SOP: Install and Update

Fresh

Complete procedure for installing Herdr on any platform and keeping it updated.

Procedure: first install (Linux/macOS)

1. Run the installer:

curl -fsSL https://herdr.dev/install.sh | sh

2. Verify the binary is on PATH:

herdr --version

3. If the shell cannot find herdr, restart the terminal or check that the install directory is on your PATH.

4. Start Herdr:

herdr

Alternative package managers

• Homebrew: brew install herdr
• mise: mise use -g herdr (if the registry entry is missing, update mise or use mise use -g github:ogulcancelik/herdr)
• Nix: nix profile install github:ogulcancelik/herdr/v0.x.y (replace with the latest release tag)

Procedure: first install (Windows preview beta)

1. Run the PowerShell installer:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c "irm https://herdr.dev/install.ps1 | iex"

2. The installer defaults to the preview channel, writes channel = "preview" to config, stores releases under %USERPROFILE%\.herdr\packages\standalone\releases, and points %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Herdr\bin at the current release.

3. Start Herdr:

herdr

Windows is beta

Windows builds ship only through the preview channel. herdr channel set stable is rejected on Windows until stable Windows releases exist. See Windows Beta for supported workflows.

Procedure: manual binary install

1. Download the matching asset from the GitHub releases page (repository: ogulcancelik/herdr):

System	Asset
Linux x86_64	herdr-linux-x86_64
Linux aarch64	herdr-linux-aarch64
macOS Intel	herdr-macos-x86_64
macOS Apple silicon	herdr-macos-aarch64
Windows x86_64 beta	herdr-windows-x86_64.exe (preview prereleases only)

2. Make it executable and move it onto PATH:

chmod +x herdr-linux-x86_64
mv herdr-linux-x86_64 ~/.local/bin/herdr

Procedure: update

1. Check the current channel:

herdr channel show

2. Update from the configured channel:

herdr update

3. If the update changes the client/server protocol, Herdr asks whether to stop the old server. Stopping exits pane processes:

herdr server stop
herdr

For a named session: herdr session stop <name>, then herdr session attach <name>.

4. Optional: experimental live handoff keeps pane processes running across the server replacement:

herdr update --handoff

Package manager installs

herdr update only manages installs from Herdr's own installer. Homebrew, mise, and Nix installs update through those package managers, and live handoff does not apply to them. Update with the package manager, then restart the Herdr session.

Procedure: switch channels (Linux/macOS direct installs)

herdr channel set preview    # opt into preview builds from master
herdr channel set stable     # return to stable

Changing channels also checks that channel and installs its latest binary. If that fails, run herdr update to retry.

Verification checklist

• [ ] herdr --version prints a version
• [ ] herdr launches and attaches to the default session
• [ ] herdr status reports a running server
• [ ] After update: running sessions either kept working or were cleanly restarted