values in the manifests, and never enter your Nostr private key on a website you reached from an unverified link or message.
Run scoop update to refresh the bucket list and upgrade installed programs. Scoop reads the latest manifest and installs the newer version. Review release notes for major updates, since a larger change may alter how the program stores its settings.
No. Installing the bucket and its software does not require any account. A Nostr identity is a key pair that you create or import inside a Nostr client, and you can keep it offline if you prefer. Publishing publicly is always your choice.
Verdict
Scoop Nostr is a practical choice for Windows users who already rely on Scoop and want Nostr software managed from the command line. It is free, open source, and focused on a single protocol, which keeps it simple to understand. It does not replace a Nostr client, so people looking for a finished app should browse the clients listed below. Before installing, verify the file hashes and check the official repository for the latest version.