# eDEX-UI User Guide

eDEX-UI is a fullscreen, cross-platform terminal emulator and system monitor that looks and feels like a science-fiction computer interface. It wraps a fully functional shell in a TRON-inspired heads-up display: live CPU, memory, network, and process panels surround your terminal, a touch-friendly on-screen keyboard sits below it, and a directory browser tracks wherever your shell navigates. It runs a **real** terminal — `bash`, `zsh`, `PowerShell`, or anything else you point it at — so everything you already do in a console works here, just wrapped in a cinematic UI.

This guide covers installing eDEX-UI, using every panel and feature, customizing it with themes and keyboard layouts, configuring its behavior, and troubleshooting the issues users hit most often.

> [!NOTE]
> eDEX-UI was archived by its author on **October 18, 2021** at version **2.2.8**. It is no longer actively developed, but the released binaries remain fully usable. This guide documents version 2.2.8.

---

## 1. Quick Start

1. Download the build for your operating system from the [Releases page](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/releases/latest):
   - **Windows** — `eDEX-UI-Windows.exe`
   - **macOS** — `eDEX-UI-macOS.dmg`
   - **Linux** — `eDEX-UI-Linux-x86_64.AppImage` (or the `arm64` build)
2. Install or launch it (see [Installation](#2-installation) for per-platform details).
3. Watch the boot animation, then start typing. The center panel is a normal terminal — run any command you like:

```bash
neofetch
```

```text
        eDEX-UI 2.2.8
        ----------------
        OS: your operating system
        Shell: bash / powershell
        Terminal: eDEX-UI
```

4. Navigate your filesystem in the terminal (for example `cd ~/Documents`) and watch the **FILESYSTEM** panel on the left follow you automatically.

> [!TIP]
> Press `Ctrl+Shift+S` at any time to open the settings editor, where you can change your shell, theme, on-screen keyboard layout, and more. Press `Ctrl+Shift+K` to see every keyboard shortcut.

That is the whole idea: a working terminal, dressed up, surrounded by live system telemetry.

---

## 2. Installation

eDEX-UI ships as a self-contained desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. You do **not** need Node.js, npm, or any developer tooling to run a release build — those are only needed if you build from source.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Public release binaries are **not code-signed**. Windows SmartScreen and macOS Gatekeeper will warn you the first time you run eDEX-UI. This is expected for this project; you will need to explicitly allow it to run.

=== "Windows"

    1. Download `eDEX-UI-Windows.exe` from the [Releases page](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/releases/latest).
    2. Run the installer. It is an NSIS installer, so you can choose the installation directory.
    3. If SmartScreen appears, click **More info → Run anyway**.
    4. Launch **eDEX-UI** from the Start menu.

=== "macOS"

    1. Download `eDEX-UI-macOS.dmg` from the [Releases page](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/releases/latest).
    2. Open the `.dmg` and drag **eDEX-UI** into your Applications folder.
    3. The first launch is blocked by Gatekeeper because the app is unsigned. Right-click the app and choose **Open**, then confirm.

=== "Linux (AppImage)"

    1. Download `eDEX-UI-Linux-x86_64.AppImage` (or the `arm64` build for ARM devices) from the [Releases page](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/releases/latest).
    2. Make it executable and run it:

    ```bash
    chmod +x eDEX-UI-Linux-x86_64.AppImage
    ./eDEX-UI-Linux-x86_64.AppImage
    ```

=== "Package managers"

    eDEX-UI is also distributed through several community repositories:

    ```bash
    # Arch Linux (AUR)
    yay -S edex-ui

    # macOS (Homebrew)
    brew install --cask edex-ui
    ```

    See [repology.org](https://repology.org/project/edex-ui/versions) for the full list of packaging sources.

### Supported platforms

| Platform | Architectures | Format |
|----------|---------------|--------|
| Windows | x64, ia32 (32-bit) | NSIS installer (`.exe`) |
| macOS | x64 | Disk image (`.dmg`) |
| Linux | x64, arm64 (also armv7l / ia32 from source) | AppImage |

> [!NOTE]
> On Linux, the **file browser tracks your shell's current directory** correctly. The same tracking works on macOS. On Windows it is technically impossible, so the file browser runs in a "detached" mode — see [The file browser says "Tracking Failed"](#error-tracking-failed-windows-only).

---

## 3. The Interface at a Glance

When eDEX-UI finishes booting, the screen is divided into a fixed layout. Nothing here is draggable or resizable except modal pop-up windows — the layout is deliberately a fixed "command console."

```text
+-----------------+-------------------------------+-----------------+
|  PANEL SYSTEM   |          TERMINAL             |  PANEL NETWORK  |
| (left column)   |        (main shell)           | (right column)  |
|                 |                               |                 |
|  Clock          |   [ MAIN SHELL | tabs... ]    |  Network status |
|  System info    |                               |  World globe    |
|  Hardware       |   your live terminal here     |  Net traffic    |
|  CPU usage      |                               |                 |
|  Memory         +-------------------------------+                 |
|  Top processes  |        FILESYSTEM             |                 |
|                 +-------------------------------+                 |
|                 |     ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD        |                 |
+-----------------+-------------------------------+-----------------+
```

| Region | What it contains |
|--------|------------------|
| **Center** | The terminal (with up to five tabs), the filesystem browser below it, and the on-screen keyboard at the bottom |
| **Left column ("PANEL SYSTEM")** | Clock, system info, hardware inspector, CPU graphs, memory map, top processes |
| **Right column ("PANEL NETWORK")** | Network status, world-map globe, network traffic graphs |

The rest of this guide walks through each of these in turn.

---

## 4. Using the Terminal

The center panel is a complete terminal emulator powered by [xterm.js](https://github.com/xtermjs/xterm.js). It supports colors, mouse events, and full-screen TUI programs such as `vim`, `htop`, `ranger`, `cmatrix`, and anything else that uses `curses`.

### Running commands

Just type. Your keystrokes go straight to the shell configured in your settings (`bash` on Linux/macOS, `powershell.exe` on Windows by default). Output streams back into the terminal in real time, accompanied by subtle sound effects unless you disable audio.

```bash
ls -la
```

```text
total 24
drwxr-xr-x  5 user user 4096 Jan  1 12:00 .
drwxr-xr-x 20 user user 4096 Jan  1 12:00 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 user user  220 Jan  1 12:00 .bashrc
```

### Scrolling

- **Mouse wheel** — scroll the terminal buffer up and down.
- **Touch** — swipe vertically on a touchscreen.

The scrollback buffer holds **1,500 lines**.

### Copy and paste

| Action | Shortcut |
|--------|----------|
| Copy the current selection | `Ctrl+Shift+C` |
| Paste the system clipboard | `Ctrl+Shift+V` |

Select text with the mouse, then press `Ctrl+Shift+C`. Paste with `Ctrl+Shift+V`. These deliberately differ from the plain `Ctrl+C` / `Ctrl+V` so that `Ctrl+C` still sends an interrupt signal to running programs.

### Working with tabs

eDEX-UI supports up to **five terminal tabs**, labelled `MAIN SHELL` and tabs `2`–`5`. Each tab is an independent shell process.

| Action | How |
|--------|-----|
| Open / switch to a tab | Click the tab, or press `Ctrl+X` then the tab number, or use `Ctrl+1`…`Ctrl+5`-style triggers |
| Next tab | `Ctrl+Tab` |
| Previous tab | `Ctrl+Shift+Tab` |
| Close a tab | Exit the shell in it (e.g. type `exit`) |

Empty tabs show `EMPTY`. Clicking one spawns a fresh shell in the **current working directory of the active tab**, so a new tab starts wherever you already were.

> [!NOTE]
> The tab header shows the name of the foreground process running in that tab (for example `MAIN - vim`), so you can see at a glance what each tab is doing. This live process name is detected on Linux and macOS.

> [!WARNING]
> Reloading the UI (`Ctrl+Shift+F5`) while several tabs are open has been reported to occasionally crash the interface ([issue #630](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/630)). If you rely on multiple tabs, reload sparingly.

---

## 5. The Filesystem Browser

Directly below the terminal is the **FILESYSTEM** panel. It shows the contents of your terminal's current working directory as a grid of icons and **follows your shell automatically**: when you `cd` somewhere in the terminal, the browser updates to match.

### Navigating

| You want to… | Do this |
|--------------|---------|
| Enter a folder | **Click** it — eDEX runs `cd "folder"` in the terminal for you |
| Go up one level | Click the **Go up** entry |
| Jump to another drive / mount | Click **Show disks**, then click a device |
| Insert a file's path into the terminal | Click a file (its quoted path is typed at the prompt) |
| Open a file in your OS's default app | **Ctrl+click** it (the window minimizes so the app comes forward) |
| Insert a path without `cd`-ing | **Shift+click** an entry |

### Viewing files inside eDEX-UI

Clicking certain file types opens a built-in viewer in a draggable modal window instead of inserting a path:

| File type | Opens as |
|-----------|----------|
| `.pdf` | A built-in PDF reader with page navigation and zoom controls |
| Plain-text / UTF-8 files | An editable text viewer with a **Save to Disk** button |
| Images (`.png`, `.jpg`, …) | An inline image preview |
| Audio / video | A media player with play/pause, seek, volume, and fullscreen controls |

> [!TIP]
> The browser highlights eDEX-UI's own configuration files with special icons. If you navigate into eDEX's config directory, clicking a **theme** file applies that theme instantly, clicking a **keyboard layout** file switches your on-screen keyboard, and clicking `settings.json` or `shortcuts.json` opens the matching editor.

### Hidden files and view modes

| Action | Shortcut | Effect |
|--------|----------|--------|
| Toggle hidden (dotfile) visibility | `Ctrl+Shift+H` | Show or hide files and folders starting with `.` |
| Toggle list / grid view | `Ctrl+Shift+L` | Switch between a detailed list and the icon grid |

A bar at the bottom of the panel shows how full the current disk/mount is.

### Fuzzy file search

Press `Ctrl+Shift+F` to open the **fuzzy cwd file search**. Start typing part of a filename in the current directory; matching results appear instantly. Use the arrow keys to move the selection, then press **Enter** (or click **Select**) to insert the chosen file's full path into the terminal.

```text
Search file in cwd...  > report
  report-2021.pdf      <- selected
  reporting-notes.txt
  ...
```

---

## 6. The On-Screen Keyboard

Below the filesystem is a full **on-screen keyboard**, designed for touchscreen use but also usable with a mouse. As you type on your physical keyboard, the matching on-screen keys light up in sync.

- **Tap or click keys** to send them to the terminal.
- **Hold a key** to auto-repeat.
- **Multi-touch** is supported — you can hold modifiers (Shift, Ctrl, Alt) with one finger while tapping letters with another.
- **Dead keys / accents** — the keyboard supports composing accented characters (circumflex, umlaut/trema, acute, grave, caron, tilde, cedilla, and more), so layouts for many languages work correctly.

### Password Mode

Press `Ctrl+Shift+P` to toggle **Password Mode**. While it is on, the keyboard suppresses its visual and audio feedback so that sensitive input (passwords, secrets) is not revealed to anyone watching your screen or a recording.

> [!CAUTION]
> On macOS, an older bug caused keystrokes to still be revealed in Password Mode ([issue #1160](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1160)). If you handle sensitive credentials on macOS, verify the behavior on your version before relying on it.

### Switching keyboard layouts

eDEX-UI ships with **19 keyboard layouts**, including:

| Code | Layout |
|------|--------|
| `en-US` | US QWERTY (default) |
| `en-GB` | UK QWERTY |
| `en-DVORAK` | Dvorak |
| `en-COLEMAK` | Colemak |
| `en-NORMAN`, `en-WORKMAN` | Norman, Workman |
| `fr-FR`, `fr-BEPO` | French AZERTY, bépo |
| `de-DE`, `es-ES`, `es-LAT`, `it-IT`, `pt-BR`, `nl-BE`, `da-DK`, `sv-SE`, `hu-HU`, `tr-TR-Q`, `tr-TR-F` | Other regional layouts |

Change your layout in the settings editor (`Ctrl+Shift+S` → `keyboard`) or by clicking a layout file in the filesystem browser.

---

## 7. The System Monitor Panels

The two side columns are live system monitors. They update automatically on their own timers — there is nothing to configure to make them work, though some can be customized.

### Left column — system

| Panel | Shows | Refresh |
|-------|-------|---------|
| **Clock** | Current time, 12- or 24-hour | every second |
| **System info** | Year/date, system uptime, OS type, battery / power state | uptime each minute, battery every 3s |
| **Hardware inspector** | Manufacturer, model, and chassis type of your machine | every 20s |
| **CPU usage** | Per-core load graphs (split into two halves), temperature, current/max clock speed, and total task count | load twice a second; temp every 2s |
| **Memory** | A 440-point grid visualizing RAM (active / available / free) plus a swap-usage bar | every 1.5s |
| **Top processes** | The five highest CPU/memory processes (PID, name, CPU %, mem %) | every 2s |

> [!TIP]
> **Click the Top Processes panel** to open a full, sortable process list in a modal window. Click any column header (PID, Name, User, CPU, Memory, State, Started, Runtime) to sort by it; click again to reverse, and a third time to clear sorting.

> [!NOTE]
> On Windows, the CPU panel shows the **core count** in place of temperature, because per-core temperature readings are not reliably available there.

### Right column — network

| Panel | Shows | Refresh |
|-------|-------|---------|
| **Network status** | Online/offline state, your external IPv4 address, and ping latency to a test address | every 2s |
| **World globe** | A rotating 3-D globe (the "ENCOM globe") pinning your geographic location and active network connections | location each second, connections every 3s |
| **Network traffic** | Up/down transfer-rate graphs (MB/s) and cumulative bytes in/out | every second |

The network panels need an internet connection to populate. When offline, they display `OFFLINE` and the globe dims.

> [!NOTE]
> eDEX-UI determines your **external IP** by contacting `myexternalip.com`, and resolves it to a map location using a locally downloaded GeoLite2 database. If your network blocks these, the IP and globe location will not appear — this is a common cause of an empty globe (see [Troubleshooting](#10-troubleshooting)).

---

## 8. Customizing eDEX-UI

### Themes

eDEX-UI includes **20 built-in themes**. Switch themes in the settings editor (`Ctrl+Shift+S` → `theme`) or by clicking a theme file in the filesystem browser — the change applies after a quick UI reload.

| Theme family | Variants |
|--------------|----------|
| **tron** (default) | `tron`, `tron-disrupted`, `tron-notype`, `tron-typeleft`, `tron-fulltype`, `tron-colorfilter` |
| **apollo** | `apollo`, `apollo-notype` |
| **chalkboard** | `chalkboard`, `chalkboard-ligatures`, `chalkboard-notype` |
| **cyborg** | `cyborg`, `cyborg-focus` |
| **navy** | `navy`, `navy-disrupted`, `navy-notype` |
| Others | `blade`, `interstellar`, `matrix`, `nord`, `red` |

> [!TIP]
> Want to hide the on-screen keyboard or the filesystem panel? You can't disable them outright, but the `tron-notype` theme (and other `-notype` variants) hides them for a cleaner look.

Themes can also define custom fonts, terminal color schemes, color filters, and injected CSS. Advanced theme authoring is covered in the project [wiki](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/wiki) and in the Admin Guide.

### Custom keyboard shortcuts

Press `Ctrl+Shift+K` to open the shortcuts viewer. It lists two kinds of shortcut:

- **Emulator shortcuts** — built-in actions like copy, paste, switch tab, open settings (see the full table in [section 9](#9-keyboard-shortcuts-reference)).
- **Custom command shortcuts** — key combinations you define to run a terminal command. For example, the default (disabled) shortcut `Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Space` runs `neofetch`.

Click **Open Shortcuts File** to edit `shortcuts.json` directly and add your own command shortcuts. A custom shortcut can optionally append a line break, so it runs the command immediately rather than just typing it.

### Settings

Press `Ctrl+Shift+S` to open the in-app settings editor — a table of every option with a description and an editable value. After changing values, use one of the buttons at the bottom:

| Button | What it does |
|--------|--------------|
| **Open in External Editor** | Opens `settings.json` in your system editor |
| **Save to Disk** | Writes your changes to `settings.json` |
| **Reload UI** | Reloads the interface to apply changes |
| **Restart eDEX** | Fully restarts the application |

The most useful settings:

| Setting | Meaning | Default |
|---------|---------|---------|
| `shell` | The program run as your terminal | `bash` (Linux/macOS), `powershell.exe` (Windows) |
| `shellArgs` | Extra arguments passed to the shell | *(none)* |
| `cwd` | Directory the terminal starts in | eDEX config folder |
| `keyboard` | On-screen keyboard layout code | `en-US` |
| `theme` | Theme name | `tron` |
| `termFontSize` | Terminal text size in pixels | `15` |
| `audio` | Enable sound effects | `true` |
| `audioVolume` | Sound-effects volume (`0.0`–`1.0`) | `1.0` |
| `disableFeedbackAudio` | Mute the frequent input/output click sounds (keep the others) | `false` |
| `clockHours` | Clock format: `12` or `24` | `24` |
| `pingAddr` | Address used for the ping latency test | `1.1.1.1` |
| `monitor` | Which display to open on | primary display |
| `nointro` | Skip the boot animation | `false` |
| `nocursor` | Hide the mouse cursor (kiosk mode) | `false` |
| `allowWindowed` | Allow leaving fullscreen with `F11` | `false` |
| `hideDotfiles` | Hide dotfiles in the file browser | `false` |
| `fsListView` | Use the detailed list view by default | `false` |

> [!IMPORTANT]
> The `experimentalFeatures` setting enables Chrome's experimental web features and is labelled **DANGEROUS** in the app. Leave it off unless you have a specific reason and understand the risk of instability.

> [!NOTE]
> Setting your `shell` to something that isn't installed, or a `cwd` that doesn't exist, will prevent eDEX from starting. See [Troubleshooting](#10-troubleshooting).

---

## 9. Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

All shortcuts work from both the on-screen keyboard and a physical keyboard. They can be customized in `shortcuts.json` (open it via `Ctrl+Shift+K` → **Open Shortcuts File**).

| Default trigger | Action | What it does |
|-----------------|--------|--------------|
| `Ctrl+Shift+C` | `COPY` | Copy the selected terminal text |
| `Ctrl+Shift+V` | `PASTE` | Paste the system clipboard into the terminal |
| `Ctrl+Tab` | `NEXT_TAB` | Switch to the next terminal tab |
| `Ctrl+Shift+Tab` | `PREVIOUS_TAB` | Switch to the previous terminal tab |
| `Ctrl+X` (then a number) | `TAB_X` | Switch to tab *X*, creating it if needed |
| `Ctrl+Shift+S` | `SETTINGS` | Open the settings editor |
| `Ctrl+Shift+K` | `SHORTCUTS` | List and edit keyboard shortcuts |
| `Ctrl+Shift+F` | `FUZZY_SEARCH` | Fuzzy-search files in the current directory |
| `Ctrl+Shift+L` | `FS_LIST_VIEW` | Toggle list / grid view in the file browser |
| `Ctrl+Shift+H` | `FS_DOTFILES` | Toggle hidden files in the file browser |
| `Ctrl+Shift+P` | `KB_PASSMODE` | Toggle Password Mode on the keyboard |
| `Ctrl+Shift+I` | `DEV_DEBUG` | Open Chromium DevTools (disabled by default) |
| `Ctrl+Shift+F5` | `DEV_RELOAD` | Hot-reload the front-end |

> [!NOTE]
> By default, eDEX runs **fullscreen** and intercepts keys like `F11`, `Alt`, `Ctrl+A`, and `Ctrl+D` so they reach your terminal or are blocked from exiting the app. To allow `F11` to toggle windowed mode, enable the `allowWindowed` setting.

---

## 10. Troubleshooting

eDEX-UI surfaces errors in on-screen modal windows. The most common issues, drawn from community bug reports, are below.

### Error: eDEX gets stuck on "Settings loaded!" and never opens

**Cause:** The shell configured in `settings.json` could not be resolved, or your configured `cwd` (starting directory) does not exist. eDEX waits on the shell path during startup ([issue #1168](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1168)).

**Solution:** Edit `settings.json` (see [section 11](#11-where-eDEX-keeps-its-files) for its location) and confirm `shell` points to an installed program and `cwd` is a real directory. On Windows the default shell is `powershell.exe`; on Linux/macOS it is `bash`.

**Prevention:** Only change `shell`/`cwd` to values you know exist, and use the settings editor's external-editor button so you edit the right file.

### Error: `Configured cwd path does not exist.`

**Cause:** The `cwd` value in `settings.json` points to a folder that has been moved or deleted.

**Solution:** Set `cwd` to a valid directory (for example your home folder), then restart eDEX.

### Error: "Tracking Failed" (Windows only)

**Cause:** This is **expected behavior on Windows**, not a bug. On Linux and macOS, eDEX watches your shell's current directory to keep the file browser in sync. Windows does not expose this information, so the browser switches to a **detached** mode and shows `FILESYSTEM - TRACKING FAILED, RUNNING DETACHED FROM TTY`.

**Solution:** In detached mode you can still browse files and folders by clicking them, and click a file to insert its path into the terminal — it just no longer auto-follows your `cd` commands.

### Error: The world globe is empty / IP and location don't show

**Cause:** eDEX looks up your external IP via `myexternalip.com` and resolves the location with a GeoIP database. Network restrictions, offline status, or the service being unreachable prevents this ([issues #964](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/964), [#1135](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1135)).

**Solution:** Ensure you have an active internet connection and that outbound HTTPS to `myexternalip.com` is allowed. The globe also requires the GeoLite2 database to finish downloading on first run.

### Error: `Error: unable to verify the first certificate`

**Cause:** A TLS certificate chain could not be validated, typically on networks behind a corporate proxy or with intercepting middleboxes ([issue #1103](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1103)).

**Solution:** eDEX does not currently support custom proxy configuration for its internal lookups ([issue #1050](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1050)). On restricted networks, the network/globe features may stay blank while the terminal itself continues to work normally.

### Problem: eDEX uses a lot of CPU

**Cause:** The live graphs, globe animation, and system polling are continuous. On lower-powered machines this is noticeable ([issue #1169](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1169)).

**Solution:** Use a `-notype` or simpler theme, disable `experimentalGlobeFeatures`, and avoid leaving many tabs open. The globe and graphics are the heaviest components.

### Problem: Panels overlap on ultrawide / unusual aspect ratios

**Cause:** eDEX's fixed layout assumes common aspect ratios; very wide (e.g. 21:9) or unusual displays can cause overlap ([issues #832](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/832), [#1162](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1162)).

**Solution:** Try the `extra_ratios` styling, a different theme, or running on your primary 16:9 display via the `monitor` setting. Some aspect ratios remain unsupported.

### Problem: A black screen appears when eDEX opens

**Cause:** A graphics/GPU rendering issue, sometimes related to hardware acceleration ([issue #1148](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1148)). On macOS, framebuffer errors were reported on some versions ([issue #1047](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1047)).

**Solution:** Update your graphics drivers. If the problem persists, try a different release version.

### Problem: "Another instance of eDEX is already running"

**Cause:** eDEX enforces a **single running instance**. A second launch exits immediately.

**Solution:** Switch to the already-open eDEX window, or fully quit the existing instance before launching again.

### Problem: A folder whose name ends in a file extension is treated as a file

**Cause:** A known classification quirk in the file browser ([issue #1167](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues/1167)).

**Solution:** Navigate into such folders using `cd` in the terminal instead of clicking them in the browser.

---

## 11. Where eDEX Keeps Its Files

eDEX-UI stores all of its configuration and customization in a per-user data directory:

| Platform | Location |
|----------|----------|
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\eDEX-UI\` |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/eDEX-UI/` |
| Linux | `~/.config/eDEX-UI/` |

Inside it you will find:

| File / folder | Purpose |
|---------------|---------|
| `settings.json` | All your settings |
| `shortcuts.json` | Keyboard and custom command shortcuts |
| `themes/` | Theme files (built-in copies plus any you add) |
| `keyboards/` | On-screen keyboard layout files |
| `fonts/` | Fonts used by themes |
| `lastWindowState.json` | Remembers fullscreen/windowed state |

> [!TIP]
> You can drop your own theme or keyboard-layout JSON files into `themes/` and `keyboards/`, then select them from the settings editor. eDEX refreshes its copies of the built-in files each time it launches, so keep custom files under different names.

---

## 12. Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Is eDEX-UI a real terminal, or just a visual effect?**
It is a real, fully functional terminal emulator. It runs an actual shell process and supports interactive programs, colors, and mouse events. The sci-fi UI is wrapped around a genuine console.

**Q: Can I use it as my everyday terminal?**
Yes — that is an explicit goal of the project. It runs `vim`, `ranger`, `htop`, `tmux`, and other tools normally. Be aware it is fullscreen and resource-heavy compared to a plain terminal.

**Q: Can I disable the on-screen keyboard or the file browser?**
You cannot remove them, but you can hide them with the `tron-notype` theme (or other `-notype` variants).

**Q: Why are downloads flagged as unsigned / untrusted?**
The author chose not to code-sign the public binaries. You will need to bypass SmartScreen (Windows) or Gatekeeper (macOS) on first launch.

**Q: Does it run on a Raspberry Pi or other ARM devices?**
Prebuilt `arm64` AppImages are provided. Other ARM platforms may require building from source.

**Q: How do I change the shell to `zsh` / `fish` / a custom one?**
Open settings (`Ctrl+Shift+S`), set `shell` to the program name or full path, save, and restart eDEX.

**Q: How do I run eDEX as a fullscreen kiosk display?**
Keep `forceFullscreen` on, set `nocursor` to `true` to hide the mouse pointer, and optionally launch with the `--nointro` and `--nocursor` flags. The `nointro` setting skips the boot animation on every launch.

**Q: How do I exit fullscreen?**
By default you can't — `F11` is intercepted. Set `allowWindowed` to `true` in settings to enable `F11` toggling.

**Q: Is the project still maintained?**
No. After a roughly three-year run, eDEX-UI was archived on October 18, 2021 at version 2.2.8. The released binaries still work, but no new versions are planned.

**Q: How do I report a bug or request a feature?**
The repository is archived, so new issues are generally not accepted. Search the existing [Issues](https://github.com/GitSquared/edex-ui/issues) — many problems already have explanations or workarounds documented there.

**Q: Can I build my own version from source?**
Yes. See the **Admin Guide** for build-from-source instructions, the architecture overview, and theme/keyboard-layout authoring details.

---

_Generated June 2026 from GitSquared/edex-ui at 04a00c4. AI-generated documentation. The library is checked by sampling (three repositories so far); this guide was not individually reviewed. Verify against the project before relying on it. Unofficial; not affiliated with or reviewed by the project._