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How to install Nut AI on Android using a Mac

Nut AI does what Cal AI does, and Cal AI costs $19.99/mo. This guide gets you the free one.

What you end up with

Nut AI running on your Android. It is free, and it stays free — there is no account, no trial and no subscription at the end of this.

Time
About 30 minutes
Steps
14
Cost
Free

Before you start

These are one-time installs. If you have used Terminal before, you may have them already — the first step checks.

  1. Install Git

    Apple opens a small installer.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    xcode-select --install

    You know this worked when: Git responds with a version number

  2. Install Node LTS

    Choose the macOS Installer (.pkg).

    Open download

    You know this worked when: Node responds with a version number

Install Nut AI

  1. Open Terminal

    Keep it open beside this page.

    You know this worked when: Terminal is open

  2. Check Git and Node

    Git and Node 20.19 or newer are required.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    git --version
node --version

    You know this worked when: Git and Node respond with version numbers

  3. Copy Nut AI to this Mac

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cd ~
if [ ! -d nut-ai/.git ]; then
git clone https://github.com/Blueturboguy07/nut-ai.git
fi

    You know this worked when: A nut-ai folder appears

  4. Open the nut-ai folder

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cd nut-ai

    You know this worked when: Your terminal prompt is inside the nut-ai folder

  5. Use the reviewed version

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    git checkout d076430bc689d2ebd84a07f7a4bcbc3368466728

    You know this worked when: Git reports the reviewed commit

  6. Install dependencies

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    npm install

    You know this worked when: The command finishes without an error

  7. Build the nutrition database

    It downloads the USDA tables itself first (about 10 MB). Re-running it is always safe.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    npm run data:build

    You know this worked when: It ends with 'Built …/nutrition.db' and foods: 7928

  8. Install Android Studio

    Accept the standard setup so it installs the SDK.

    Open download

    You know this worked when: Android Studio opens to its welcome screen

  9. Turn on USB debugging

    Settings → About phone → tap Build number 7×. Then Developer options → USB debugging.

    You know this worked when: Developer options shows USB debugging on

  10. Plug in your phone

    Tap Allow on the phone. If nothing appears, try another cable — that is the usual cause.

    You know this worked when: adb devices lists your phone

  11. Build and install

    The first build downloads Gradle and takes several minutes.

    Type this into Terminal, then press Return.

    cd apps/mobile
npx expo run:android --variant release

    You know this worked when: The build ends with an install onto your phone

  12. Open Nut AI on your phone

    Scans use your own AI key, added in setup or Profile. Everything else works without one.

    You know this worked when: Nut AI opens on your phone

If something goes wrong

Nothing here can damage your computer, and every step can be run again safely. If a command fails, the usual cause is the step before it not having finished.

Still stuck? Tell us what happened and we will fix the guide. Include the step number and we can usually reproduce it.

Have a different setup?