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Install PrismLCA

PrismLCA runs on Windows and Linux. Installing takes a few minutes; the first start downloads one more component and then you are ready to set up your first workspace.

What you need#

ItemWhat PrismLCA needs
Operating systemWindows 10 or 11, or a current 64-bit Linux. macOS coming soon
Memory16 GB is enough, for modelling and for importing ecoinvent: on a laptop with 16 GB, the import needed about 6 GB at its peak.
Disk spaceSeveral gigabytes: the search model alone is 2.3 GB, and each background database with its search index adds more.
InternetOnce, for the download on first start. After that PrismLCA works offline; only optional features such as the AI assistant need a connection.
Administrator rightsNot needed on Windows and for the Linux AppImage: PrismLCA installs for your user account. The .deb and .rpm packages install for all users and ask for your password.

Download and install#

Get the installer from the download section of this website. It is free; there is no account and no trial.

  1. Download the installer#

    Choose Download for Windows. You get one file, PrismLCA-Setup-<version>.exe.

  2. Run it#

    Double-click the file. The installer asks where to put PrismLCA; the suggested folder is fine. It installs for your account only, so it does not ask for administrator rights.

  3. Start PrismLCA#

    Open it from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.

There are three packages. Take the AppImage if you are unsure: it runs on almost every distribution without installation. If you want PrismLCA in your application menu and package manager, take the .deb on Debian, Ubuntu and their relatives, or the .rpm on Fedora.

  1. Download#

    Choose Download for Linux and pick the AppImage, the .deb or the .rpm package.

  2. Install or make it runnable#

    For the AppImage, make the file executable once, then start it:

    chmod +x PrismLCA-*.AppImage
./PrismLCA-*.AppImage

    For the .deb or .rpm package, install it with your package manager:

    sudo apt install ./prism-lca_*_amd64.deb     # Debian, Ubuntu
sudo dnf install ./prism-lca-*.x86_64.rpm    # Fedora

  3. Start PrismLCA#

    Double-click the AppImage, or open PrismLCA from your application menu after installing the package.

A macOS version is coming soon. Follow the news to hear when it is ready.

The first start#

The first start takes a little longer than every later one, because PrismLCA fetches the one component that does not fit into the installer.

  1. The splash screen#

    PrismLCA starts its calculation engine in the background. This takes a few seconds.

  2. “Search model needed”#

    PrismLCA finds datasets by meaning, with a language model that runs entirely on your computer. It is about 2.3 GB, so it is downloaded once instead of being part of the installer. Choose Download. The only alternative is Quit: PrismLCA cannot run without it.

  3. The welcome tour#

    A short tour of ten cards explains how PrismLCA thinks. Read it once; you can open it again any time from the Overview with Take the tour again.

  4. Bring your background data#

    PrismLCA ships without background data. The start page asks you to bring some in — that is the next page of this handbook.

PrismLCA with a product system on the canvas and the assistant panel open
Where you will be in a few minutes: a model on the canvas, the assistant at your side.

Updates#

PrismLCA never looks for updates on its own. To check, open SettingsAbout and choose Check for updates. If there is a new version, PrismLCA shows what changed; Download fetches it and Restart and install finishes the job. Your models and settings stay as they are.

With the .deb or .rpm package on Linux, PrismLCA links to the release page instead of downloading: get the new package there and install it the same way as the first one.

Where your data lives#

PrismLCA keeps two folders in your user account. Uninstalling the program leaves both in place, so a reinstall picks up where you left off.

WhatWindowsLinux
Workspaces, models, chats, reports%LOCALAPPDATA%\Prism LCA~/.local/share/Prism LCA
Settings and encrypted API keys%APPDATA%\PrismLCA~/.config/PrismLCA

Uninstall#

Open SettingsAppsInstalled apps in Windows, find PrismLCA and choose Uninstall. Delete the two data folders above if you also want your data gone.

Delete the AppImage file, or remove the package:

sudo apt remove prism-lca    # .deb
sudo dnf remove prism-lca    # .rpm

Delete the two data folders above if you also want your data gone.

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