Getting started
Installing apps
Apps published to the App Center can be installed on any VibeOS desktop in a couple of clicks. Here's the full lifecycle, from discovery to launch.
Installing from inside VibeOS
Open the App Center
On a running VibeOS desktop, open the App Center from the dock or applications grid. It mirrors the public catalog you can browse at /apps.
Find an app
Browse by category — productivity, creativity, developer tools, news, sports, games and more — or search by name. Each listing shows the icon, tagline, install count and star rating so you can judge quality at a glance.
Review permissions
Before installing, VibeOS shows the permissions an app requests (for example file access or AI features). Only the capabilities the app declared in its manifest are granted.
Install & launch
Click Install. The app is added to your desktop and applications grid, and the global install count increments. Launch it like any native VibeOS window.
Installing from a .vibe file
You can install an app manually by opening a .vibe file directly. This is useful for testing your own builds or installing apps shared outside the App Center.
Open or drag the file
On your device, double-click the .vibe file if VibeOS is your default handler, or drag the file onto the VibeOS desktop. You can also open the App Center and choose Install from File, then select the file from your device.
Review and confirm
VibeOS validates the manifest, shows the permissions the app requests, and previews the app name and icon. Click Install to add it to your desktop.
Installing via URL
If you have a direct link to a .vibe file or a raw manifest URL, you can install it without downloading the file first.
Paste the URL in the App Center
Inside VibeOS, open the App Center and select Install from URL. Paste the link and press Load.
Confirm the install
VibeOS fetches the manifest, validates it, and shows the permission screen. Once you confirm, the app is downloaded and added to your desktop just like an App Center install.
What happens under the hood
- .vibe apps are stored as a manifest with inline HTML. Installing copies the manifest to your desktop — no external server is contacted to run the app.
- Website apps install a lightweight launcher that opens the app's URL inside a managed VibeOS window with the requested dimensions.
- Each app runs sandboxed. It can only use the permissions it declared and that you approved.
Updates & removal
When a developer publishes a new version, VibeOS surfaces an update in the App Center. Removing an app deletes it from your desktop; for website apps this only removes the launcher, not your account with that service.
File associations
fileExtensions field. Once installed, double-clicking a matching file in VibeOS opens it with that app.Ready to build one?