# What Are the System Requirements for Running Orca? Complete Technical Specifications

> Discover the system requirements for running Orca on macOS, Windows, or Linux. Learn about RAM, graphics, and OS compatibility for this standalone Electron app.

- Repository: [Stably/orca](https://github.com/stablyai/orca)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-05-25

---

**Orca requires a 64-bit macOS (10.13+), Windows 10+, or Linux system with at least 2 GB RAM and WebGL-compatible graphics, packaged as a standalone Electron application with no external runtime dependencies.**

The **stablyai/orca** repository distributes Orca as a native desktop application built on Electron. Understanding the system requirements for running Orca ensures your hardware can handle the AI agent workspace before downloading the approximately 150 MB binary.

## Operating System and Platform Support

### Supported Operating Systems

According to the [`README.md`](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/blob/main/README.md) platform badge and documentation, Orca officially supports **macOS**, **Windows**, and **Linux**. The application runs natively on macOS versions 10.13 (High Sierra) and later, Windows 10 and above, and recent Linux distributions.

### CPU Architecture Requirements

Official releases provide **64-bit x86 (Intel/AMD)** binaries only. As noted in the Electron distribution configuration, ARM architectures—including Apple Silicon and ARM64 Linux—are excluded from the default distribution packages. Users requiring ARM support must build Orca from source.

## Hardware Requirements

### Memory and Storage

Orca requires a minimum of **2 GB RAM** for smooth operation, particularly when running multiple AI agents simultaneously. The base binary occupies approximately **150 MB** of disk space, though the application downloads additional model binaries as needed during operation.

### Graphics and WebGL Support

The user interface relies on **WebGL** for rendering terminal and editor panes. A GPU supporting at least **OpenGL 2.0** or **WebGL 1.0** is recommended. Systems lacking compatible graphics drivers automatically fall back to software rendering, which may reduce UI responsiveness.

## Runtime Dependencies and Installation

### Bundled Runtime Environment

Unlike typical Node.js applications, Orca requires **no external runtime installation**. All dependencies—including Node.js, Chromium, and the V8 engine—are bundled inside the Electron package. This self-contained architecture eliminates version conflicts and simplifies deployment across supported platforms.

### Installation Methods

You can install Orca through several distribution channels:

- Download pre-compiled binaries from the official website (onOrca.dev) or GitHub releases
- macOS users can install via **Homebrew Cask**
- Arch Linux users can install via the **AUR** (pre-compiled binary or source build)

## Verifying System Compatibility

The Orca source code includes platform detection utilities that confirm compatibility at runtime. In [`src/renderer/src/lib/platform-detect.ts`](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/blob/main/src/renderer/src/lib/platform-detect.ts), the application identifies the host operating system:

```typescript
// src/renderer/src/lib/platform-detect.ts
export const isMac = () => navigator.userAgent.includes('Mac')
export const isWindows = () => navigator.userAgent.includes('Win')
export const isLinux = () => navigator.userAgent.includes('Linux')

// Usage: choose the correct accelerator string for shortcuts
const accel = isMac() ? 'CmdOrCtrl' : 'Ctrl'

```

The runtime session initialization in [`src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-session.ts`](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/blob/main/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-session.ts) verifies the Electron environment upon launch:

```typescript
// src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-session.ts
import { app } from 'electron'

if (!app.isReady()) {
  await app.whenReady()
}
console.log(`Running on ${process.platform} with Electron ${process.versions.electron}`)

```

To check your installed version and detected platform from the command line:

```bash
$ orca --version
Orca Desktop v2.3.1 (electron-28.1.0) on darwin

```

## File Permissions and Security

Orca requires **no user login or cloud authentication**. The application only requests file-system read/write permissions for directories you explicitly open as worktrees. This minimal permission model reduces the security surface area while maintaining full functionality for local AI agent operations.

## Summary

- **Operating Systems**: macOS 10.13+, Windows 10+, and modern Linux distributions
- **Architecture**: 64-bit x86 (Intel/AMD) officially supported; ARM requires manual compilation from source
- **Memory**: Minimum 2 GB RAM recommended for multi-agent workflows
- **Graphics**: WebGL 1.0/OpenGL 2.0 GPU support recommended; software rendering available as fallback
- **Runtime**: Fully bundled Electron app—no Node.js or external dependencies required
- **Permissions**: No login required; filesystem access limited to user-selected worktrees

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I run Orca on ARM-based processors like Apple Silicon or Raspberry Pi?

Official releases only provide 64-bit x86 (Intel/AMD) binaries. While the underlying Electron framework supports ARM architectures, you must compile Orca from the source code to run on Apple Silicon Macs or ARM64 Linux devices like Raspberry Pi.

### Does Orca require an internet connection to run?

Orca does not require a persistent internet connection for basic operation after installation. However, the application downloads additional AI model binaries on demand, which requires network access. Once downloaded, these models function entirely offline within your local worktrees.

### Why does Orca need WebGL support?

The terminal and editor panes in Orca utilize WebGL for hardware-accelerated rendering of the user interface. If your system lacks WebGL-compatible graphics drivers, the application falls back to software rendering via Chromium's SwiftShader, though this may result in reduced interface responsiveness.

### How do I check if my system meets the requirements before installing?

Verify your operating system version and architecture match the supported platforms (64-bit macOS, Windows, or Linux). Ensure you have at least 2 GB of available RAM and updated graphics drivers supporting OpenGL 2.0. After installation, run `orca --version` to confirm the binary executes correctly and displays your platform identifier.