Manual Update and Uninstall Guide for Local AI Coding Tools

Local AI coding assistants commonly run from the command line and provide code explanations, completion suggestions, refactoring support, and similar capabilities. Although updating or uninstalling one may appear to involve only replacing files or deleting a directory, the process also involves version consistency, command-path resolution, running processes, configuration remnants, permissions, and rollback safety.

Without a consistent procedure, you may encounter problems such as an unchanged version number, a missing command, an old process locking files, or configuration that remains after uninstalling the tool. The following workflow provides a reusable approach.

1. Prepare and Check the Environment Before Updating

Confirm the Installation Method and Scope

Different installation methods require different maintenance strategies:

• Archive-based installations are usually updated by replacing executable files.
• Installer-based installations may involve the registry, services, or protected system directories.
• Package-manager installations should generally be upgraded through the relevant package manager.

This guide focuses on manually replacing files in an archive-based installation. Other installation types should follow the upgrade and uninstall procedures provided by their distribution channels.

Before updating, confirm whether the tool is distributed centrally by your organization and whether the environment is subject to version pinning. An individual upgrade can otherwise create inconsistencies across a team.

Record the Current Version and Installation Directory

Record the current version before making changes. This information helps with rollback and troubleshooting. Run the version command in a system terminal, then determine which executable path is actually being resolved.

If multiple versions are installed, use the command path, shortcut properties, or process information to identify the active installation. This prevents you from replacing files in the wrong directory.

# Record the current version and path (pseudocode)
<cli-name> --version
<path-query-command> <cli-name>
# Record the installation directory, version, and file timestamps

Close All Running Instances

Before updating, close command-line windows, related IDE plugin processes, background tasks, and any helper processes that may be using the executable. Replacing a locked file may fail or leave the installation in a partially updated state.

After closing the applications, check the process list to confirm that no related instances remain.

Back Up Files and Prepare Permissions

Back up the old executable, the release package, and any required configuration to a separate directory. Record the backup time.

Replacing files in the installation directory may require appropriate file-system permissions. If the directory is protected, perform the operation with an account that has the necessary access.

Backups provide a rollback option and allow you to compare the installation before and after the update.

2. Manual Update Procedure

Obtain the Correct Release Package

From the product’s official release page, select the archive that matches the operating system and processor architecture. Review the release notes for compatibility information, known issues, and upgrade requirements.

Do not download installation packages from unknown mirrors or files shared through unofficial channels. After downloading, verify the package integrity by comparing its checksum or signature with the value provided by the publisher.

If your organization maintains an artifact repository, object storage service, or internal distribution system, use the controlled channel where possible. This can reduce disruption caused by unreliable external downloads.

Extract the Package to a Temporary Directory

Extract the archive to a temporary directory and confirm that it contains the target executable and all required resource files.

Do not run the tool directly from inside the archive, and do not mix files from the temporary directory with the old installation before checking the package structure. If the package contains a directory hierarchy, preserve its relative paths. Missing resource files can otherwise cause startup failures.

Replace the Old Files

After closing all running instances, copy the new executable into the installation directory and overwrite the old file.

If the installation directory contains other files with the same names, follow the release notes to determine whether they should also be replaced. If the instructions are unclear, keep a backup before changing them.

After replacement, check the file size, modification time, and permissions.

# Example replacement workflow (pseudocode)
<create-directory> <backup-dir>\<old-version>
<copy-file> <install-dir>\<cli-name> <backup-dir>\<old-version>\
<extract> <release-package> <temp-dir>
<copy-file> <temp-dir>\<cli-name> <install-dir>\<cli-name>

Verify the Version and Basic Functionality

Open a new command-line session and run the version command. Confirm that the reported version matches the release information.

Then perform basic checks, such as:

• Displaying the help information
• Running a read-only command
• Triggering a simple analysis in a test project

If the version number has not changed, check for multiple installation paths, command-resolution caching, or an old process that was not fully closed.

Define a Rollback Procedure

If the new version causes compatibility problems, close all running instances and copy the backed-up executable back into the installation directory. Verify the version again after the rollback.

It is recommended to retain the packages and backups for the two most recent stable versions. Record the update time, version number, and validation results in the team’s change log.

3. Uninstall and Remove Leftover Files

Stop Processes and Record Paths

Before uninstalling, close all related command-line windows, IDE processes, and background tasks.

Record the installation directory, the command-resolution path, and any environment-variable entries associated with the tool. This helps prevent accidental deletion of unrelated program directories.

Delete the Program Directory and Path Entries

Confirm that the installation directory contains only files belonging to the target tool, then delete the directory.

If the installation path was added to the system-level or user-level environment variables, remove the corresponding entry as well. Otherwise, the shell may continue trying to resolve the command through a path that no longer exists.

After modifying environment variables, open a new command-line session so that the changes take effect.

Remove User-Level and Project-Level Configuration

Tools often store caches, logs, authentication data, or history in the user profile. They may also create configuration files inside project directories.

Uninstalling the program does not necessarily remove this data. Back up any configuration that must be retained, then remove user-level caches and project-level configuration as needed.

In enterprise environments, also check for centralized configuration files or leftover plugin directories.

Verify the Uninstallation

After uninstalling, run the version command. The expected result is that the system reports that the command does not exist or that the executable cannot be found.

If the command still runs, check for another installation path, leftover environment-variable entries, or an additional copy of the executable.

# Verify the uninstall (pseudocode)
<cli-name> --version
# Expected result: the command does not exist or the executable cannot be found

4. Alternatives When Network Access Is Unstable

When the release page is slow or downloads are interrupted, use an organization-approved proxy, internal mirror, artifact repository, or offline package distribution method where available.

Always verify the downloaded package and record its source and version. Avoid unknown acceleration tools or unauthorized changes to system network settings, which may introduce security risks.

For teams, an administrator can download and verify the release package once, then distribute it through a controlled channel. Developers can then replace only the approved files, reducing version fragmentation.

5. Common Troubleshooting Issues

• The version does not change after replacement: Check for multiple installation directories, confirm the command-resolution order, and restart the command-line session.
• File replacement fails: Confirm that all instances have been closed and check file permissions and security-software restrictions.
• The command cannot be found: Check whether the environment variable was removed accidentally, whether the installation directory was moved, and whether a new command-line session has been opened.
• Configuration conflicts occur: Back up the user configuration directory, temporarily rename it, and test again. After identifying the cause, decide whether to migrate or remove the old configuration.
• The uninstall is incomplete: Check user caches, project configuration, environment variables, and copies installed in other directories. Clean them individually and verify the result.

6. Best Practices Checklist

1. Record the version, path, and backup before updating, then verify the version and basic functionality afterward.
2. Obtain release packages from trusted sources and verify their integrity.
3. Keep team environments on a controlled stable version and validate upgrades in a test environment first.
4. During uninstallation, handle the program directory, environment variables, user caches, and project configuration.
5. Retain rollback packages and change records so that problems can be reversed systematically.

Following this process turns manual updates and uninstalls from ad hoc file operations into a verifiable, reversible, and auditable maintenance workflow. This reduces troubleshooting effort caused by differences between local environments.