Pacakage version bump, and update docs

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -43,10 +43,7 @@ To run the API server, Studio server, and Studio Web UI with auto-reload for dev
 
 ### Running the Desktop App
 
-Running the desktop app without building an executable:
-
-- First, build the web UI from the `app/web_ui` directory: `npm run build`
-- Then run the desktop app: `uv run python -m app.desktop.desktop`
+See the [desktop README](app/desktop/README.md) instructions for running the desktop app locally.
 
 ### Building the Desktop App
 

app/desktop/README.md

@@ -2,14 +2,10 @@
 
 ## MacOS Environment Setup
 
-Something similar probably needed on other platforms.
-
-Basic idea: install system python including TK/TCL, and tell UV venv to use that.
-
-Currently has to be python 3.12.
+UV python doesn't include TK/TCL [yet](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv/issues/7036). Instead, we install system python including TK/TCL, and tell UV venv to use system python.
 
 ```
-# Install python 3.12 and python-tk 3.12 with homebrew. Can't UV python, it doens't have TK.
+# Install python 3.12 and python-tk 3.12 with homebrew
 brew install [email protected]
 brew install [email protected]
 
@@ -26,13 +22,20 @@ uv run python --version
 uv run python -m app.desktop.desktop
 ```
 
-## MacOS Code Signing
+## Building the Desktop App
+
+Typically building desktop apps are done in a CI/CD pipeline, but if you need to build the desktop app locally, you can do so with:
 
-How to sign on of the builds from GitHub Actions for official release.
+```bash
+cd app/desktop
+uv run ./build_desktop_app.sh
+```
+
+## MacOS Code Signing
 
-Easy way, but just signs with personal ID, not developer ID: `codesign --force --deep -s - kiln.app`
+Easy way, but just signs with personal ID for local development: `codesign --force --deep -s - kiln.app`
 
-Proper way with a developer ID:
+Sign with a developer ID (should only be done for official releases by Kiln team):
 
 1. Get developer ID name: `security find-identity -v -p codesigning`
 2. Run `codesign --force --deep -s "Developer ID Application: YOUR NAME (XXXXXXXX)" kiln.app`

libs/core/README.md

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # kiln_ai
 
+<p align="center">
+    <picture>
+        <img width="205" alt="Kiln AI Logo" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5fbcbdf7-1feb-45c9-bd73-99a46dd0a47f">
+    </picture>
+</p>
+
 [![PyPI - Version](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/kiln-ai.svg?logo=pypi&label=PyPI&logoColor=gold)](https://pypi.org/project/kiln-ai)
 [![PyPI - Python Version](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/kiln-ai.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/kiln-ai)
 [![Docs](https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-pdoc-blue)](https://kiln-ai.github.io/Kiln/kiln_core_docs/index.html)
@@ -12,12 +18,41 @@
 pip install kiln_ai
 ```
 
-## About Kiln AI
+## About
+
+This package is the Kiln AI core library. There is also a separate desktop application and server package. Learn more about Kiln AI at [getkiln.ai](https://getkiln.ai)
+
+- Github: [github.com/Kiln-AI/kiln](https://github.com/Kiln-AI/kiln)
+- Core Library Docs: [https://kiln-ai.github.io/Kiln/kiln_core_docs/index.html](https://kiln-ai.github.io/Kiln/kiln_core_docs/index.html)
+
+## Quick Start
 
-Learn more about Kiln AI at [getkiln.ai](https://getkiln.ai)
+```python
+from kiln_ai.datamodel import Project
 
-This package is the Kiln AI core library. There is also a separate desktop application and server package.
+print("Reading Kiln project")
+project = Project.load_from_file("path/to/project.kiln")
+print("Project: ", project.name, " - ", project.description)
 
-Github: [github.com/Kiln-AI/kiln](https://github.com/Kiln-AI/kiln)
+task = project.tasks()[0]
+print("Task: ", task.name, " - ", task.description)
+print("Total dataset size:", len(task.runs()))
 
-Docs: [https://kiln-ai.github.io/Kiln/kiln_core_docs/index.html](https://kiln-ai.github.io/Kiln/kiln_core_docs/index.html)
+# ... app specific code using the typed kiln datamodel
+
+# Alternatively, load data into pandas or a similar tool:
+import glob
+import json
+import pandas as pd
+from pathlib import Path
+
+dataitem_glob = str(task.path.parent) + "/runs/*/task_run.kiln"
+
+dfs = []
+for file in glob.glob(dataitem_glob):
+    js = json.loads(Path(file).read_text())
+    df = pd.json_normalize(js)
+    dfs.append(df)
+final_df = pd.concat(dfs, ignore_index=True)
+print(final_df)
+```

libs/core/pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "kiln-ai"
-version = "0.5.3"
+version = "0.5.4"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 readme = "README.md"
 description = 'Kiln AI'

libs/server/pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "kiln-server"
-version = "0.5.2"
+version = "0.5.4"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = 'Kiln AI Server'
 readme = "README.md"
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ classifiers = [
 dependencies = [
     "fastapi>=0.115.4",
     "httpx>=0.27.2",
-    "kiln-ai>=0.5.3",
+    "kiln-ai>=0.5.4",
     "pydantic>=2.9.2",
     "python-dotenv>=1.0.1",
     "uvicorn>=0.32.0",