Click here to download the Shared Clustering application for Windows

If the previous link doesn't work for you, click here to download the same thing in *.zip format. But try the main link first. It seems to work fine for most people.

System requirements

Shared Clustering is a Windows application. It requires a Windows system to run.

Shared Clustering is distributed using Microsoft ClickOnce technology. That means that it will connect to the internet when you launch it to check for updates, and it will automatically download an update if it finds one.

Security warnings during installation

Because Shared Clustering is not a signed using Windows Authenticode Code Signing, a security warning will be shown during installation. That warning will look something like this (exact content will vary based on your version of Windows):

It would cost several hundred dollars per year to turn off that warning. I'm not in a hurry to spend money on an application that everyone can use for free.

Plus, buying the certificate accomplishes nothing beyond turning off the warning. The warning is correct in general. Downloading software from the Internet indeed can potentially harm your computer. That's true whether the installer displays the warning or not.

I know that I'm trustworthy. If you're technically inclined, you can download the source code and build your own application and bypass the installer completely. For everyone else, if you don't already trust me then you certainly shouldn't trust anything I say that tries to convince you otherwise.

Windows Defender security warning

Here is the corresponding warning from Windows Defender. Clicking on the "More info" link will reveal the option to continue with the installation.

A different security warning

One person reported a slightly different security warning:

"Your administrator has blocked this application because it potentially poses a security risk to your computer. Your security settings do not allow this application to be installed on your computer."

That user was able to get past the warning by downloading and running the free Trust Prompt Tool. I have no experience with that tool, so I am providing that list as a point of information.

This version of the error message is apparently fairly uncommon.

Norton is VERY protective

Recent versions of Norton AntiVirus have become VERY protective, blocking all sorts of stuff. One example message is shown here:

Norton's message is accurate, as far as it goes. Shared Clustering does indeed have very few users, especially compared to programs like Microsoft Word or Google Chrome. Many types of fresh malware also have very few users. Norton isn't wrong in being conservative here.

On the other hand, there's nothing automatically bad about having few users. Shared Clustering is designed to do one thing and do it well. It will never have millions of users. That's simply not the point of the software.

FWIW, Norton agrees that there isn't necessarily a problem here. It says that the software is "Unproven", not that it's malicious. Norton is being extra careful because they don't know for sure.

Ultimately, it's up to you what to do about this. If it bothers you that Norton can't sign off on Shared Clustering, then you shouldn't use Shared Clustering. If you're comfortable using it, then you should go ahead and use it. If you want to hear from other people who ARE using it, you can check out the Shared Clustering User Group on Facebook.

What about a Macintosh version? A Linux version?

Right now, Shared Clustering is only available for Windows. Sorry. However, Shared Clustering is also Open Source. I think it would be great if someone would like to take the source code and compile it into a Macintosh or Linux (or any other) version.

Ken Spratlin has posted a description of how he is running Shared Clustering on his Mac using VirtualBox.