Runs on a computer (Windows, Mac, Linux). From a phone, only the finished family tree, as a file. Send the link by email

Strom Research

Ancestor research on one’s own computer

An AI agent searches parish registers and archives and writes down only what is proven. The results are viewed in the Strom app.

Getting started Agent or Strom archive

On the computer: The research is a folder on disk, with its whole history.
Proven: Every fact has its source.
In Strom and back: Viewing and editing in the Strom app; the edits go to the research.

I’m looking for the family of my great-grandfather Josef. He was born around 1880 in Lipová.

I found his baptism in 1879. His parents were Jan Dvořák and Marie. Shall I look for their marriage?

new Jan Dvořák * 1851

new Marie * 1856

Josef Dvořák * 1879, Lipová source: baptisms Lipová 1870–1890, p. 112

Without AI: a free Strom archive; the research holds the family tree from the app with the history of every change. Strom archive →

Simply put

What is it?

Family tree in the app what is known about the family
⟷
Agent searches, reads and asks
⟷
Archives online registers and records
⟷
Research on disk with sources and history

What is this?

An AI agent is a program one writes to like to a person, for example the Claude app or ChatGPT. Unlike an ordinary chat, it can also do things on the computer: open an archive’s website and read a page of a parish register. Strom Research is a small free program that teaches the agent to work like a careful genealogist: where to look, how to write down what it finds, what is proven and what is only a guess. Without an agent, the same program keeps a copy of the family tree from the app on disk.

How does it work?

The agent learns whom to look for and what is known about the family. It searches digitised registers, shows what it found and asks when there is something to decide. The family tree grows, and the Strom app shows it filling in. Corrections and additions made there go to the research; a fact proven by a record is not overwritten: both versions show up as a conflict to decide. For each ancestor whose life the records tell, the agent also writes a short story for the family book (it can be turned off).

What does it cost?

Strom Research and the Strom app are free. Research with an agent needs an AI agent with a subscription at its maker: from about 20 USD a month (Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus); longer research tends to need a higher plan (Claude Max from 100 USD). When the agent's subscription hits its limit, the research stops, what was found stays saved, and the research can be started again once the limit resets. A computer with Windows, macOS or Linux is needed.

As of October 2026 · Prices at the maker ↗

How to start?

In the guide: system, browser and agent.
One line into Win + R (Windows) or Terminal: from the Strom app (⋯ → Ancestor research) or straight from the web.
A few questions in the setup: with an agent, or a Strom archive.

Step by step →

Getting started

Starting ancestor research

Usually a few minutes; on a Mac the first time up to 20 minutes (Apple's tools).

All steps by combination:

Windows · With an agent · From the Strom app

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
Install and sign in to the agent before the next step. Without an agent on the computer, research from the app is set up as a Strom archive.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
The Run window, paste the line, Enter.
Win + R → paste the line (Ctrl + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows a blue or black window with the lines “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” and “Downloading Strom research…”.
System windows
The setup guide may offer its own git. Only Strom uses it, and nothing gets installed.
Installation stopped
If the window says “The installation did not finish. Enter closes the window.”, the line can be run again. If an antivirus or company policy stops the line: nothing downloaded is a program of ours, only official, signed Node.js and the Strom Research code as readable JavaScript. The computer's administrator can help.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Windows · With an agent · Straight from the web

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
The setup guide installs Claude Code itself; a subscription is all that is needed.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://stromapp.info/research/install.ps1 | iex"
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
The Run window, paste the line, Enter.
Win + R → paste the line (Ctrl + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows a blue or black window with the lines “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” and “Downloading Strom research…”.
System windows
The setup guide may offer its own git. Only Strom uses it, and nothing gets installed.
Installation stopped
If the window says “The installation did not finish. Enter closes the window.”, the line can be run again. If an antivirus or company policy stops the line: nothing downloaded is a program of ours, only official, signed Node.js and the Strom Research code as readable JavaScript. The computer's administrator can help.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
With a Claude subscription: the first choice, installing Claude Code.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
On the first start of Claude Code installed by the setup guide, sign-in comes in a browser window.
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Windows · Without an agent: Strom archive · From the Strom app

The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
The Run window, paste the line, Enter.
Win + R → paste the line (Ctrl + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows a blue or black window with the lines “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” and “Downloading Strom research…”.
System windows
The setup guide may offer its own git. Only Strom uses it, and nothing gets installed.
Installation stopped
If the window says “The installation did not finish. Enter closes the window.”, the line can be run again. If an antivirus or company policy stops the line: nothing downloaded is a program of ours, only official, signed Node.js and the Strom Research code as readable JavaScript. The computer's administrator can help.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research opens the Strom app in the browser and offers to hand over the family tree.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Windows · Without an agent: Strom archive · Straight from the web

The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://stromapp.info/research/install.ps1 | iex"
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
The Run window, paste the line, Enter.
Win + R → paste the line (Ctrl + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows a blue or black window with the lines “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” and “Downloading Strom research…”.
System windows
The setup guide may offer its own git. Only Strom uses it, and nothing gets installed.
Installation stopped
If the window says “The installation did not finish. Enter closes the window.”, the line can be run again. If an antivirus or company policy stops the line: nothing downloaded is a program of ours, only official, signed Node.js and the Strom Research code as readable JavaScript. The computer's administrator can help.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
When no agent is found, the setup guide offers to install Claude Code, or just a Strom archive.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research starts with an empty family tree. The tree from the app is handed over in the Strom app:
Actions → Ancestor research → Start research with this tree
The button shows once the setup guide allowed links from the app (the last question, Enter) and research has connected with the app at least once.
Images stay in the app.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Mac · With an agent · From the Strom app

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
Install and sign in to the agent before the next step. Without an agent on the computer, research from the app is set up as a Strom archive.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open Terminal (⌘ + Space, type “Terminal”, Enter) → paste the line (⌘ + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” in Terminal.
System windows
If git is missing, macOS opens the Command Line Tools window. Choosing “Install” and waiting is enough.
Usually a few minutes, on a slow connection up to 20 minutes.
Done when the screen shows the Apple window finished and Terminal carrying on.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent's app opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Mac · With an agent · Straight from the web

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
The setup guide installs Claude Code itself; a subscription is all that is needed.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
curl -fsSL https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open Terminal (⌘ + Space, type “Terminal”, Enter) → paste the line (⌘ + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” in Terminal.
System windows
If git is missing, macOS opens the Command Line Tools window. Choosing “Install” and waiting is enough.
Usually a few minutes, on a slow connection up to 20 minutes.
Done when the screen shows the Apple window finished and Terminal carrying on.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
With a Claude subscription: the first choice, installing Claude Code.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent's app opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
On the first start of Claude Code installed by the setup guide, sign-in comes in a browser window.
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Mac · Without an agent: Strom archive · From the Strom app

The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open Terminal (⌘ + Space, type “Terminal”, Enter) → paste the line (⌘ + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” in Terminal.
System windows
If git is missing, macOS opens the Command Line Tools window. Choosing “Install” and waiting is enough.
Usually a few minutes, on a slow connection up to 20 minutes.
Done when the screen shows the Apple window finished and Terminal carrying on.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research opens the Strom app in the browser and offers to hand over the family tree.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Mac · Without an agent: Strom archive · Straight from the web

The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
curl -fsSL https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open Terminal (⌘ + Space, type “Terminal”, Enter) → paste the line (⌘ + V) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…” in Terminal.
System windows
If git is missing, macOS opens the Command Line Tools window. Choosing “Install” and waiting is enough.
Usually a few minutes, on a slow connection up to 20 minutes.
Done when the screen shows the Apple window finished and Terminal carrying on.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
When no agent is found, the setup guide offers to install Claude Code, or just a Strom archive.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research starts with an empty family tree. The tree from the app is handed over in the Strom app:
Actions → Ancestor research → Start research with this tree
The button shows once the setup guide allowed links from the app (the last question, Enter) and research has connected with the app at least once.
Images stay in the app.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Linux · With an agent · From the Strom app

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
Install and sign in to the agent before the next step. Without an agent on the computer, research from the app is set up as a Strom archive.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open a terminal (often Ctrl + Alt + T) → paste the line (Ctrl + Shift + V, or right-click → Paste) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…”.
System windows
No window opens during installing. If git is missing, the setup guide prints a package manager command, e.g. sudo apt install git.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent's app opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Linux · With an agent · Straight from the web

Agent and subscription
Ancestor research works with an agent from another maker. The agent needs its own account.
The agent and its subscription: see Which AI agent.
The setup guide installs Claude Code itself; a subscription is all that is needed.
The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing.
The agent's best model: research reads old handwriting, and a fast model makes mistakes.
When the subscription hits its limit, research stops and the findings stay saved.
Prices in USD before tax, from the makers’ pages, as of October 2026. The price in local currency and with tax shows when paying.
More about agents →
Done when the screen shows a signed-in agent: the app after sign-in, or the agent's command in the terminal without an error.
The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
curl -fsSL https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Without curl:
wget -qO- https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open a terminal (often Ctrl + Alt + T) → paste the line (Ctrl + Shift + V, or right-click → Paste) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…”.
System windows
No window opens during installing. If git is missing, the setup guide prints a package manager command, e.g. sudo apt install git.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
5
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
With a Claude subscription: the first choice, installing Claude Code.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start
The agent's app opens with a prepared folder and a first message. Confirm the folder and send the message.
Confirm the folder → Send the message
On the first start of Claude Code installed by the setup guide, sign-in comes in a browser window.
Done when the screen shows the agent asking whom to look for. For example: “the Novák family, Anna Nováková *1880”.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
8
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Linux · Without an agent: Strom archive · From the Strom app

The line from the Strom app
The Strom app prepares the line for this computer, together with this family tree.
In the app: Actions (on a narrower screen ⋯) → Ancestor research → Install on this computer → Copy
Done when the screen shows the line and the Copy button in the “Installing Strom Research” window.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open a terminal (often Ctrl + Alt + T) → paste the line (Ctrl + Shift + V, or right-click → Paste) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…”.
System windows
No window opens during installing. If git is missing, the setup guide prints a package manager command, e.g. sudo apt install git.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research opens the Strom app in the browser and offers to hand over the family tree.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Linux · Without an agent: Strom archive · Straight from the web

The line from the web
The line for this computer. Research from the web starts with an empty family tree.
curl -fsSL https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Without curl:
wget -qO- https://stromapp.info/research/install.sh | sh
Done when the screen shows “Copied”.
Paste and run
Terminal, paste the line, Enter.
Open a terminal (often Ctrl + Alt + T) → paste the line (Ctrl + Shift + V, or right-click → Paste) → Enter
Done when the screen shows “Downloading Node.js from nodejs.org…”.
System windows
No window opens during installing. If git is missing, the setup guide prints a package manager command, e.g. sudo apt install git.
Done when the screen shows “Installed: <path>”.
4
Setup guide
A few questions. The suggested answer is prefilled, and Enter is enough.
Enter at every question
When no agent is found, the setup guide offers to install Claude Code, or just a Strom archive.
The questions in order
language;
where to save (suggested Documents/Strom);
git (a check, not a question);
with an agent, or a Strom archive (as the situation is);
where to talk to the agent (only with both the Claude app and the terminal);
model (“Opus — best at reading old handwriting (recommended)”);
reasoning effort (Claude Code);
stories about the ancestors for the family book;
what the agent may do without asking;
the agent's personal add-ons;
the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop;
the Strom app (only when the computer has none);
links from the app: “Let the Strom app start the research on this computer?”, suggested yes. Enter matters here: without it, neither the Research menu in the app nor “Start research with this tree” works;
which terminal the research's windows open in: the system's default, Terminal or iTerm2 (only on a Mac with both).
Questions 5–10 only with an agent. Which ones show depends on the computer.
Started from the web, research then asks for the family tree's name (“e.g. the family surname”) and starts empty.
Done when the screen shows “All set.” with the language and folder.
First start without an agent
Research starts with an empty family tree. The tree from the app is handed over in the Strom app:
Actions → Ancestor research → Start research with this tree
The button shows once the setup guide allowed links from the app (the last question, Enter) and research has connected with the app at least once.
Images stay in the app.
Keep saving the backup file (Ctrl+S).
Done when the screen shows “linked to research” at the tree in “Manage trees”, and “In sync with the research” at the tree's name.
Connection with the Strom app
The Strom app talks to research directly, only on the same computer.
Chrome may ask “Access other apps and services on this device”: choose Allow.
With live following (“Follow live”), results arrive by themselves; the tree is locked meanwhile.
Otherwise a new version does not load by itself: a dot appears on ⋯, and the Research menu says “The research has a newer version” with a Load button. A backup is saved before loading.
Done when the screen shows a research result in the tree (live, or after Load).
7
Next time
A double-click on the “Strom výzkum” shortcut on the desktop, or the strom command in a new terminal window.
Where the shortcut is
Mac: Strom výzkum.command on the Desktop
Windows: Strom výzkum.lnk
Linux: in the applications menu
An old terminal window does not know the new command.
From the app: Actions → Research (Continue with the agent, Open research, Follow live, Load new version). The menu is there only with links from the app on (question 13 of the setup guide, or strom link on); otherwise only “Start the research ↗”.
Done when the screen shows the research menu after the double-click.

Otherwise: agent already installed, or for developers

An AI agent already in use

Claude, ChatGPT/Codex, Antigravity, OpenCode or Grok, in the app or in the terminal. The agent gets this sentence:

I'd like to research my family history with your help. Please install and start Strom Research as described at https://stromapp.info/research/

Research reads old handwriting: it takes the agent’s strongest model, not a fast or mini one.

For developers

Strom Research is also an npm package. It needs Node 22.18 or newer.

npm install -g strom-research

Then strom starts the same setup, and strom guide explains how the research works.

Source code on GitHub ↗

Details, commands and troubleshooting → Manual

AI agents

Which AI agent?

Research with an agent needs an AI agent with a paid subscription at its maker; free plans are not enough. That is where the research costs money, and it uses the agent a lot. The AI subscription is separate; Strom Research charges nothing. We recommend Claude. Whichever is installed, Strom Research finds it by itself. Without an agent, the free Strom archive remains.

The agent’s best model. The research reads old handwriting and weighs the records; a fast or mini model makes mistakes.

For an agent with both an app and a terminal, the setup asks where to talk to it. Otherwise it asks nothing.

Recommended

Claude

Anthropic

Where to talk to it: The Claude app, Code tab (Windows, macOS; Linux beta only Ubuntu 22.04+ and Debian 12+, installed with apt), or the terminal; Download the Claude app ↗
What is needed: A Claude Pro subscription (from 20 USD a month before tax; 200 USD a year) or Max (from 100 USD); the free plan has no Claude Code.
Model: Opus recommended; model and reasoning effort are chosen in the setup
How to get it: Download the Claude app from the maker’s page and sign in. Subscription: on claude.ai Settings → Billing → Upgrade plan → Get Pro plan.; Claude Code in the terminal; Install in the terminal ↗

Prices at the maker ↗

Codex

OpenAI

Where to talk to it: The ChatGPT or Codex app (ChatGPT on Windows only from the Microsoft Store), or the terminal; The ChatGPT app ↗
What is needed: ChatGPT Plus (20 USD a month) or Pro; Free and Go list only the desktop app, not the terminal.
Model: The strongest GPT model
How to get it: The ChatGPT app; or Codex in the terminal with the maker’s line.; Codex CLI in the terminal; Windows, in PowerShell:powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.ps1 | iex"At the end the installer asks “Start Codex now? [y/N]”: answer y; otherwise the window closes and Codex starts with codex in a new PowerShell window.; Mac and Linux, in the terminal:curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh

Prices at the maker ↗

Antigravity

Google · for the experienced

Where to talk to it: Terminal only, the agy command
What is needed: Google AI Pro or Ultra; the free plan is not enough for research. In Antigravity, the strongest model offered, not Flash.
Model: The strongest model offered, not Flash
How to get it: The maker’s line in the terminal; sign-in with a Google account in the browser.; Windows, in PowerShell:irm https://antigravity.google/cli/install.ps1 | iex; Mac and Linux, in the terminal:curl -fsSL https://antigravity.google/cli/install.sh | bash

Prices at the maker ↗

Grok

xAI · for the experienced

Where to talk to it: Terminal only, the grok command
What is needed: A Grok subscription, from the lowest paid plan.
Model: The strongest Grok model
How to get it: The maker’s line in the terminal; sign-in in the browser.; Windows, in PowerShell:irm https://x.ai/cli/install.ps1 | iex; Mac and Linux, in the terminal:curl -fsSL https://x.ai/cli/install.sh | bash

Prices at the maker ↗

OpenCode

open source · for the experienced

Where to talk to it: The app or the terminal (Mac and Linux); The OpenCode app ↗
What is needed: An own model provider with a key, or OpenCode Console (pay per use, some models free for a limited time), or Go for 10 USD a month.
Model: That provider’s strongest model
How to get it: The maker’s line in the terminal.; opencode in the terminal; Mac and Linux, in the terminal:curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

Model providers ↗

Gemini CLI? For regular accounts Google replaced it with Antigravity in June 2026.

Two modes

With an agent, research. Without one, a Strom archive

Recommended · uses an AI subscription

With an agent

The agent searches registers and archives online, writes down what is proven and asks about what is unclear.

Every fact with a source
A conflict instead of overwriting proof
Everything the Strom archive has
Agent of choice

The default when an AI agent is on the computer. Agents →

Free

A Strom archive, without AI

The data is entered in the Strom app, and the research holds it with sources and history. Nothing leaves the computer.

History of every change
Backups
Originals in full quality

Free. Chosen in the setup. In the program: strom mode archive. Backing up the family tree →

The same line installs both. From the app without an agent, the setup asks nothing and sets up a Strom archive. In the terminal without an agent, it offers to install Claude Code, to show the agents, or just a Strom archive for now. With an agent on the computer, it asks which of the two to set up. When an agent is installed later, the research continues with it by itself.

Switching works any time, both ways; nothing is deleted. strom mode research strom mode archive

Step by step

How it goes

1
Whom to look for

The agent gets what is known: names, dates, places, family stories. That is where the research starts.
2
The agent searches

It proposes what to look for and searches digitised parish registers and archives. When there is something to decide, it asks.
3
Each archive by its own rules

Every archive has a level: allowed, limited, by hand only, or forbidden. Strom Research reads each archive's rules for automated download daily, and a limited archive gets at most one image every 10 seconds. Where the terms are unclear, the research asks once and works on other tasks meanwhile. Only a person can set a milder level.
4
The family tree and the family book

The family tree grows in the Strom app, every fact with its source: the entry cut out of its scan, with its words. For ancestors whose lives the records tell, the agent writes short stories for the family book. It can also be edited in the app by hand; the edits then go to the research.
Open the Strom app →

Live

How the research grows, live

In the Strom app on the same computer (Chrome, Edge or Firefox), the family tree grows by itself while the agent works: new people are highlighted, and a small panel shows who is at work on what and what is waiting.

The agent offers it by itself; a yes is enough.

Live watching works only in the Strom app on the same computer as the research, in Chrome, Edge or Firefox; not in Safari. A phone gets only the finished family tree, as a file.

With a Strom archive, the status shows in the app’s bar.

Open the Strom app how to install →

The Live research panel: what the agent is working on, what is waiting and what comes next.

Safety and privacy

The research stays on the computer

The Strom archive sends nothing out. With an agent, data goes only to the chosen agent.

A folder on the computer
The research lives in a folder on the computer. Strom Research keeps a history of every change, so nothing gets lost.
What goes to the agent’s maker
The conversation with the agent and the record images it reads go to its maker (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google…) under their terms. Strom Research itself sends nothing anywhere; it only fetches record images from archives, as their terms allow.
Consent comes from a person
When something needs a yes, Strom Research opens a window on the screen. The agent can’t see it or click it.
The agent can make mistakes
That is why it records only what the records prove and shows the source of every fact; each one can be checked.
By the archives’ rules
Strom Research follows each archive’s terms of use and prefers its official downloads. It fetches slowly and stops when the archive says so. Where an archive wants a person (its own sign-in, or no automated download), that step is done by hand. The login stays on the computer; the agent never sees it. The agent can never loosen an archive's level; only a person can.

What the agent may do on its own

AskAsks about everything outside the research.
On its own (recommended)Works on its own and asks only about risky steps.
EverythingEverything without asking; only on a computer with nothing else of value.

Chosen in the setup, and it can be changed any time.

Open source
Verified installer
No account with us

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is programming knowledge needed?

No. The agent takes plain language, the way one writes to a person. Win + R or the terminal gets just one line; Strom Research does the rest.

What does it cost?

Strom Research, the Strom app and the Strom archive are free; Strom Research charges nothing. Research with an agent needs the agent’s own subscription at its maker, from about 20 USD a month; when it hits its limit, the research stops and what was found stays saved. The amounts are under What does it cost?

Does the research work without AI?

Yes. The Strom archive is free and without AI. Research with an agent can be switched on later.

Does it work on Windows?

Yes, on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 (x64 and ARM64), on macOS and on Linux.

Does the research work on a phone?

No. The research runs on a computer; it can be followed and linked only in the Strom app on that same computer. A phone gets only the finished family tree, as a file (export on the computer, import on the phone).

Where is the data?

In a folder on the computer (by default Documents/Strom). With an agent, what is written to it and the record images it reads go to the agent’s maker.

Is the Strom app needed?

The agent works without it: the result is also a GEDCOM file (.ged), which every genealogy program can read. Even so, the Strom app is the main part and the research an optional add-on on a computer: the results are viewed and edited in the app, which also shows the family tree grow while the agent works. Edits from the app go to the research; sending works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox on the same computer (Chrome may ask about access to other apps and services on the device). A Strom archive keeps the family tree from the app, so without the app it makes no sense.

How do the research’s results get into the app?

With the Strom app item of the research menu (e.g. Open the research in the Strom app, strom app): the first time it opens as a new family tree, after that as the same family tree, updated. Without it, the file output/tree-strom.ged from the research folder can be dragged into the app’s window, or opened with the installed app (Chrome, Edge on a computer); that, too, updates the same family tree. Import GEDCOM in the app’s menu creates a new family tree every time.

Does the research overwrite the family tree in the app?

No. The research version is loaded into the app only on request, and a backup is saved first.

Can a send be undone?

Yes, in the app and with strom sync undo. An undone send can be sent again.

Where to talk to the agent?

For an agent with both an app and a terminal, the setup asks. Antigravity and Grok work only in the terminal.

Can the research stop and continue another time?

Yes. Next time it is enough to tell the agent “let’s continue researching my ancestors”, or to open the “Strom research” shortcut on the desktop. The family tree stays in the browser and profile where it was entered: the app there has it, and the Strom app item of the research menu adds the new results to it (how). When the app is empty: why, and what helps.

Can the stories be turned off?

Yes. The setup asks about them; later it is enough to tell the agent that no stories are wanted.

Can the research be looked through without the agent?

Yes, and it costs nothing. The Strom Research menu shows the research at a glance, what came in lately, what the agent will do next, one person’s life with its records and the ancestors as a family tree.

Can the family tree be edited by hand, without the agent?

Yes. Edits in the Strom app go to the research (how). That needs no agent; the agent is only for searching the archives. Facts proven by a record are not overwritten: both versions show up as a conflict to decide.

The family tree is in another program. Can the research build on it?

Yes. Exported as GEDCOM (.ged) or .json, it loads in the research: Add to the research → Take in edits from the Strom app or another family tree (.ged, .json). The research recognises what’s new and overwrites none of its own records.

Is it allowed to download from archives like this?

Strom Research keeps to what each archive allows. Before the agent uses an archive, it looks up its terms of use; where they don’t allow automated download, Strom Research leaves the images to be saved by hand and only shows which ones. It reads each archive's rules for automated download daily, and a limited archive gets at most one image every 10 seconds and 120 requests an hour. The images are for one’s own research: publishing or sharing them follows the archive’s terms.

The installation did nothing. What now?

A new terminal window and the command strom usually help. If not, strom doctor checks everything and, after a yes, fixes it.

Step-by-step help →

A look inside

What the research looks like (gallery)

A sample family tree of the Hartley family from Thornbury, as the agent put it together. Each person shows what the facts rest on and what is still missing.

**The whole research at a glance** What the agent is doing, what it found in the last 24 hours, what is waiting and what it cost.

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**The whole research at a glance** What the agent is doing, what it found in the last 24 hours, what is waiting and what it cost.

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From the app to the research

Edits from the app to the research

trial

Browser

The Strom appmain family tree

Send Load the research's version

On the computer

Research family tree, sources

Agent reads and writes

Archives parish registers online

The family tree has two copies: in the app (the main one) and in the research. Changes pass between them only on request, or automatically.

ManuallyRecommended

Only when Send is clicked. What will be sent is shown first.
Automatically

After every change, by themselves after a short pause.
Only load

Nothing goes to the research. Its version loads only on request.

Chosen when the family tree is handed over; it can be changed in the Research for this tree dialog.

Edits from the app reach the research through its connection to the app, which runs while the research is open (Strom app in the research menu, or the link in the app). While it is not running, the edits stay in the app.

Manually, step by step

Send. In the app: Research in the bar → Send changes.
Preview. Every change is shown before sending.
The research writes it. Whatever it does not write is always shown.

The research version is loaded only on request, always with a backup.
What is proven is not overwritten: a conflict appears and is decided in the app, with one link to the research. A Strom archive writes everything and sets deleted items aside.
Every send can be undone and sent again.

Josef Dvořákconflict

Birth

From the app1880, Lipová

In the research · register12 Mar 1879, Lipovábaptisms Lipová 1870–1890, p. 112

strom conflict resolve --take user|research

A conflict at the person: both versions side by side. On a computer with the research, it is decided right in the app: keep the value from the app, or take the research's value.

Sending works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. From Safari, the family tree moves to Chrome, Edge or Firefox by a file; GEDCOM export is the second way.

Edits are sent from the app on the same computer the research runs on.

In Safari: the research installed from the app takes the family tree over by a file and opens it in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Or Export GEDCOM in the app, then the file goes into the research through the menu Add to the research or strom sync <file>.

Support for the project

Strom Research and the Strom app are free and open source (GNU AGPL v3 or later), and they always will be. A coffee supports further development.

A coffee for Strom

For AI agents

This part is for the AI agent. People can skip it. ShowHide

# Strom Research — for AI agents

The user wants to research their family history with you, using strom: a
program that makes you a careful genealogical researcher (parish registers,
archives, evidence, a family tree for the Strom app). Talk to the user in
their language.

1. Check whether strom is installed: run `strom --version`. strom and the
research live on the computer where it is installed. If you work on a
computer of your own (a cloud machine or server, not the user's), tell the
user before you install it: the research would be kept there, not on their
computer, and the Strom app on their computer could not open it. Install it
where they want it.
2. If it is not, ask the user for permission to install it. The installer is
a short script — read it before you run it: it downloads the program for
this computer from the project's GitHub release, checks it against the
release's SHASUMS256.txt, puts it into the user's own folder (no admin
rights) and adds that folder to PATH. Source:
https://github.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research/tree/main/install
- Windows (PowerShell):
`Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research/main/install/install.ps1 -OutFile "$env:TEMP\strom-install.ps1"`,
read the file, then
`Get-Content -Raw -Encoding UTF8 "$env:TEMP\strom-install.ps1" | iex`
(read as UTF-8: Windows PowerShell 5.1 would take the file in another code page)
- macOS, Linux:
`curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research/main/install/install.sh -o /tmp/strom-install.sh`,
read the file, then `sh /tmp/strom-install.sh`
If your own safety checks stop a step, do not work around them: show the
user the command, say what it does, and let them allow it or run it
themselves in a terminal. (People use the one-line forms:
`irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research/main/install/install.ps1 | iex` on Windows, `curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research/main/install/install.sh | sh`
elsewhere.) The installer prints the full path of strom; use that path
until a new terminal has it on PATH.
3. Run `strom`. It says where things stand and what to do next — follow it.
Not set up yet: ask the user where to keep the research (suggest the
default it names) and which language they want, then run the setup
command it gives you. If an agent has both a desktop app and a terminal
here, strom says which the user talks in; ask which they prefer (the app
is the easiest): `strom setup --where app|terminal`. `strom guide`
explains the whole work; `strom help` lists every command for you.
4. From here on strom leads the work — the same for every agent, also for
one on its own server: read `strom guide` before the first step (the rules
of the research and the way to work, kept up to date with strom), and run
`strom` before each step — it names the next one. Work only in strom's
sessions on its tasks (`strom session start` … `strom session close`),
change the research only through `strom` commands, and ask the user before
decisions: whom to research, what they know, anything that needs their
permission. When strom opens a window asking for consent, tell the user to
answer it — you cannot. A research may be a Strom archive (no agent work):
strom says so; only the user switches it on (`strom mode research`).
5. Next time the user can simply ask you to continue the research, or run
`strom` in a terminal (or the "Strom research" shortcut on the desktop);
the commands a person uses, in their language: `strom help --human`.
To remove strom again: `strom uninstall` (the research stays).

Source code and license (AGPL-3.0-or-later): https://github.com/ACiDekCZ/strom-research

Ancestor research on one’s own computer

What is it?

What is this?

How does it work?

What does it cost?

How to start?

Starting ancestor research

Agent and subscription

The line from the Strom app

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

Agent and subscription

The line from the web

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

The line from the Strom app

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start without an agent

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

The line from the web

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start without an agent

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

Agent and subscription

The line from the Strom app

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

Agent and subscription

The line from the web

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

The line from the Strom app

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start without an agent

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

The line from the web

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start without an agent

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

Agent and subscription

The line from the Strom app

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide

First start

Connection with the Strom app

Next time

Agent and subscription

The line from the web

Paste and run

System windows

Setup guide