◈ KERNEL Desktop

Version 3.0.0 · Tauri 2 + React 18 + Vite

Native desktop shell for the KERNEL cognitive operating environment.

A dark, high-density terminal-inspired interface that unifies multi-agent orchestration, policy enforcement, chat, research, data analysis, and hardware workflows under a single window.

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What it is

KERNEL Desktop is a Tauri 2 application that packages a large single-file React UI (src/KernelDesktop.jsx) together with a minimal Rust backend.
It is designed to run both as a native desktop app and as a browser fallback when Tauri APIs are unavailable.

Core capabilities visible in the UI

Domain	Description
Chat / Multi-agent	Route tasks across specialized KERNEL roles (DATA, RESEARCH, HW, etc.)
Policy engine	Visual policy cards, authority levels, and constraint guards
Agent sidebar	Live agent list, history, eco chips, new-chat controls
System bridge	Tauri invoke + plugins (HTTP, FS, Dialog, Store, Shell) with graceful browser fallback
Config persistence	Tauri Store (kernel-config.json) or localStorage fallback
Threat / chaos testing	Built-in vectors (e.g. CL-1 Authority & Trust Subversion) and scenario cycles

The visual language is deliberately monospace / jet-black / cyan (#00ffd5) — a “command deck” aesthetic.

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Architecture

kernel-desktop/
├── index.html                 # Minimal shell, #root mount
├── package.json               # React 18 + Tauri 2 plugins
├── vite.config.js             # Vite + React plugin, port 5173
├── src/
│   ├── main.jsx               # ReactDOM entry → <KernelDesktop />
│   └── KernelDesktop.jsx      # Entire UI + Tauri bridge (≈189 kB)
└── src-tauri/
    ├── Cargo.toml             # Tauri 2 + plugins
    ├── tauri.conf.json        # Window 1400×900, CSP, plugin scopes
    ├── capabilities/default.json
    ├── build.rs
    └── src/
        ├── lib.rs             # get_system_info command + plugin wiring
        └── main.rs

Tauri Bridge (inlined)

KernelDesktop.jsx contains a self-contained bridge that:

1. Detects window.__TAURI_INTERNALS__
2. Dynamically imports @tauri-apps/api/core + plugins
3. Falls back to browser fetch / localStorage when running outside Tauri

This makes the same artifact usable for both desktop packaging and pure web preview.

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Prerequisites

Tool	Version / Notes
Node.js	≥ 18 (tested on 24)
npm	≥ 9
Rust	≥ 1.77 recommended (1.75 may fail on some Tauri 2 transitive crates requiring edition2024)
Tauri CLI	npm install -g @tauri-apps/cli or use local npx tauri
System deps	See Tauri prerequisites for your OS

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Quick start

# 1. Install frontend dependencies
npm install

# 2. Dev mode (Vite only – browser)
npm run dev
# → http://localhost:5173

# 3. Full desktop (Tauri)
npm run tauri dev

Production build

npm run tauri build

Artifacts appear under src-tauri/target/release/bundle/.

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Known issues / TODOs (as of this README)

1. Export name mismatch
   src/KernelDesktop.jsx currently exports KernelV3, while src/main.jsx imports KernelDesktop.
   Fix: rename the default export (or the import) so they match.

2. Rust toolchain
   Cargo check on Rust 1.75 can fail because some dependency crates now require edition2024.
   Upgrade to a recent stable Rust (≥ 1.80 / 1.81) if you hit this.

3. Icons
   tauri.conf.json references icon files that are not yet present in the repository.
   Add src-tauri/icons/ (32×32, 128×128, etc.) before shipping a release bundle.

4. Large single-file component
   All UI logic lives in one 189 kB JSX file. Future work may split it into proper modules for maintainability.

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Configuration & permissions

• Window: 1400 × 900, min 900 × 600, centered, resizable
• CSP: Allows self + HTTPS + localhost / private LAN
• FS scope: $APPDATA/** and $HOME/.kernel/**
• HTTP scope: HTTPS anywhere + localhost + common private ranges
• Store: Persistent key-value (kernel-config.json)
• Shell: open permission enabled

See src-tauri/tauri.conf.json and src-tauri/capabilities/default.json for the full capability set.

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Development notes

• The UI is intentionally dense and keyboard-oriented.
• All styling is inline (no CSS modules / Tailwind) for maximum portability of the single JSX artifact.
• When running under Tauri, the bridge opens DevTools automatically in debug builds.
• System info is exposed via the Rust command get_system_info.

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License & authorship

© 2026 Benjamin Hubbard / Terracare Inc.
All rights reserved. Not licensed for redistribution unless explicitly stated otherwise.

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◈ KERNEL — command deck for multi-agent cognition.