Getting started

Implementation notes and historical checks. Open the visual guide →.

ReShiki is a desktop workspace for editable chemical drawings. Molecule processing runs locally. The optional assistant uses your Codex connection when you send a request.

Install

ReShiki includes its native chemistry tools. No Python, RDKit, or uv installation is needed, and the app does not download a chemistry environment on first launch.

Download a package for your computer from GitHub Releases. The release workflow builds these packages:

Computer	Package	Open
Apple Silicon Mac	macos-arm64.dmg	Drag to Applications
Windows x64	windows-x64-setup.exe	Run setup
Windows ARM	windows-arm64-setup.exe	Run setup
Linux x64	linux-x64.tar.gz	./reshiki
Linux ARM	linux-arm64.tar.gz	./reshiki

Drawing and chemistry tools are included and work offline from the first launch. Portable ZIP downloads are also available; extract them and keep their contents together.

Mac requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14+. Windows x64 supports Windows 10/11; Windows ARM requires Windows 11. Linux packages target Ubuntu 22.04+ on x64 and 24.04+ on ARM, with a desktop session and compatible graphics libraries.

Tagged macOS releases are signed and notarized. Windows and Linux packages are unsigned. See the visual installation guide for screenshots and updates, or development to build from source.

Draw your first molecule

New documents open on a blank canvas.

1. Choose the single-bond tool, then drag on the canvas to begin a carbon chain.
2. Click an endpoint to extend it, or drag to choose a direction.
3. Hover an atom and press O or N to change its element.
4. Use Templates to preview and attach a ring or another fragment.
5. Select a molecule before using Clean up. Review the preview and apply it when ready.
6. Save as .rsk to retain the complete editable drawing.

New documents use JACS / ACS defaults: 10 pt Arial labels, 14.4 pt bonds, and 0.6 pt lines. Use Undo to reverse drawing edits. See bond tools, templates, and keyboard shortcuts.

Export and share

Use SVG or PDF for vector figures and PNG for an image. PNG export uses up to 1200 dpi, automatically lowering resolution for large drawings while preserving physical size. The export status reports the saved pixel dimensions and DPI. Figures can be exported even when molecular assignments need review; the drawing is preserved and a notice is shown. See figure export for details. Editable copy and CDXML exchange preserve supported drawing objects; see clipboard support for platform and format limits. Use publication pages to prepare page layouts.

Run from source

Follow the development guide to build the app and its native helper, run checks, or preview the documentation.