Platform Runtime Architecture
Prox OS is a user-scoped runtime platform. The outer platform frame owns
Prox OS is a user-scoped runtime platform. The outer platform frame owns identity, navigation, Alma, Inspector, and platform preferences. Each Runtime owns its own command chrome, Dock, visual overlays, windows, and local display behavior.
User-Scoped Routes
| Route | Scope | Product meaning |
|---|---|---|
/@user | Universe | Public User Space for a person or organization. It lists owned Runtimes, Studios, apps, Spaces, profile metadata, and future activity signals. |
/@user/runtime/:runtimeSlug | Runtime | Owner-scoped Runtime root. The default seeded Runtime can be /@esmadrider/runtime/os. |
/@user/runtime/:runtimeSlug/:runtimeMode | Runtime mode | Runtime Command Strip modes such as Data, Apps, Automations, Collect, Settings, and Publish. |
/@user/studios/:studioSlug | Studio | Owner-scoped Studio route for Atlas, Grid, Device, Site, Board, Flow, Block, and other registered Studio Engines. |
/@user/settings/profile | User settings | Profile settings for the owner. It is user scope, not Runtime scope. |
Runtimes are repo-like objects in the product model: users own them, name them,
rename them, publish or keep them private, and can eventually create many of
them. os is only the seeded slug for the first OS Runtime, not a hard-coded
platform singleton.
Scope Boundaries
| Scope | Owns | Does not own |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Global navigation, brand, Launchpad, Universe, App Store, Community, Alma side and rail width, Inspector side rule, platform navigation position and flow, platform theme, platform safety default. | Runtime Dock, Runtime Command Strip placement, Runtime screensaver, Runtime cursor, runtime-local wallpaper or density. |
| Runtime | Runtime Command Strip placement and flow, Runtime Dock position and size, app windows, pinned and running apps, Runtime screensaver, Runtime cursor, runtime theme override, runtime-local display effects. | Platform navigation, Alma side, Inspector side rule, user profile settings, global app store entries. |
| Studio | Studio entry route, Studio name, Studio first command tab, Studio About menu, Studio-owned interior UI. | Platform settings, Runtime Dock, OS Runtime window manager state. |
| Universe | Owner profile, owned Runtimes, owned Studios, apps, Spaces, and future user graph. | Runtime-local display settings and platform chrome settings. |
Display Options is runtime-local. Platform Options is platform-level. Settings must be added to the smallest scope that can own the behavior without leaking into sibling surfaces.
Chrome Layers
| Chrome layer | Route visibility | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Navigation | Platform frame and runtime frame | Brand Prox OS, Launchpad, Universe, App Store, Community, Studio Switcher, command search, user menu, Platform Options. |
| Runtime Command Strip | Runtime and Studio containers only | Current Runtime or Studio tab, mode tabs, About menu, runtime-local placement, runtime-local flow. |
| Runtime Dock | OS Runtime only | Pinned apps, running apps, active app, minimized/background state, runtime-local position and size. |
Platform Navigation does not read Runtime Display Options. Runtime Command Strip does not own platform destinations such as Universe or Community.
Runtime Command Strip
| Capability | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Placement | Supports top, bottom, left, and right inside the Runtime frame. |
| Flow | standard and reversed affect the Runtime Command Strip layout only. |
| First tab | Represents the active Runtime or Studio, such as OS or Atlas Studio. |
| About menu | The first tab has a separate chevron trigger. Clicking the tab changes/selects the mode; clicking the chevron opens the About menu. |
Studio containers use the same command strip component with Studio-specific
About menu labels such as About Atlas, About Grid, or About Block.
Dock Model
| Dock concern | Runtime behavior |
|---|---|
| Pinned apps | Always shown first in the OS Runtime Dock. |
| Running apps | Added after a visual divider when they are not already pinned. |
| Active app | Marked from the focused window. |
| Minimized or background state | Reflected when window state exists. |
| Position | Supports top, bottom, left, and right inside the OS Runtime. |
| Size | Runtime-local numeric preference controls item size and container thickness. |
The Dock is not part of Platform Navigation and should not show Universe, Community, or other global platform links.
Platform Options
| Setting | Scope | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Alma position | Platform | Places Alma rail and panel on the left or right side of the platform runtime frame. |
| Inspector side rule | Platform | Inspector renders opposite Alma by default. |
| Platform navigation position | Platform | Places Platform Navigation at the top or bottom of the platform frame. |
| Platform navigation flow | Platform | Controls platform navigation item flow and alignment. |
| Platform theme | Platform | Controls Platform Navigation, Alma, Inspector, platform pages, and the default inherited Runtime theme. |
| Alma rail width | Platform | Controls Alma rail width. |
| Safety mode default | Platform | Stores the default safety posture future runtimes and apps can read. |
These settings are persisted as local platform preferences today and can be backed by backend user preferences later.
Display Options
| Setting | Scope | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime Command Strip position | Runtime | Moves the command strip inside the Runtime frame. |
| Runtime Command Strip flow | Runtime | Changes command strip flow inside the Runtime frame. |
| Runtime Dock position | Runtime | Moves the OS Runtime Dock inside the Runtime viewport. |
| Runtime Dock size | Runtime | Changes Dock item size and container thickness. |
| Screensaver | Runtime | Covers only the OS Runtime content layer, not Platform Navigation, Alma, Inspector, or the command strip. |
| Cursor | Runtime | Applies only inside the OS Runtime viewport. |
| Runtime theme | Runtime visual preference | Defaults to platform, then can independently choose system, light, or dark for runtime-facing surfaces. |
| Density and wallpaper | Runtime visual preference | Affects runtime-facing surfaces without changing Platform Navigation ownership. |
Theme Background Principle
Root backgrounds must be defined at the root container level for both light and dark themes. Homepage and website backgrounds must not depend on an inner section being mounted. Theme variables should include a stable page background, mesh/radial layer, and surface layer for dark mode so deployment bundling or route changes cannot leave the first viewport visually blank.
Leave-Site Policy
Prox OS does not use browser-level beforeunload prompts. If a runtime needs
confirmation before leaving, it must use an app-level custom confirmation
dialog. Community, Universe, platform pages, and Studio routes should not
install native leave-site handlers.
Naming Rules
| Product area | Display wording | Code vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
| Platform brand | Prox OS / Prox OS when ASCII-only | GlobalPlatformNavigation, PlatformOptions |
| User home | Universe | UserUniverseSurface, universeMockData |
| Post-login app entry | Launchpad | LaunchpadSurface |
| Runtime object | Runtime | runtimeSlug, RuntimeDock, RuntimeCommandStrip |
| Runtime settings | Display Options | displayOptions, runtimeDockPosition, runtimeCommandStripPlacement |
| Platform settings | Platform Options | platformNavigationPosition, platformNavigationLayout, almaSettings |
| Platform AI rail | Alma | AlmaRail, AlmaPanel |
| Context panel | Inspector | Inspector |