Introducing cockpit: a better way to install your local agents

Connecting to on-premise software is a different kind of problem than connecting to a cloud one. With cloud software, the integration boundary is well-defined: an API endpoint, an auth flow, a webhook. The contract is explicit.

With on-premise, the boundary is the entire machine: you are dealing with Windows services, COM components, credentials, file paths, versions compatibility. There is an environment, and everything in it has to be correctly in place before a single piece of data can move.

For developers integrating with on-premise accounting software, this has historically meant a manual, error-prone process: install the agent, hope the right components are present, debug silently when something is off, and loop back through support when it isn't.

Cockpit changes that.

What Cockpit is

Cockpit is a Windows desktop application that acts as a control center for installing, configuring, and monitoring Chift's local agents on your server. It is currently available for the following on-premise connectors:

• Sage 100 FR (GC)
• Sage 200 (ES)
  
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What it does

Guided installation from start to finish

Cockpit walks you through each step of the agent installation process. Rather than relying on documentation and manual checks, you follow a structured flow that ensures every required component is in place. At the end, Cockpit confirms whether the connection is up and running, no guesswork.

Built-in validation

Once installed, Cockpit runs health checks on the connector to verify it is correctly configured on the machine. It checks that required COMs are present, that their versions are compatible with the associated services, and that credentials are valid. If anything fails, the error message tells you exactly what is missing or wrong.

Configuration management

Cockpit provides a unified interface to manage connector settings, host addresses, credentials, file paths, and more. Sensitive fields such as passwords and tokens are DPAPI-encrypted and masked on screen. Advanced configuration fields are hidden by default and can be revealed when needed, keeping the interface clean for standard use cases.

Automatic updates

Cockpit checks for updates every time it launches. When a new version is available, it notifies you and handles the download and restart automatically. No need to track releases or run new installers manually. This applies to the cockpit itself not the local agent services.
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Why it matters

Local agent installation has always been one of the higher-friction points in an on-premise integration. The component dependencies are not always obvious, the failure modes are not always explicit, and the back-and-forth with support adds time to what should be a straightforward setup.

Cockpit compresses that process. The guided flow removes ambiguity at installation time, the built-in validation catches configuration issues before they surface in production, and the automatic update mechanism ensures agents stay current without any manual intervention.

For developers building on Chift, it means faster time to a working connection and fewer support cycles on setup issues. For end-users on-site, it means a process that is explainable, recoverable, and doesn't require deep technical knowledge to complete.

Ready to set up your first local agent with Cockpit? Get in touch with the team or check out the documentation to get started.

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