// getting started
Run steakOS on a machine you control
steakOS is free to use. You install it yourself — on a laptop in the office, a small server in the back room, or whatever computer you trust with your books. No mandatory cloud landlord.
What you need first
- Java 17 or newer — a free runtime that runs the steakOS program (often called a JRE or JDK: Java Runtime Environment / Java Development Kit).
- PostgreSQL 14 or newer — a free database that stores your company data (customers, invoices, stock). Running it on the same machine is fine.
-
For simple install helpers:
curlon Linux or macOS, or PowerShell 5+ on Windows.
You do not need developer build tools on the machine that just runs the packaged install. Build tools matter only if you compile from source yourself.
What a packaged install looks like
| Piece | What it does |
|---|---|
app/steakOS.jar |
The main program (one file you start) |
web/ |
The screens you open in a browser |
bin/steakos |
Simple commands: start, stop, status, logs |
config/steakos.env |
Settings: ports, database password, version stamp |
How to obtain a package or the source is on Source & releases. We do not invent fake public download mirrors here.
First morning checklist
- Install and start the service. Open the app in your browser (packaged default is often port 9090).
- Sign in with the first admin user and change the password before anyone else can reach the machine.
- Walk the setup wizard: company name, sites, banking placeholders, and which size tier you need.
- Start with Sales and Finance. Add more desks when the business needs them — same idea as growing from Bronze toward Silver or Gold.
- Optional: turn on Bitcoin (decentralized money) receiving when you are ready; finish any training tips before you take live payments that way.
Languages in the product
The application aims for English, German, and Spanish in the screens. This website is available in English and German (use the EN | DE switch in the header).
Want a guide in the room?
If you would rather have someone walk you through install, hardening, or staff training, that is optional paid help on steakOS.ai — people time, not a fee to use the software. The software itself stays free to use. Forever.