Installation

ResearchOS is one product with three faces: a desktop app, a mobile companion, and the ros command line. The desktop package installs everything at once — no Python, no dependencies, no setup.

Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+, 64-bit)

Download the latest package from the download page from your beta invitation email, then:

sudo apt install ./researchos_<version>_amd64.deb

That single package installs the desktop app (applications menu → ResearchOS), the ros CLI, the background daemon, and the system libraries it needs. The daemon is registered as a systemd user service that starts at login, so sync and remote runs keep working with the app closed; opt out with systemctl --user disable researchos-daemon. Upgrades install the same way and never touch your data.

Android

Download researchos_<version>.apk from the download page from your beta invitation email and install it (allow "install from unknown sources" when asked). The companion needs a sync account to be useful — see the mobile guide.

Windows (64-bit)

Download ResearchOS-Setup-<version>.exe from the download page from your beta invitation email and run it. One installer brings the desktop app, the ros CLI and the daemon, with a Start-menu entry and an optional "add ros to PATH" step. The "start the background daemon at login" checkbox (on by default) keeps sync and remote runs working with the app closed — uncheck it to opt out. The binary is not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen warns on first run — choose "More info" then "Run anyway". Upgrades install over the previous version and never touch your data.

macOS

A native build is planned. The data layer and sync are already cross-platform.

What gets stored where

  • Workspaces — ordinary folders you choose; each holds its data in open formats (SQLite, Markdown, BibTeX, JSON) under .ros/ plus your files.
  • ~/.researchos/ — the workspace registry, daemon handshake and (if you use sync) your encrypted account material.
  • Uninstalling (sudo apt remove researchos) leaves every workspace untouched.
First launch shows a short welcome carousel plus an interactive walkthrough that points at the real buttons, screen by screen. Both can be replayed anytime from Settings. The interface follows your system language (English or French) and can be switched at any time in Settings → Language.