Button FAQ

Short answers to what people ask once they start using Button. For plans and limits, see pricing; for the safety model, see security.

Setting up a tool

Do I need to change my script to use it with Button?

No library to import and nothing to rewrite. Your program takes the form values as command-line arguments and writes its result files into the output folder Button passes it. It runs on your computer under your user account, with the interpreters and packages you already have.

How do form values and uploaded files reach my script?

Our servers pass the values and files from the browser to the runner on your computer. The runner starts your program directly, without a shell, and passes every value as its own argument; an uploaded file arrives as the path to a copy in a fresh folder for that run. Values can't start with -. Files can be up to 25 MB each, with up to 8 files and 100 MB per run.

Why didn't my run produce any downloads?

Results are collected only when the program exits successfully (exit code 0), and only from the files it wrote into the output folder that match the outputs you set up for the tool. A run that fails, is cancelled or hits the 30-minute limit has no downloads.

What happens if I edit my script or change the tool?

Changing a tool's command or form means it has to be approved again on your computer, and the people you invited confirm the new version before they run it again. The approval covers the command and the form, not the contents of the script file: an edit to the script's code takes effect on the next run, without a new approval.

Can I install the runner on a server or a spare computer?

Yes, as long as it runs macOS, Linux or Windows and stays on and online. Install it with the same command and a pairing code from the app. On a Linux machine you log out of, run sudo loginctl enable-linger $USER once so the runner keeps running. Every plan connects one computer per workspace.

Can I move Button to a different computer?

Yes. Install the runner on the new computer with a new pairing code from the app. Pairing it replaces the old computer, as long as the old one has no run in progress.

Can I run my own tools?

Yes. You can open and run your own tools without an invite. Those runs count toward your workspace's monthly runs.

Running tools

What happens if two colleagues press Run at the same time?

A computer runs one job at a time. The first run starts and the page shows Busy; the second is turned away instead of queued, and that person tries again when the page shows Ready.

What happens if a run takes longer than 30 minutes?

It's stopped at 30 minutes. Because results are only collected when the program exits successfully, a run stopped at the limit has no downloads.

Can several colleagues use the same tool?

Yes. Invite each of them by email; each one signs in with the address you invited and sees only their own runs. Free allows 3 people across the workspace and Pro 250.

How do I take away someone's access?

Revoke it from the tool in the app, or give it an end date so it expires on its own. Invites that haven't been accepted yet can be revoked too. Once access is gone, they can't open the form or start a run.

Accounts

Can we sign in without a Google account?

Yes. You and the colleagues you invite can sign in with a one-time code sent by email instead. Colleagues sign in with the address their invite went to, and Google and an email code for the same address are the same account.

How do I delete my account?

Email bart@bitgate.com from the address on your Button account and we'll delete it, including your workspace, tools, invites and run history.