FlowOS v0.1.0 — Initial Release

# FlowOS v0.1.0 — Initial Release

FlowOS is an AI-powered desktop operating system. Instead of a traditional shell or desktop environment, you talk to Claude — which has real access to your system and can run commands, manage files, install software, and control applications through natural conversation.

## What's included

- **AI shell** — Claude with full tool access replaces the traditional terminal
- **Plugin system** — 9 optional plugins: git, docker, ssh, browser, spotify, homeserver, notes, weather, clipboard
- **Docker Engine** — pre-installed and auto-starts on boot
- **Developer tools** — git, nodejs, npm, jq, tmux, rsync, vim, nano, build tools, nmap, and more
- **GRUB bootloader** — hybrid BIOS + UEFI, boots on modern and legacy hardware
- **Live boot** — runs entirely in RAM, nothing written to your hard drive

## System requirements

- x86-64 processor (Intel or AMD)
- 2GB RAM minimum, 4GB recommended
- USB drive (512MB+)
- BIOS or UEFI firmware

## Flash to USB

**Easiest — Balena Etcher (Mac/Windows/Linux):**
Download at https://etcher.balena.io, select `flowos.iso`, select your USB drive, click Flash.

**Linux:**
```bash
sudo dd if=flowos.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync

Mac:

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN
sudo dd if=flowos.iso of=/dev/rdiskN bs=4m

First boot

1. Boot from USB (F12 or Del at startup to select boot device)
2. Select FlowOS Desktop from the GRUB menu
3. Enter your [Anthropic API key](https://console.anthropic.com) when prompted
4. Start talking

Links

• Documentation: https://flowos.wiki
• Source code: https://github.com/Mattjhagen/FlowOS-Project-Aquarius

FlowOS v0.0.3 Release Notes

FlowOS v0.0.3 Release Notes

---

Boot Experience

• New animated GRUB splash screen — dark navy background with cyan tech grid, corner brackets, and the FLOWOS logotype. Displays behind the boot menu on both BIOS and UEFI systems.
• Initramfs ANSI splash — clears the screen and displays the full block-character FLOWOS logo in cyan as soon as the kernel hands off to init. Each boot stage (hardware init, media scan, filesystem load, overlay setup) shows a live spinner that resolves to a colored status line.
• Verbose boot entry added to GRUB menu for diagnosing boot issues without editing kernel params.
• RAM mode entry added — boots entirely into memory, useful for low-write environments.

Persistence

• Persistent boot mode — select "saves changes" from the GRUB menu and writes survive reboot via an OverlayFS upper layer on an ext4 flowos-data partition.
• Initramfs scans for the flowos-data labeled partition automatically; falls back to live mode with a clear warning if none is found.

Dual Boot

• GRUB menu includes a "Boot installed OS" entry that chainloads the first disk, preserving existing Windows / macOS / Linux installations.

SSH

• SSH sessions no longer prompt for an Anthropic API key. The key is loaded from ~/.flowos/api_key before the SSH check runs, so it is already exported in the session.
• SSH host keys are pre-generated at build time so sshd starts on first boot without delay.

Bundled Tools

• Added to the ISO rootfs: Docker, Docker Compose, Node.js, npm, jq, tmux, rsync, nmap, netcat, strace, lsof, xclip, zip/unzip.
• flowos user is added to the docker group at build time — no sudo needed for Docker commands.
• DBus and Docker start automatically via OpenRC.

GUI Plugin Store

• Snap Store integration — search and install any snap package directly from the store UI without leaving FlowOS.
• Mode tabs let you switch between the built-in plugin library and the live Snap Store search.

FlowOS v0.0.2

# FlowOS v0.0.2

## What's new

### SSH support
- SSH daemon starts automatically on boot — no manual setup required
- SSH sessions drop straight to bash with your API key already loaded; no prompt, no interruption
- Run `flowos` in the SSH session to launch the AI interface over the connection
- Host keys are pre-generated at build time so there's no first-connection delay

### Docker pre-installed
- Docker Engine and Docker Compose are bundled in the ISO and start automatically via OpenRC
- The `flowos` user is in the `docker` group — no `sudo` needed for docker commands
- The docker plugin works out of the box on first boot

### More tools out of the box
| Tool | What it's for |
|---|---|
| `docker` + `docker-compose` | Container management |
| `dbus` | Spotify MPRIS control (spotify plugin) |
| `xclip` | Clipboard plugin on Linux |
| `nodejs` + `npm` | JavaScript runtime and package manager |
| `jq` | JSON processing in the terminal |
| `tmux` | Terminal multiplexer |
| `nmap` + `netcat` | Network diagnostics |
| `rsync` | File sync |
| `build-base` + `make` | Compile packages from source |

## Bug fixes
- Fixed Snap Store tab in the GUI plugin store — any snap can now be searched and installed directly from the store
- Fixed SSH blocking behind the API key prompt on first boot

## Flash to USB

**Easiest — Balena Etcher (Mac/Windows/Linux):**
Download at https://etcher.balena.io

**Linux:**
```bash
sudo dd if=flowos.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync

Mac:

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN && sudo dd if=flowos.iso of=/dev/rdiskN bs=4m

Links

• Documentation: https://flowos.wiki
• Website: https://projectaquarius.space
• Source: https://github.com/Mattjhagen/FlowOS-Project-Aquarius