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+# 🚀 Getting Started with Chat Switchboard
+
+## What is Chat Switchboard?
+
+Chat Switchboard is a **plugin-first, multi-model AI platform** that works in two modes:
+
+- **🏠 Unmanaged Mode:** Runs entirely in your browser (like the current version)
+- **🌐 Managed Mode:** Full backend with collaboration, workflows, and advanced features
+
+## Quick Start (Unmanaged Mode)
+
+### 1. Download & Run
+
+```bash
+# Clone the repo
+git clone https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard.git
+cd chat-switchboard
+
+# Build standalone version
+./build.sh
+
+# Open in browser
+xdg-open standalone/index.html
+# or serve it
+python3 -m http.server 8080 --directory standalone
+```
+
+### 2. Configure Your API
+
+1. Click ⚙️ Settings
+2. Enter your API details:
+   - **API Endpoint:** `https://api.openai.com/v1` (or OpenRouter, Venice.ai, etc.)
+   - **API Key:** Your API key
+   - **Model:** Select or type model name
+3. Click "Save Settings"
+
+### 3. Start Chatting
+
+- Type a message and press Enter
+- Switch models per-chat using the dropdown
+- Export conversations as Markdown/JSON
+
+**That's it!** No backend needed, all data stays in your browser.
+
+---
+
+## Full Installation (Managed Mode)
+
+For teams, collaboration, and advanced features like Workflows and Channels.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Docker & Docker Compose
+- PostgreSQL 15+
+- Go 1.21+ (for development)
+- Python 3.9+ (for AI extensions)
+
+### 1. Clone & Configure
+
+```bash
+git clone https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard.git
+cd chat-switchboard
+
+# Copy environment template
+cp .env.example .env
+
+# Edit configuration
+nano .env
+```
+
+```bash
+# .env
+DATABASE_URL=postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/chatswitch
+JWT_SECRET=your-secret-key-here
+PORT=8080
+FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:3000
+REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379
+```
+
+### 2. Start Services
+
+```bash
+# Start everything with Docker Compose
+docker-compose up -d
+
+# Services:
+# - PostgreSQL (5432)
+# - Backend API (8080)
+# - Redis (6379)
+# - Frontend (3000)
+```
+
+### 3. Run Migrations
+
+```bash
+# Apply database schema
+docker-compose exec backend ./migrate up
+```
+
+### 4. Create Admin User
+
+```bash
+curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/auth/register \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "username": "admin",
+    "email": "admin@example.com",
+    "password": "secure-password",
+    "role": "admin"
+  }'
+```
+
+### 5. Access Frontend
+
+Open http://localhost:3000
+
+1. Click "Connect to Backend"
+2. Enter backend URL: `http://localhost:8080`
+3. Login with your credentials
+
+---
+
+## Architecture Overview
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
+│  Frontend (Vanilla JS)              │
+│  - Manages UI state                 │
+│  - Switches modes (managed/local)   │
+└─────────────┬───────────────────────┘
+              │
+    ┌─────────┴─────────┐
+    │                   │
+[LocalStorage]    [Backend API]
+    │                   │
+    │         ┌─────────▼──────────┐
+    │         │  Go Core           │
+    │         │  - Auth            │
+    │         │  - WebSocket       │
+    │         │  - Extension Mgr   │
+    │         └─────────┬──────────┘
+    │                   │
+    │         ┌─────────┴──────────┐
+    │         │  PostgreSQL        │
+    │         │  - Users, chats    │
+    │         │  - Channels, notes │
+    │         │  - Vector search   │
+    │         └────────────────────┘
+    │
+    └─── Extensions (Python/Go) ───┐
+         ├─ Chat Engine             │
+         ├─ RAG Engine              │
+         ├─ Workflows               │
+         └─ Custom Tools            │
+```
+
+## Core Features
+
+### 1. Chat (User → AI)
+
+**Available in:** Both modes
+
+- Multi-model support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, etc.)
+- Per-conversation model switching
+- Streaming responses
+- Message history
+- Export (Markdown, JSON, Plain Text)
+
+**Managed mode additions:**
+- Auto-routing (smart model selection)
+- Cost tracking
+- Shared conversations
+- Server-side tool calling
+
+### 2. Channels (User → User + AI)
+
+**Available in:** Managed mode only
+
+Multi-user chat rooms with AI participants:
+
+```
+#general
+  @alice: What do you think about this design?
+  @claude: I'd suggest using a darker color scheme...
+  @bob: Agreed! Also, @gpt4 can you review the code?
+  @gpt4: I see a potential issue in line 42...
+```
+
+- Public/private/DM channels
+- @mention users and AI models
+- Threaded conversations
+- Real-time updates (WebSocket)
+- Reactions and formatting
+
+### 3. Notes & Knowledge Bases
+
+**Available in:** Both modes (limited in unmanaged)
+
+- Markdown notes with folders
+- Tagging and search
+- Linked notes (wiki-style)
+
+**Managed mode additions:**
+- Shared notes
+- Knowledge base collections
+- RAG (vector search)
+- Semantic search with embeddings
+
+### 4. Workflows 🌟 (UNIQUE FEATURE)
+
+**Available in:** Managed mode only
+
+Chain multiple AI models and tools into automated pipelines:
+
+```
+[User Query] → [Web Search] → [GPT-4 Summarize] 
+                    ↓              ↓
+            [Save to KB]    [Claude Verify]
+                                   ↓
+                          [Generate Report]
+```
+
+**Use cases:**
+- Research assistants
+- Code review pipelines
+- Content creation factories
+- Data processing
+- Multi-model consensus
+
+See `docs/WORKFLOWS.md` for details.
+
+## Extension System
+
+### Frontend Extensions (Both Modes)
+
+Simple JavaScript plugins that run in the browser:
+
+```javascript
+// extensions/frontend/my-plugin/main.js
+window.ChatSwitchboard.registerExtension({
+  name: 'my-plugin',
+  hooks: {
+    onMessageSend: (msg) => {
+      console.log('Sending:', msg);
+      return msg; // Can modify
+    }
+  }
+});
+```
+
+### Backend Extensions (Managed Only)
+
+Full-featured plugins in any language:
+
+```python
+# extensions/backend/my-tool/main.py
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+
+app = FastAPI()
+
+@app.post("/tools/my_tool")
+async def my_tool(input: str):
+    result = process(input)
+    return {"result": result}
+```
+
+See `docs/PLUGIN_SPEC.md` for complete guide.
+
+## Development
+
+### Frontend Development
+
+```bash
+# Serve source files
+python3 -m http.server 8080 --directory src
+
+# Build standalone
+./build.sh
+```
+
+### Backend Development
+
+```bash
+# Install Go dependencies
+go mod download
+
+# Run backend
+go run server/main.go
+
+# Or with air (hot reload)
+air
+```
+
+### Extension Development
+
+```bash
+# Create from template
+cp -r extensions/_template-python extensions/my-extension
+
+# Edit files
+cd extensions/my-extension
+nano extension.json
+nano main.py
+
+# Test locally
+python main.py
+```
+
+## Configuration
+
+### Frontend Settings
+
+Stored in localStorage (unmanaged) or user profile (managed):
+
+- API endpoints and keys
+- Default model
+- Stream responses
+- System prompt
+- Temperature, max tokens, etc.
+
+### Backend Configuration
+
+```yaml
+# config.yaml
+server:
+  port: 8080
+  host: 0.0.0.0
+
+database:
+  url: ${DATABASE_URL}
+  max_connections: 20
+
+redis:
+  url: ${REDIS_URL}
+  enabled: true
+
+extensions:
+  directory: ./extensions/backend
+  auto_load: true
+
+security:
+  jwt_secret: ${JWT_SECRET}
+  jwt_expiry: 24h
+  rate_limit: 100/minute
+```
+
+## Switching Modes
+
+### From Unmanaged → Managed
+
+1. Deploy backend (see Full Installation above)
+2. In Settings, enter Backend URL
+3. Login/register
+4. Your local data will be **uploaded** on first sync
+
+### From Managed → Unmanaged
+
+1. Export your data (Settings → Export)
+2. Remove backend URL from settings
+3. Continue using locally
+
+**Note:** Managed-only features (Channels, Workflows) won't work in unmanaged mode.
+
+## Common Workflows
+
+### Personal Use (Unmanaged)
+```
+Open standalone/index.html → Configure API → Chat
+```
+
+### Team Collaboration (Managed)
+```
+Deploy backend → Create team channels → @mention AI models
+```
+
+### Development (Contributing)
+```
+Fork repo → Create extension → Test locally → Submit PR
+```
+
+### Self-Hosted (Privacy)
+```
+Deploy on your server → Configure domains → Invite team
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Frontend Issues
+
+**"No settings found"**
+- Click Settings ⚙️ and configure API endpoint + key
+
+**"API request failed"**
+- Check API endpoint URL (trailing slash?)
+- Verify API key is correct
+- Check browser console for errors
+
+**"LocalStorage full"**
+- Export old chats
+- Delete unused chats
+- Clear browser data
+
+### Backend Issues
+
+**"Connection refused"**
+- Is backend running? `docker-compose ps`
+- Check firewall rules
+- Verify port 8080 is open
+
+**"Database migration failed"**
+- Check PostgreSQL is running
+- Verify DATABASE_URL is correct
+- Run migrations manually: `./migrate up`
+
+**"Extension not loading"**
+- Check extension.json is valid
+- Verify runtime is installed (python3, go, node)
+- Check logs: `docker-compose logs backend`
+
+### WebSocket Issues
+
+**"Real-time updates not working"**
+- Check WebSocket connection in browser console
+- Verify Redis is running (for multi-instance setups)
+- Check nginx WebSocket proxy config
+
+## Next Steps
+
+1. **Explore Features:** Try Chat, Notes, and (if managed) Channels
+2. **Read Docs:**
+   - `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` - System design
+   - `docs/WORKFLOWS.md` - Workflow system
+   - `docs/PLUGIN_SPEC.md` - Extension development
+3. **Build Extensions:** Use templates in `extensions/`
+4. **Join Community:** Discord, GitHub Discussions
+5. **Contribute:** Submit PRs, report bugs, suggest features
+
+## Resources
+
+- **GitHub:** https://git.gobha.me/xcaliber/chat-switchboard
+- **Documentation:** `/docs` directory
+- **Examples:** `/examples` directory
+- **Extensions:** `/extensions` directory
+
+---
+
+## FAQ
+
+**Q: Is my data private?**  
+A: In unmanaged mode, everything stays in your browser. In managed mode, you control the backend.
+
+**Q: Can I use my own models?**  
+A: Yes! Configure any OpenAI-compatible API (Ollama, LM Studio, etc.)
+
+**Q: How do I migrate from ChatGPT/Claude?**  
+A: Export your conversations, then import via our import tool (coming soon).
+
+**Q: Can I run this offline?**  
+A: Unmanaged mode works offline if you pre-load the page. For LLM calls, you need internet or local models (Ollama).
+
+**Q: How much does it cost?**  
+A: Chat Switchboard is free and open-source. You pay for API usage (OpenAI, etc.) or use free models (Ollama).
+
+**Q: Can I sell extensions?**  
+A: Yes! The marketplace (coming soon) will support paid extensions.
+
+---
+
+**Ready to switch? Start building! 🚀**