# Archipelago v0.5.0-beta Release Notes

**Release Date**: March 2026
**Target Platform**: Debian 12 (Bookworm) — x86_64 and ARM64

## Overview

This is the first public beta of Archipelago, a self-sovereign Bitcoin Node OS. Flash it to a USB, install on any x86_64 or ARM64 machine, and manage your personal server through a modern web interface.

## What's Included

### Core System
- Rust backend with RPC API and WebSocket real-time updates
- Vue 3 frontend with glassmorphism UI design
- Automated Podman container management
- Nginx reverse proxy with HTTPS (self-signed cert)
- Tor hidden services for all apps

### App Store (16+ Apps)
- **Bitcoin Stack**: Bitcoin Knots, Electrs, LND, BTCPay Server, Mempool, Fedimint
- **Storage**: File Browser, Immich, PhotoPrism
- **Productivity**: Penpot, SearXNG
- **AI**: Ollama (local LLMs)
- **Network**: Nostr Relay, Nginx Proxy Manager, Tailscale, Home Assistant
- **Platform**: IndeedHub

### Security
- AES-256-GCM encrypted secrets on disk
- Session management: 24h inactivity expiry, max 5 concurrent sessions
- TOTP two-factor authentication with backup codes
- Container hardening: read-only root, no new privileges, dropped capabilities
- Pinned container image versions (no `:latest` tags)
- Login rate limiting (5 attempts per 60 seconds per IP)
- Path traversal prevention (nginx + client-side)
- Cookie-based auth (no tokens in URLs)

### Identity & Web5
- Decentralized Identifier (DID) generation
- Identity backup/restore
- Nostr relay support

### Performance
- Backend startup: ~100ms
- Frontend bundle: ~105 KB gzipped
- WebSocket heartbeat with 30s ping/pong
- Exponential backoff reconnection (max 30s)
- Real-time install progress via WebSocket
- Server-side 5-minute inactivity timeout for stale connections

## Known Issues

1. **ARM64 ISO**: ARM64 builds may require manual testing — primary testing is on x86_64
2. **Bitcoin Initial Sync**: First blockchain sync takes 1-7 days depending on hardware
3. **Self-signed HTTPS**: Browser shows certificate warning on first visit (expected)
4. **Restore from Backup**: Not yet implemented in onboarding flow
5. **Connect to Existing Server**: Not yet implemented in onboarding flow
6. **Immich**: Stack installation may take 5+ minutes due to multiple container images
7. **Memory**: Running all apps simultaneously requires 16+ GB RAM
8. **Disk Space**: Full Bitcoin node + all apps requires 800+ GB

## Upgrade Path

This is a beta release. No upgrade path from beta to stable is guaranteed. Back up your data before installing.

## System Requirements

| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|-----------|---------|-------------|
| CPU | 4 cores | 8+ cores |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Storage | 500 GB SSD | 2 TB NVMe |
| Network | Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |

## Getting Started

1. Download the ISO for your architecture
2. Flash to USB with balenaEtcher or `dd`
3. Boot from USB on target hardware
4. Auto-installer runs — follow on-screen prompts
5. After reboot, navigate to `http://<server-ip>` in your browser
6. Complete the onboarding wizard
7. Start installing apps from the App Store

See [User Guide](docs/user-guide.md) for detailed instructions.