> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pidgeon.health/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Desktop Quickstart

> Install Pidgeon, generate an HL7 message in Post, validate it, and see the Pro features that unlock with an account.

The desktop apps are the point-and-click path through the same engine the CLI uses. This walkthrough uses **Post** — the free front door — then points at the Pro features and the other three products.

## Before you start

* [Install Pidgeon](/getting-started/install-windows) (or on [macOS](/getting-started/install-macos)). Installing the launcher does not install the individual product apps; each is its own download.
* Post's free generation and validation loop needs no account. Everything else on this page (Pro features, Flock, Loft, Migrate) requires a [Pidgeon account](/getting-started/account) sign-in.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Generate a message">
    Open Post and the **Generate** panel (under **Compose**). Pick a message type (for example `ADT^A01`), set a count, and generate. The message appears in the output pane with syntax highlighting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate it">
    Open the **Validate** panel (under **Inspect**). Paste your message or load the file, choose **strict** or **compatibility** mode, and read the field-level results with fix suggestions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run a conformance check">
    Open the **Conformance** panel (under **Inspect**) to probe a live FHIR endpoint against a published Implementation Guide — this is Conform, the module of Post covering US Core and Da Vinci PAS 2.1 today.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Explore the Pro features">
    Signing in with a Pro entitlement unlocks:

    * **Workflow Wizard** — build multi-step scenarios (admit → labs → discharge) visually
    * **Diff** — compare two messages or directories with field-level highlighting
    * **AI Triage** — plain-English explanations of validation failures (on-device or BYOK)
    * **Reports** — export HTML validation and conformance reports for stakeholders
    * Full reference datasets (LOINC, SNOMED CT, NDC, RxNorm, HCPCS)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Desktop apps and CLI share the same engine

Anything you do in a desktop app has a CLI equivalent, and CLI artifacts (reports, configs, profiles) are readable from the desktop apps:

```bash theme={null}
pidgeon generate ADT^A01 --count 10 --vendor epic_er
pidgeon validate --folder ./messages --mode strict
pidgeon conform --endpoint https://api.example.org/fhir --ig davinci-pas-2.1 --ci
```

## Next steps

* [Your Pidgeon account](/getting-started/account) — see your plan and entitlements
* [Get started with Flock](/getting-started/flock), [Loft](/getting-started/loft), or [Migrate](/getting-started/migrate)
* [Build test scenarios with the Workflow Wizard](/guides/build-test-scenarios)