Accounts and local mode

Operon runs completely without an account. When you first open the app you can choose "Continue without an account" and get the full desktop experience — sessions, terminal, traces, timeline, tasks, analytics, worktrees, and everything else — with zero cloud dependency. An account is optional. It is only what turns on cloud sync, cross-device access, teams, and the web viewer.

Local mode is the full app

Local mode is not a limited trial. Every local feature is available, ungated, forever, with a one-time Solo license — not a subscription. Everything Operon captures — your sessions, tool calls, file edits, decisions, tasks, and analytics — is stored in a local SQLite database on your machine and never leaves it. If you never sign in, Operon never talks to the cloud.

Choose local mode when you work solo on a single machine, when you want zero cloud footprint, or when you just want to try Operon before deciding whether cloud features are worth it. You can always sign in later without losing any local history.

What an account adds

Signing in connects your local Operon to the cloud sync layer. That unlocks the collaboration and cross-device features on top of the same local app you already have.

• Cloud sync of session metadata — decisions, tasks, timeline events, and session outcomes are backed up and available across devices.
• Cross-device continuity — start a session on your laptop and see its history on another machine you sign into.
• The web viewer — review sessions, decisions, tasks, and analytics from any browser at your Operon web app.
• Teams — invite collaborators, share decisions and analytics, and see who is working on what.

How to create an account

From the welcome screen, switch the auth card to "Create account" and choose how you want to sign up. You can use a social provider or an email and password.

1. 1

   Open the welcome screen

   Launch Operon. If you are not signed in, the welcome screen appears with the editorial hero on the left and the sign-in card on the right.

2. 2

   Switch to Create account

   Click "Sign up" at the bottom of the card. A Solo / Organization tab pair appears so you can pick your account type before continuing.

3. 3

   Choose a sign-in method

   Continue with GitHub or Google for one-click OAuth, or use the "Or email" divider to sign up with your name, email, and a password of at least six characters.

4. 4

   Confirm your email (email signups)

   If you sign up with email and password, Operon sends a confirmation link. Check your inbox and click it to verify the address before signing in.

5. 5

   Sign in

   Return to Operon and sign in. Your local history stays intact and, once approved (see below), your metadata begins syncing to the cloud.

The approval gate

Some Operon deployments require new cloud accounts to be approved before they can use cloud features. When the approval gate is enabled, a brand-new account starts in a "pending" state and waits for an administrator to approve it. Until then, you are directed to a pending screen rather than the dashboard. Not every deployment turns this gate on — on many it is off and your account is active immediately.

If you have an invite code, check "Have an invite code?" on the signup card and paste it in. If someone shared an invite link, opening it will hand the code to Operon automatically and switch the form into invite-claim mode.

Solo and Organization accounts

When you create an account you pick an account type. Solo is for an individual developer. Organization is for a team that wants shared projects, invites, and roles. You can start Solo and convert to an Organization later — Operon runs a short web wizard to set up the org when you are ready.

New accounts start with a 14-day trial of cloud features so you can explore sync and team collaboration before choosing a plan. Local mode itself is never time-limited — it works fully whether or not you ever create an account. Solo, Pro, Team, and Enterprise plans are available; see the billing and pricing pages for current tiers and what each includes.