From install to first transfer.

1. Install Post

Download the Post client for your operating system, verify the checksum, install it, and make sure the post command is available from your terminal.

If you have not installed Post yet, start on the Download page for operating-system-specific instructions.

2. Create your Post name

Your Post name is the public name other Post users will use to find you and send transfers to you.

Choose a name you are comfortable sharing with the people or systems that need to communicate with you. The first Post name you create becomes your default sender name.

3. Get the recipient's Post name

Before you send anything, contact your recipient and ask for their exact Post name. This can be done by phone, text, email, in person, or through another trusted communication method.

For example, Bob tells Alice that his Post name is bob.

4. Confirm the Post name

Use post find to confirm that the Post name exists before sending your first transfer.

If Post confirms the name was found, you know that the name is registered. If the name is not found, stop and check the spelling with the recipient.

post find confirms that a Post name exists. You should still confirm through your normal trusted communication with the recipient that the name actually belongs to the person or organization you intend to reach.

5. Send a simple message first

For a new recipient, a short test message is a good first transfer. It lets both sides confirm that the Post names and workflow are correct before sending an important file.

Bob can then check his waiting transfers and retrieve the message.

6. Send a file

Once you have confirmed the recipient, sending a file uses the same Post name.

You can also include a message with the file:

7. Receive waiting transfers

The recipient can list transfers waiting for them:

Then retrieve a specific transfer or all waiting transfers:

8. A good first-time workflow

For someone you have never used Post with before, this is the simplest pattern:

1. Exchange Post names through a trusted communication method.
2. Run post find <postname> to confirm the name is registered.
3. Send a short test message.
4. Have the recipient confirm they received it.
5. Send the actual file or message.

This extra confirmation is especially useful when the information is sensitive or when you are communicating with a new Post user for the first time.