Version 1.0.4

Study Stream Black

The Complete User Guide for the Ultimate Desktop Learning Environment.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." — Aristotle
01

What is Study Stream Black?

Study Stream Black is a free, offline-first desktop application built for serious learners. It transforms your downloaded courses into a Netflix-style library, gives you a custom video player built for learning (not entertainment), lets your AI tutor read your course subtitles and answer your questions in real time, and connects you with a leaderboard of scholars grinding alongside you.

Core Philosophy

Your focus environment should be as powerful as your courses. No browser tabs, no notifications, no excuses.

Pillar What it means
Offline-First Your courses live on your disk. No internet required to study.
AI-Powered Your AI reads your course subtitles and answers contextual questions.
Time-Synced Notes Notes are anchored to the exact second in the video.
Gamified XP, levels, streaks, and a live leaderboard keep you accountable.
02

Installation

Downloading the App

Head to the official release page on GitHub. Download the latest .exe installer file.

https://github.com/Rohit0072/study-stream-black/releases

Windows Security Warning

Don't Panic!

Windows may show a "Windows protected your PC" warning. This is normal because the app is not code-signed (certificates cost hundreds of dollars). The app is 100% open-source.

How to bypass:

  1. Click "More info" below the warning text.
  2. Click the "Run anyway" button that appears.
  3. The installer will proceed normally.
03

First Launch

On first launch, you'll see the Welcome Screen. This is a quick onboarding flow:

  • Choose Your Name — Becomes your Scholar Handle.
  • Tour the UI — Brief walkthrough of sections.
  • Set Library Folder — Point to where your courses live.
04

Setting Up AI (Gemini)

The AI assistant is the crown jewel of Study Stream. To use it, you need to connect your own Google Gemini API key.

Getting Your API Key

Google Gemini offers a generous free tier — no credit card needed.

  1. Go to Google AI Studio: aistudio.google.com/app/apikey
  2. Sign in with Google.
  3. Click "Create API Key".
  4. Copy the key (starts with AIzaSy...).

Choosing the Model

Go to Settings → AI Settings in the app, paste your key, and select a model:

Tier Model Recommendation
Free gemma-3-27b-it Best free choice. Excellent for Q&A.
Paid gemini-2.0-flash Best balance of speed and quality.
05

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard is your home base. It provides a quick snapshot of your study life.

  • Continue Watching: Jumps straight back to where you left off.
  • Motivational Quote: Changes daily.
  • Streak Counter: Your consecutive days of study.
  • Daily Goal: Progress bar for your daily target.
06

Adding Your First Course

The Golden Rule

Study Stream reads your local filesystem. The structure must follow a specific hierarchy to work correctly.

Folder Structure

📁 [Course Name] ← HEAD FOLDER
│
├── 📁 [Section 1 Name] ← NESTED FOLDER
│ ├── 🎬 01 - Intro.mp4
│ └── 📄 01 - Intro.srt ← Same name as video
│
└── 📁 [Section 2 Name]
└── 🎬 01 - Next.mp4

Naming your subtitle files exactly the same as your video files (e.g., Intro.mp4 and Intro.srt) allows the AI to "see" the course content.

07

The Video Player

The video player is purpose-built for learning. Every feature exists to help you study better.

Smart Notes & Bookmarks

Notes in Study Stream aren't just text — they're timestamped anchors.

  • Press Ctrl + N to take a note at the current time.
  • Press B to bookmark a moment.
  • Clicking a note later jumps the video to that exact second.
08

AI Study Assistant

The AI has multiple modes. The most powerful is Course Chat Mode.

How it works

When you open the chat while watching a video, the AI automatically reads the subtitle file. It knows the full transcript of the lesson, allowing you to ask contextual questions like "Explain that last concept differently" or "Quiz me on this section."

09

Productivity Center

A full hub for managing your study life beyond just watching videos.

Feature Description
Sessions Start a focused study timer (Pomodoro style) to track active time and earn XP.
Analytics Heatmaps, daily averages, and course completion rates.
Daily Planner Schedule study sessions in advance.
10

XP, Levels & Clearance

Every meaningful action earns XP (Experience Points). Your XP fills a progress bar toward the next level.

  • Watching video: ~5 XP/min
  • Completing a course: +500 XP bonus
  • Daily streak: +25 XP

As you level up, your Clearance Level increases, unlocking premium themes in the store.

11

Hall of Fame

A real-time global leaderboard where scholars compete based on total study hours and XP.

Privacy Note

To appear on the leaderboard, you must set a Scholar Handle in Settings. You can toggle your visibility at any time.

12

Themes Store

Customize your study environment. Themes are unlocked by leveling up, not by paying.

Theme Style Unlock Level
Standard Black Pure black, high contrast 1 (Default)
Naruto Orange fire energy Level 10
Roronoa Zoro Forest green, sharp edges Level 15
13

Settings Reference

The Settings panel is divided into key sections:

  • General: Startup behavior, daily goals.
  • AI: API keys, model selection, persona.
  • Player: Default speed, subtitle styling.
  • Profile: Scholar handle, avatar, XP reset.
14

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Play / Pause Space
Seek +10s / -10s → / ←
Volume Up / Down ↑ / ↓
Full Screen F
Take Note Ctrl + N
Bookmark B
Toggle Subtitles C