Documentation

Everything you need to get Denwise running in your home and keep it humming.

Pick your path

Denwise runs three ways. All end at the same dashboard — choose whichever fits your setup.

Raspberry Pi — quick start

1. Get the hardware. A Raspberry Pi 5, a microSD card, power, and a touchscreen. See Wall Displays & Parts for the full parts list and recommendations.
2. Flash the image. Write the Denwise image to the SD card with Raspberry Pi Imager.
3. Boot & mount. Insert the card, connect the screen, power on. It boots into the setup wizard.
4. Run the setup wizard. Name your hub, set a PIN, and pick what you want on the dashboard. You can change all of it later in Settings.

Docker — quick start

On any machine with Docker installed:

# PLACEHOLDER: replace with the published image / compose file (#120)
docker compose up -d
# then open http://localhost:8000 (or the host's IP) in your browser

The first screen is the same setup wizard. When you're ready to keep it current, activate your license (below).

Windows — quick start

1. Download the installer. Get Denwise-Setup.exe from your purchase page.
2. Run it. Double-click and accept the one prompt. Windows may warn "unknown publisher" — click More info → Run anyway (the installer isn't code-signed yet).
3. That's it. Denwise installs as a background service (starts on boot, no sign-in needed), opens the firewall, and opens your browser to the setup wizard. Your PC now serves the hub on your home network — update it in place by running a newer installer, or let it update itself.

Activate your license

Denwise runs fully without a license — the license unlocks updates. After you buy, open Settings → System → Software Upgrade → 🔑 Activate a license and paste the license key from your purchase email. The hub binds it and sets your update window automatically. Your activated key is shown there too (masked) if you ever need it for support.

Connect your stuff

• Calendar — works out of the box with a built-in local calendar (no account needed). Optionally link Google, Outlook/Microsoft 365, or Apple iCloud to pull those events in too — give each calendar its own color and choose which family members it shows on, with recurring events and per-person "who's got it?" assignments. (Apple is the easiest to link; a one-tap "Connect with Denwise" for Google/Outlook is coming.)
• Cameras — point Denwise at most IP cameras (ONVIF or a plain RTSP/RTMP/HTTP link) to stream them on the same screen.
• Chores, meals, budget — set these up from their tiles; it's all in-app, no files to edit.
• AI helper — add your own AI provider key (Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, or Gemini) to enable recipe and planning help.

Extra screens around the house

You only need one hub. Any extra screen — a kitchen tablet, a spare Pi by the door, an old monitor — just opens one of your hub's read-only display screens, set up right from Settings → Home Layout & Display (each screen has a QR code and step-by-step “Set up” button for tablets, a Raspberry Pi, or a laptop). Full guide and parts: Wall Displays & Parts.

Reaching your hub on the network

• Same network/VLAN: browse to https://homehub.local — the stable name that survives IP changes (most phones and Macs; Windows may need Bonjour). mDNS can't cross VLANs.
• Another VLAN on your own network: use the hub's IP address (shown in Settings → Network Access) — no app or account needed, as long as your router allows traffic between the VLANs.
• From anywhere (off your home network): turn on Remote Access and connect Tailscale. You'll also need the free Tailscale app on each device you use.

The phone app & notifications

• Install it: open the hub on a phone and add it to your Home Screen (iPhone: Safari → Share → Add to Home Screen; Android: Chrome → Install app). You get a fast, full-screen app with a ＋ quick-add for events, expenses, chores & shopping.
• Notifications: turn them on per device in Settings → 🔔 Notifications to get a daily morning summary and reminders (bills due, chores overdue, today's events). Set-up is one tap — trusted on your home network, and away from home over Tailscale (turn on Trusted HTTPS in Remote Access).
• Works offline: the app keeps working with no signal — your Shopping list and To-Do stay usable (they sync when you reconnect) and your Calendar is viewable. Nothing to set up; it's ready automatically.

The full step-by-step lives in the app itself — tap ❓ in the top bar for the built-in guide.

Staying up to date

Denwise checks for updates nightly and surfaces them in Settings → Software Upgrade and on the home banner. Updates back up your data and code first and roll back automatically if anything fails — your data is safe. Multi-step updates now walk you all the way to the latest automatically.