> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nodelink.now/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nodelink.now/reports/20th-july-your-first-applications-are-live-on-app-centre.md). # 20th July - Your First Applications Are Live on App Centre Today marks a milestone for NodeLink. The very first applications are now available in App Centre, ready to install directly onto your Nx1 Home Station. If you have been waiting to see what your machine can do beyond running as a node, this is the beginning of that answer. This is our first application release, so this report walks you through everything from the ground up: what running these apps on your own machine actually means for you, how to install them from App Centre, and what each of the four applications does. ### **Your Apps, Running on Your Own Machine** Most of the apps you use every day run somewhere else. When you use an online password manager or an online PDF tool, the software lives on a company's servers, and your information is sent there to be stored and processed. You are trusting that company to keep your data safe, and to not look at it, lose it, or lock you out. App Centre works differently. The applications you install run on your own machine, your Nx1. Your data lives on hardware that you own and control, rather than in someone else's cloud. That is the core idea behind NodeLink: the infrastructure is yours. In practice it means your passwords, your documents, and your network activity stay on your machine rather than being sent to and stored by an outside company, which gives you far more control over your own data. Because these apps live on your machine, keeping it healthy is part of the deal. Leave it powered on and connected when you want to use its apps, install updates when they are offered, and back up anything important. ### **What's Available Now** This first release includes four applications, spanning password and secrets management, documents, and network privacy: * **Vaultwarden**, a self-hosted password manager for you and your team. * **HashiCorp Vault**, identity-based secrets management for developers and technical teams. * **Stirling PDF**, a comprehensive PDF toolkit that runs on your machine. * **AdGuard Home**, network-wide ad and tracker blocking for devices on your network. A closer look at each one follows the installation steps below. ### **How to Install an App from App Centre** Getting an application up and running takes only a few minutes: * Sign in to NodeLink at app.nodelink.now using the same email you used for your order. * Open App Centre from the left sidebar. * Select your machine, the Nx1 you want to install the app on. * Find the application you want and click Download. It will download and then install onto your machine automatically, so there is nothing you need to do while it runs. * Once installation finishes, open the app from your machine and start using it. A quick note for the first time: some applications, such as Vaultwarden, will ask you to create a login or master password when you first open them. That is normal, and that password stays on your machine. If you have more than one machine, you can choose which one to install on during the steps above. #### **Vaultwarden** Your Passwords. Your Server. A lightweight, self-hosted password manager, compatible with official Bitwarden apps. Vaultwarden runs on your own machine and speaks the Bitwarden API, so it works with the official Bitwarden mobile, desktop, and browser apps your team already knows. Instead of trusting a third-party cloud with your credentials, your vault lives on your own hardware, with end-to-end encryption and premium features included. Written in Rust, it is lightweight and fast, and runs comfortably even on modest hardware. * Compatible with official Bitwarden apps across mobile, desktop, and browser. * Lightweight and fast, written in Rust. * Premium features included. * End-to-end encrypted. #### **HashiCorp Vault** Guard your secrets on your machine. Identity-based secrets management for developers and technical teams. Run a secrets manager directly on your machine to store, generate, rotate, and control access to tokens, passwords, certificates, and encryption keys. Rather than relying on static, long-lived credentials that can leak or go stale, HashiCorp Vault authenticates and authorises access based on verified identity, and it manages the lifecycle of a secret: creation, access, rotation, and revocation, all governed by code-enforced policies. This is the most technical of the four applications and is built for developers and DevOps teams. It is not the same as Vaultwarden. Vaultwarden manages the passwords people type, while HashiCorp Vault manages the secrets that applications and systems use. * Centralised storage for secrets, certificates, and encryption keys. * Dynamic, short-lived credentials that expire and rotate automatically. * Identity-based access control, with audit logging for compliance. * Encryption as a service, plus policy-driven governance. #### **Stirling PDF** Smart, Fast and Private PDF Toolkit. A comprehensive PDF toolkit that runs right on your machine, Stirling PDF lets you edit, convert, merge, annotate, and automate documents with enhanced privacy and data control. Because everything runs locally on your own hardware, your documents stay on your machine, which makes it a strong fit for sensitive files such as contracts and IDs. It is an open-source alternative to closed, cloud-locked PDF editors. * Multiple PDF tools in one platform. * Runs on your machine, with documents processed locally. * Automation and workflows for repeatable tasks. * Scalable as your needs grow. #### **AdGuard Home** Block ads across your network. Network-wide ad and tracker blocking, set up once on your machine. Install network-wide ad and tracker blocking directly on your machine to help protect devices on your network, including IoT devices that cannot run their own ad blocker. It works as your network's DNS server, so a single setup covers many devices at once, with no client software needed on each one. With custom filter lists, parental controls, and a real-time query log, it gives your household or office privacy-focused filtering in one place. * Block ads and trackers network-wide. * Privacy-focused filtering with custom and built-in filter lists. * Built-in parental controls and Safe Search. * Network-wide coverage for devices on your network, including IoT, with no client software needed. ### **Where to Start** If you are not sure which application to try first, this is the simplest path. For stronger, safer passwords, start with Vaultwarden. To cut down on ads and tracking, start with AdGuard Home. If you work with documents often, Stirling PDF will quickly replace a handful of other tools. And if you are a developer managing secrets across systems, HashiCorp Vault is built for you. Most people begin with Vaultwarden and AdGuard Home, since both deliver an immediate, everyday benefit with almost no setup. ### **Support** If you run into any trouble installing or setting up an application, our support team is ready to help. Reach out and we will guide you through it. This is only the beginning for App Centre, with more applications on the way. Install your first app today and start putting your machine to work. More updates will be shared shortly.