Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is the Launcher App?

The Launcher App is the central navigation hub and home screen for FlowState. It provides a visual dashboard for discovering and accessing all registered applications, displaying server status, and managing organization/workspace context. Think of it as your "home base" from which you access all other FlowState capabilities.

Who should use this app?

The Launcher is designed for all FlowState users:

User Type	Primary Use
All Users	Navigate between FlowState apps, discover available features
Administrators	Monitor server connections, manage organization context
New Users	Learn what applications are available in FlowState

How is the Launcher different from the Shell?

The Launcher is the home screen showing all available apps in a grid layout - you use it to discover and navigate to apps.

The Shell provides the persistent navigation and frame around all apps - it includes the sidebar, header, and app container that remains visible as you use different apps.

How do I quickly return to the Launcher from any app?

Use the keyboard shortcut:

macOS: Cmd+Shift+H
Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Shift+H

Alternatively, navigate to the root URL (/) or click the home icon if visible in the Shell navigation.

Can I customize which apps appear in the Launcher?

Currently, the Launcher automatically displays all apps registered in the FlowState ecosystem via their flowstate.json manifest files. The displayed apps are determined by:

Apps with valid manifests in the packages/apps/ directory
Custom apps passed via the apps prop when embedding the Launcher

Future versions may support user preferences for app visibility and ordering.

How do I navigate between apps without using the mouse?

Use these keyboard shortcuts:

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Go to Home	`Ctrl+Shift+H`	`Cmd+Shift+H`
Go Back	`Alt+Left`	`Cmd+[`
Go Forward	`Alt+Right`	`Cmd+]`
Show All Apps	`Ctrl+Shift+A`	`Cmd+Shift+A`

Apps & Features

Why don't I see all the apps?

Apps appear in the Launcher when they:

Have a valid flowstate.json manifest file
Are properly built and registered in the workspace
Have the required dependencies installed

If an app is missing, try rebuilding with yarn build.

What do the app card colors mean?

Each app has a branded color defined in its manifest. The colors help with visual identification but don't indicate any functional category or status. For example, the Launcher itself uses purple (#A855F7).

Can I add my own custom apps to the Launcher?

Yes, to add a custom app:

Create a new app package using the FlowState app template
Add a flowstate.json manifest with required fields:

{
  "id": "my-app",
  "name": "My App",
  "description": "Description of my app",
  "icon": "Star",
  "color": "#3B82F6",
  "category": "business",
  "basePath": "/my-app"
}

Register the app in the workspace
Rebuild and restart FlowState

Context & Settings

How do I switch organizations?

Open the Launcher (home screen)
Find the Organization/Workspace Selector below the status bar
Click to open the dropdown
Select your desired organization
Choose the appropriate workspace

Your selection is persisted and will be remembered across sessions.

What does the status bar show?

The status bar at the top of the Launcher displays:

Item	Description
Mode	Connection mode (local or remote)
Servers	Number of active server connections
Organization	Your currently selected organization name

Does the Launcher require a server connection?

No, the Launcher works in both local and remote modes:

Local mode: Apps function with local data only
Remote mode: Full server connectivity for data sync

The status bar indicates your current connection mode.

Technical

Which browsers are supported?

The Launcher (and all FlowState web apps) supports the latest versions of:

Chrome (recommended)
Firefox
Safari
Edge

For the best experience, use the latest version of your preferred browser.

Does the Launcher work on mobile devices?

The Launcher is designed to be responsive and works on tablets. For mobile phones, the experience is optimized but some features may be limited due to screen size. React Native support is available but requires a navigation adapter.

Is my data secure?

Yes, all FlowState data is:

Encrypted in transit using HTTPS
Stored locally using RxDB with encryption options
Synced securely when connected to remote servers

See the FlowState security documentation for detailed information.

What permissions does the Launcher need?

The Launcher App requires no special permissions. It uses framework-provided contexts and hooks to:

Read registered app manifests
Access organization/workspace settings
Navigate between routes

Troubleshooting

Why are some icons showing as boxes?

The Launcher uses Lucide icons. If an app's manifest specifies an icon that doesn't exist in the Lucide library, a fallback box icon is displayed. Check the app's flowstate.json for the correct icon name.

The keyboard shortcuts don't work. What's wrong?

Keyboard shortcuts may not work if:

The FlowState window doesn't have focus
Another application has registered the same global shortcut
You're using the web version and the browser intercepts the shortcut
There's a conflict with OS-level shortcuts

Try clicking inside the app window first, or use direct navigation to /.

Still Have Questions?

If your question isn't answered here:

Check Troubleshooting for common issues and solutions
Review Features for detailed capability documentation
Contact FlowState support for additional help

FAQ