ForgeFlow/START_HERE.md

Start here — ForgeFlow v0.9.0

You do not need to send anyone your Gitea token, SSH key or server password. All credentials are entered locally in ForgeFlow during setup. Diagnostic logging is designed to exclude them.

Already running an older ForgeFlow release?

Run Publish-ForgeFlow-Release.ps1 from the validated source. It now publishes the source commit and matching Windows installer/portable assets together. Leave the currently installed older folder or executable untouched, then test Settings → ForgeFlow updates → Check now → Download update → Apply & restart. Configuration and credentials remain outside the application directory.

When version 0.9.0 source was already pushed without a Gitea binary release, run Publish-Missing-Binary-Release.ps1 -ExpectedVersion 0.9.0 once. Afterwards the existing 0.8.9 updater can install 0.9.0 normally.

Fast path on Windows

1. Extract the complete ForgeFlow ZIP to a normal local folder.
2. Open PowerShell in that folder.
3. Run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass
.\setup-windows.ps1

The script checks Node.js and Git, installs the desktop dependencies, runs the full source/test quality gate and opens ForgeFlow.

4. Follow the five-step setup wizard in the application.
5. Continue with docs/SETUP_GUIDE.md to connect one repository to a staging or production environment.

When something fails

Open Diagnostics in ForgeFlow and:

1. Run System preflight or the environment Deployment preflight.
2. Resolve any blocking checks shown in red.
3. Choose Create diagnostic ZIP.
4. Prefer Strict privacy when the bundle will be shared.
5. Inspect the ZIP before sharing it.

The bundle contains redacted application events, configuration structure, repository/deployment states, preflight output and a local safety-audit result. It intentionally excludes access tokens, encrypted token blobs and raw runner logs.

Detailed diagnostic behavior: docs/DIAGNOSTICS.md.

Unraid deployments

After the desktop app opens:

1. Open Settings → SSH / Unraid servers.
2. Add the Unraid host and /mnt/user/appdata.
3. Save it and run Test & trust.
4. Open a repository, go to Deployments, and choose SSH / Unraid.
5. Run Preflight before the first deployment.

See docs/SSH_UNRAID_DEPLOYMENT.md.