Getting started

Installing Andon takes about a minute. This chapter covers installation, the first launch, where Andon keeps your data, and how updates work.

What you need

• Windows: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.
• Linux: a 64-bit (x64) desktop distribution.
• macOS: no version is published yet.

Install on Windows

1. Go to andon.daelis.fr and download the Windows installer.
2. Run it. Andon installs for your user account only, so it does not ask for administrator rights.
3. Andon starts when the installation finishes.

A portable zip is also published if you prefer not to install anything: extract it anywhere and run Andon.UI.exe. It keeps its data in the same folder as the installed version (see Where your data lives), not next to the program.

The note editor relies on the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime, which is already present on most Windows 10 and 11 computers. If it is missing, the Notes tab shows a message with a download link instead of the editor. Install the runtime and restart Andon.

Install on Linux

Download the AppImage from the same page, make it executable, and run it:

chmod +x Andon*.AppImage
./Andon*.AppImage

The AppImage needs libfuse2 (Ubuntu or Debian: apt install libfuse2). A tar.gz is also published: extract it and run ./Andon.UI, with no FUSE needed. Both need libgtk-3-0, libnss3, libatk1.0-0 and libgbm1.

First launch

A small splash screen with a progress bar appears while Andon loads its databases, plugins and the note editor. The main window opens when everything is ready.

On later launches, Andon reopens the project, task and tab you were last working in, so you can carry on straight away.

Andon runs as a single copy. If you start it while it is already open, for example from the Start menu, it simply brings the existing window to the front.

Where your data lives

Everything Andon stores is in one folder:

The folder holds separate databases for your active projects, your archive, note history and settings, plus a backups subfolder, plugin data and a crash.log file. Attachments are stored inside the databases, so there are no loose files to keep track of.

Backups

Andon backs up its databases on its own before each update, and you can copy the data folder at any time. Chapter 15 explains both, and how to recover after a failed start.

Updates

1. Open Preferences (the gear button) and click Check for Updates.
2. If a new version is available, click Download & Install.
3. When the download finishes, click Restart Now.

If the automatic installation fails, the update window offers a link to download the latest installer manually.

Andon also checks for updates quietly each time it starts. Nothing is shown until you open Check for Updates, which then answers at once.

Updates work this way for the Windows installer, the portable zip and the Linux AppImage. A tar.gz copy does not update itself: download the new version from the website.

Uninstalling

• Windows: open Settings, then Apps, find Andon and choose Uninstall.
• Linux: delete the AppImage file, or the folder of a tar.gz copy.

Uninstalling removes the program, not your data. To remove your projects as well, delete the Andon data folder. To keep them for a later reinstall, leave the folder where it is or copy it somewhere safe first.

Quick start: your first project in five minutes

1. On the project list, click + New Project. Pick an emoji, type a name such as "Try Andon", and click Create.
2. Andon opens the project with a first task. Click the edit button on its row and rename it "Read the guide".
3. Click + New Task, type "Plan my first real project" and press Enter.
4. Click the status dot of "Read the guide" and choose green. The project turns green.
5. Click the status dot of "Plan my first real project" and choose orange. The project turns orange: one blocked task is enough to show.
6. Click "Plan my first real project" to open its notes and type why it is blocked. Andon saves on its own a few seconds later.
7. Set it back to green, then go back to the project list (Alt+Left) and press Ctrl+G to see your project in each view.

Next, read chapter 3 to learn what each color means, then chapter 13 for a full worked example.

Troubleshooting

• The Notes tab says the editor is unavailable. Install the WebView2 runtime (Windows), then restart Andon.
• Andon shows a recovery window at startup. The previous start failed. See chapter 15 for what to do.
• Something else went wrong. Look at crash.log in the Andon folder and include it when you report the problem.