# holaOS System Requirements: Complete Guide for macOS, Linux, and Windows WSL

> Discover holaOS system requirements for macOS, Linux, and Windows WSL. Learn the minimal dependencies needed to run holaOS and get started quickly.

- Repository: [holaboss.ai/holaOS](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-08-15

---

**holaOS runs on macOS (Apple Silicon or Intel), Linux, or Windows via WSL, requiring only `curl`, `bash`, `git`, and Node.js ≥24—all automatically verified and installed by the deterministic installer.**

holaOS is a local-first, Electron-based desktop application designed for AI agent workflows. Whether you're deploying on a MacBook Pro, Ubuntu workstation, or Windows machine with WSL, understanding the **holaOS system requirements** ensures a smooth installation. The repository includes an automated installer in [`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/scripts/install.sh) that detects your platform and provisions missing dependencies.

## Supported Operating Systems

holaOS officially supports three platforms, with OS detection handled at runtime.

### macOS

- **Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)** and **Intel x86_64** architectures
- Automatic Homebrew integration for missing packages

### Linux

- Major distributions with standard package managers (apt, yum, etc.)
- Native bash environment without additional emulation layers

### Windows via WSL

- Windows Subsystem for Linux required—holaOS does not run natively on Windows
- Full Linux compatibility through WSL2 recommended

The `detect_os` function in `scripts/install.sh:86-98` identifies your platform automatically:

```bash

# Excerpt from scripts/install.sh showing OS detection logic

detect_os() {
    case "$(uname -s)" in
        Linux*)     OS=Linux;;
        Darwin*)    OS=macOS;;
        CYGWIN*|MINGW*) OS=Windows;;
    esac
}

```

## Required Command-Line Tools

Three core tools must be available to execute the one-line installer. The installer verifies each before proceeding.

| Tool | Purpose | Auto-Installation |
|------|---------|-------------------|
| `curl` | Downloads the installer and dependencies | No—must be pre-installed |
| `bash` | Executes the installer script | No—must be pre-installed |
| `git` | Clones the repository and manages versions | Yes—via Homebrew (macOS) or system package manager (Linux) |

Per `INSTALL.md:54-61`, verify these tools before running the installer:

```bash
curl --version   # must be present

bash --version   # must be present

git --version    # preferred, or installer will install it

```

## Node.js and npm Requirements

**Node.js version 24 or higher** is mandatory. The holaOS repository bundles a managed Node 24.14.1 installation that supersedes your system version if outdated.

### Managed Node Runtime

- Located in the repository's toolchain directory
- Automatically downloaded when system Node < 24
- Includes matching npm version

The installer logic in `scripts/install.sh:20-28` handles version checking:

```bash

# Check system Node version vs. required minimum

if ! command -v node &> /dev/null || [[ "$(node -v | cut -d'v' -f2 | cut -d'.' -f1)" -lt 24 ]]; then
    echo "Installing managed Node 24.14.1..."
    install_managed_node
fi

```

Verify your current Node status:

```bash
node --version  # must output v24.x.x or higher

npm --version   # must be present alongside Node

```

## Hardware and Runtime Environment

No explicit CPU or RAM thresholds are documented in the repository. However, as an **Electron-based application**, holaOS requires:

- Typical development machine capabilities
- Sufficient resources to host a Chromium renderer process
- ~2-4 GB available memory for build operations

The desktop application depends on a staged runtime bundle located at `apps/desktop/out/runtime-<platform>`. The installer prepares this automatically via `npm run desktop:prepare-runtime:local` (`INSTALL.md:78-84`).

## Automated Installation (Recommended)

The deterministic one-line installer handles all requirement checks and dependency installation:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/main/scripts/install.sh \
  | bash -s -- --launch

```

This command:
1. Detects your operating system (`detect_os`)
2. Verifies or installs `git`, `curl`, and `bash`
3. Checks Node.js version and installs managed Node 24 if needed
4. Clones the repository and prepares the runtime bundle
5. Launches the application with `--launch` flag

## Manual Installation Steps

For environments where automated installers are restricted, follow the sequence documented in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/INSTALL.md):

```bash

# 1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS.git
cd holaOS

# 2. Install desktop dependencies

npm run desktop:install

# 3. Configure environment variables

cp apps/desktop/.env.example apps/desktop/.env

# 4. Stage platform-specific runtime bundle

npm run desktop:prepare-runtime:local

# 5. Verify build integrity

npm run desktop:typecheck

# 6. Launch development instance (optional)

npm run desktop:dev

```

The `.env.example` file in `apps/desktop/` provides required environment defaults; the installer copies this automatically if `.env` is missing.

## Key Configuration Files

Understanding these files helps troubleshoot installation issues:

- **[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/INSTALL.md)** — Central documentation for minimum requirements and full installation procedures
- **[`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/scripts/install.sh)** — Automated installer with `detect_os`, version checking, and managed Node provisioning
- **[`apps/desktop/package.json`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/apps/desktop/package.json)** — Declares Electron dependencies and npm scripts including `desktop:install` and `desktop:prepare-runtime:local`
- **`apps/desktop/.env.example`** — Template for runtime configuration variables

## Summary

- **holaOS system requirements** are minimal: macOS, Linux, or Windows WSL with `curl`, `bash`, and internet access
- The [`scripts/install.sh`](https://github.com/holaboss-ai/holaOS/blob/main/scripts/install.sh) installer automatically provisions `git`, Node.js 24+, and npm if absent
- No explicit hardware requirements—standard development machines suffice for Electron execution
- Manual installation requires cloning, dependency installation, environment configuration, and runtime bundle preparation
- All platforms use the same core toolchain with platform-specific runtime bundles staged automatically

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does holaOS run on native Windows without WSL?

No. According to the source code in `scripts/install.sh:86-98`, holaOS detects Windows environments but requires WSL for execution. The installer does not support native Windows installation paths.

### What if my system has Node.js 18 or 20 installed?

The managed Node 24.14.1 runtime automatically supersedes older system versions. As implemented in `scripts/install.sh:20-28`, the installer checks your Node version and downloads the bundled runtime if your system falls below version 24.

### Can I use holaOS on a machine without internet access?

Partially. The one-line installer requires `curl` and internet connectivity for initial download. However, once cloned, the repository can be transferred offline. You would need to manually satisfy Node.js 24+, npm, and prepare the runtime bundle without the automated installer's assistance.

### Is Apple Silicon fully supported or only Intel Macs?

Both architectures are equally supported. The `detect_os` function handles macOS generically, and the Electron-based runtime in `apps/desktop/out/runtime-darwin` bundles universal binaries compatible with M1/M2/M3 and Intel processors.