FAQ · Eidovara

General

What is Eidovara?

Eidovara v2.1.4 is a local-first Windows desktop workspace in Stable Alpha. It includes application management, media playback and discovery, internet research with citations, an optional Soul assistant layer with persistent continuity, custom themes, RGB visual effects, a low-overhead gaming mode, and encrypted local backups. It is source-available software restricted to users 18 or older.

Is Eidovara free?

Yes. v2.1.4 is a full free Alpha. No payments, checkout, subscriptions, or paid entitlements are required for currently implemented features. Compatible remote-model endpoints, unlimited linked apps, and RGB appearance exist as local-administrator test gates only — there is no purchase and no live payment unlock in v2.1.4.

What does 18+ mean?

Eidovara is restricted to users age 18 or older. The age gate applies at download, first launch, Soul feature activation (triple gate: age + enablement + consent), and research/media features. This is a local confirmation, not independent identity verification.

What platforms does Eidovara support?

The official platform is Windows 10/11 x64. Linux and macOS scripts exist as development targets but are not official products. The desktop app is an independent Windows application — it is not an iOS or iPhone product.

Does Eidovara work offline?

Yes. The workspace is local-first and remains usable if the optional api.eidovara.org host is down. Internet is needed only for explicit research, online media, update checks, and optional provider connections.

How many linked apps can I use?

Up to three linked apps are included on Free. Unlimited linked apps exist as a local-administrator test gate; there is no purchase in v2.1.4.

Soul Layer

What is the Soul layer?

Soul is an optional assistant layer with persistent continuity, configurable personality, memory, relationship-aware adaptation, voice/presence controls, research assistance, media support, and tool integration. It is software with persistent simulated continuity — not a human, professional authority, or proof of consciousness.

Can I disable Soul?

Yes. Soul is entirely optional. You can use the workspace fully without the Soul layer. The desktop interface, media, research, backups, and all core features remain functional.

Is Soul a conscious entity?

No. Soul is explicitly software with no consciousness claims made or implied. It provides persistent memory, continuity, and adaptive personality within clearly defined source-available boundaries. It is not therapy, medical care, or a claim of consciousness.

What is the triple gate for Soul?

Soul features require three conditions: (1) age confirmation 18+, (2) explicit Soul enablement in settings, and (3) consent acknowledgment. All three must be satisfied before Soul features become available.

Does Soul send my conversations to the cloud?

No. The website and status heartbeat never send desktop conversations. Soul data is stored locally by default. If you configure an optional remote provider, only the specific request is sent — not your conversation history.

What languages does Soul support?

English, Spanish, French, and German language preference foundations are included with English fallback. Full internationalization is on the roadmap.

Installation & Download

Where do I download Eidovara?

The official installer is available from the download page or directly from GitHub Releases. Do not download from third-party mirrors.

Why does Windows SmartScreen warn me?

The installer is Authenticode-unsigned. This is expected and documented. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" to proceed. GitHub/Sigstore provenance records the build origin but is not a substitute for Authenticode signing.

How do I verify my download?

SHA-256 checksums are published with each release. When distribution resumes, compare the hash of your downloaded installer against the value published with the release. Downloads are currently temporarily unavailable.

What are the system requirements?

Windows 10 or 11 x64, user age 18 or older. An internet connection is needed for research, online media, update checks, and optional provider features. The workspace itself runs locally.

How do I update Eidovara?

After 18+, the desktop app can check GitHub Releases for a newer Windows installer, verify its checksum, and apply it. You can disable automatic checks in settings. Update metadata includes SHA-256 checksums, latest.yml SHA-512 for the in-app updater, an SPDX SBOM, and GitHub build provenance.

Licensing & Legal

What license is Eidovara under?

Eidovara v2.1.4 is source-available under LicenseRef-Eidovara-Source-Available-1.0. It is not open source and cannot be relicensed as MIT, Apache, GPL, BSD, or CC. See the licensing page for full details.

Can I modify and redistribute Eidovara?

Source-available means you can view and study the source code, but redistribution and modification are restricted under the license. Open-source relicensing is prohibited. Forks remain under LICENSE and may not be relicensed as open source.

Who owns Eidovara?

Eidovara is created and owned by Soul Consciousness Studios, published under the intended business name Soul Consciousness Studios. Third-party software, services, models, marks, and media retain their respective ownership and licenses.

Is Eidovara affiliated with Apple, Microsoft, or Electron?

No. Eidovara is an independent project. It is not affiliated with Apple, Microsoft, Electron, or third-party media/service providers referenced for interoperability or user-directed handoff.

What is the acceptable use policy?

No criminal use, no unauthorized access, no ripping protected media. Built-in research is user-directed public retrieval. Application launching is user-confirmed local Windows apps you already have the right to use. Soul is software assistance — not therapy, medical care, or a claim of consciousness.

Privacy & Security

Does Eidovara collect telemetry?

No telemetry by default. Local store telemetry is available as an opt-in only. The status heartbeat does not send conversations. Conversations are never sent by the website or status checks.

How is my data stored?

Local-first. Settings, memories, preferences, and backups are stored on your PC. Encrypted settings and backups use Windows protection when available. The renderer is sandboxed and isolated from Node.js.

What about network usage?

After 18+, the desktop app defaults to https://api.eidovara.org for status/config (/health, /v1/config, /v1/status). It remains usable offline if that host is down. See Network Usage for full details.

How are updates verified?

Official releases publish SHA-256 checksums, latest.yml SHA-512 for the in-app updater, an SPDX SBOM, and GitHub build provenance. The desktop app verifies checksums before applying updates. No software can guarantee perfect security.

Troubleshooting

Windows SmartScreen warning on install

The installer is Authenticode-unsigned. This is expected. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" to proceed. Verify your download against published checksums for confidence.

SHA-256 mismatch after download

Redownload from GitHub Releases and verify the checksum matches published values. Do not use the file if it does not match.

Soul features unavailable

Ensure you are 18+, have explicitly enabled Soul in settings, and have acknowledged consent. All three gates must be satisfied. Check the triple-gate requirements in Help.

App will not start

Verify you are on Windows 10/11 x64 and Node 22.12+ if building from source. The postinstall skips the Electron binary download below that version. Run npm run doctor for diagnostics.

Provider connection issues

Check the Status page to verify api.eidovara.org is reachable. The workspace remains fully functional offline. Provider connections are optional.