# Aether Events — Launcher (Podium Display)

**Last Updated:** 2026-06-12

The Launcher module provides the podium display interface that runs on each session room's kiosk machine. It is designed to work in standard browsers but is optimized for the **Aether Desktop (Electron)** native shell.

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## Operational Modes

| Mode | Use Case | File Handling |
|---|---|---|
| **Default** | Browser on any machine | Files downloaded on demand via browser. |
| **Onsite** | Browser on event network | Faster polling; browser-managed files. |
| **Native** | Electron app on podium Mac | Background pre-cache; atomic file handover. |

For production onsite use, **Native mode on Mac laptops** is the target. The Electron
app pre-caches all session files in the background so presentations open instantly without
a network round-trip at the moment of launch.

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## Launcher Display Views

| View | Shown When |
|---|---|
| **Session view** | Active session with session-level files. |
| **Presentation view** | Active session with named presentations. |
| **Presenter view** | Presentation selected; shows presenter bio/photo. |
| **Poster/group view** | Special layout for poster sessions. |
| **Screensaver** | No active session; idle state. |

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## Sync Engine & File Handling

### Background Sync (File Warming)
When a user navigates to a session in the Launcher UI, the background engine automatically warms the cache for that specific session by downloading all associated files.

### Force Sync Location
To ensure full room readiness (e.g., during SRR setup or overnight), operators can trigger a **Force Sync Location** via the configuration menu. This performs a recursive fetch of all sessions, presentations, and presenters for the room and queues every file for the day for download.

### Download Priority & Room Readiness
To ensure the podium is ready for the day's first sessions, the Launcher sync engine uses a 4-tier chronological sorting priority:

1.  **Global Assets:** Event and Location level files (branding, walk-in slides) are cached first.
2.  **Session Schedule:** Files for the earliest sessions in the room are prioritized.
3.  **Presentation Order:** Within a session block, speakers are prioritized by their scheduled start time.
4.  **First-In Fairness:** When times are equal, older uploads are prioritized over late revisions (respecting on-time presenters).

### Native File Opening (Safe Handover)
1. Verify SHA-256 hash in permanent cache.
2. Atomic copy to system `[tmp]` directory.
3. Rename to original filename (e.g., `Abstract_101.pptx`).
4. OS opens the file via a **Launch Profile** (AppleScript or Shell command).

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## Device & Native Integration

Each Launcher kiosk is registered as an `event_device` record in Aether. The technical specifications for the Electron bridge, hashed cache protocol, and hardware actuators are documented in:
👉 **[MODULE__AE_Events_Launcher_Native.md](./MODULE__AE_Events_Launcher_Native.md)**

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## Route Map (Display)

| URL | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `/events/[id]/launcher` | Launcher home — select location |
| `/events/[id]/launcher/[location_id]` | Launcher display for a specific room |

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## Access Levels

| Feature | Minimum Access |
|---|---|
| View Launcher display | `authenticated_access` |
| Manual session selection | `trusted_access` |
| Advanced Config / Sync Control | `trusted_access` (via Configuration Drawer) |