Getting Started

This guide takes you from a fresh account to your first conversation. It covers signing in, understanding the desktop layout, adding a node, creating a workspace, and sending your first message.

What you need

Before you begin, you'll need a Varen account created at varen.tech. You'll also need at least one machine to run your node on. The node is the software that stores your data and powers your conversations — it needs to be running on dedicated hardware, not your day-to-day laptop (though that's possible too). Any modern machine works:

• A Linux machine (desktop, server, or cloud host)
• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine with Docker Desktop installed
• A NAS device with Docker support — Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, Unraid, or Proxmox

The Varen desktop application itself runs in a browser at varen.tech. You don't install any software on your day-to-day machine. The node software runs on your dedicated hardware; you access it from any browser.

Signing in

Navigate to varen.tech and enter your email address and password. The desktop application loads in the browser. On first load, the navigator panel on the left shows your account but no nodes — this is expected. You start with an empty account and add nodes as you set up hardware.

The desktop layout

The Varen desktop is a browser application with two main areas. On the left is the navigator panel, which lists everything associated with your account: nodes, workspaces within each node, and sessions within each workspace. At the top of the navigator you'll see your account name, plan information, and credit balance. On the right is the workspace area, where workspace windows open as floating panels you can move and resize. When multiple workspaces are open, they stack in the workspace area.

Adding your first node

Every Varen account starts with no nodes. Before you can create workspaces or have conversations, you need at least one node running and connected. A node is the Varen software running on your chosen hardware — it handles storing your data, processing your files, and powering responses. Click Add Node in the navigator to begin.

1. Enter your licence key (provided when your account was set up).
2. Enter a name for this node — something descriptive, like "Home Server" or "Work NAS".
3. Select your platform: Linux / macOS, Windows, or NAS / Proxmox.
4. Follow the installation instructions shown — or see the Installation guide for full detail on each platform.
5. Once the node service is running, it connects back to Varen automatically. The status dot next to the node in the navigator turns green within a minute or two.

Creating your first workspace

With a connected node, click New workspace under that node in the navigator. Give it a name that describes its purpose — "Home Finances", "Health", "Work Projects". The name matters more than it might seem: Varen uses the workspace name as a signal when routing questions to the right advisers, and when detecting whether a conversation has drifted away from the workspace's purpose. A clear, specific name produces better routing and better responses.

Starting a conversation

Click the workspace to open it. The Chat tab is where you type. Press Enter to send a message; Shift+Enter adds a newline without sending. Your first message might be a question, a piece of context about yourself, or a task. Varen doesn't need an introduction — it has your profile (if you've set one up) and will learn your situation from the conversation. Just start.

Responses stream in as they're generated — you don't wait for a complete answer, you see it build token by token. If a response is heading in the wrong direction before it finishes, a Stop button appears on the turn that lets you abort early.