SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
Hardware and software requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System
Windows 10+
macOS 10.14+
Ubuntu 18.04+
macOS 10.14+
Ubuntu 18.04+
Memory (RAM)
4 GB
Storage Space
100 MB + File Storage
Processor
64-bit Dual Core
SOURCE CODE BUYERS: Additional build requirements apply. You need Node.js, Python with setuptools, and platform-specific build tools to compile the application from source.
BUILD REQUIREMENTS (SOURCE CODE)
If building from source code, you also need:
Node.js
18.0.0+ (22+ needs extra setup)
Python
3.x with setuptools
Build Tools
Platform-specific (see below)
Git
For version control
RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS
Memory (RAM)
8 GB or Higher
Storage
SSD Drive
Processor
Quad Core or Better
Display
1920x1080 or Higher
STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS
Crono creates copies of all uploaded files, so plan storage accordingly:
- Base Installation: ~100 MB for the application and database
- File Storage: Equal to the total size of all uploaded files
- Database Overhead: Minimal - typically less than 1% of file storage
- Backup Space: Additional space for exported archives if stored locally
STORAGE CALCULATION: If you plan to archive 100 GB of files, ensure you have at least 105 GB free space (100 GB for files + 5 GB buffer for operations and database).
PLATFORM-SPECIFIC NOTES
Windows
- Windows Defender may initially block the application
- No additional dependencies required for pre-built apps
- Supports Windows 10 and 11
- UAC permissions may be required for some operations
- Build Requirements: Visual Studio Build Tools with C++ workload
macOS
- May require allowing the app in Security & Privacy settings
- Supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- No additional dependencies required for pre-built apps
- Gatekeeper verification on first launch
- Build Requirements: Xcode Command Line Tools and Python setuptools
Linux
- AppImage format - no installation required
- Tested on Ubuntu, should work on most distributions
- May require making the file executable:
chmod +x - Desktop integration may vary by distribution
- Build Requirements: build-essential and python3-setuptools packages
PYTHON SETUPTOOLS REQUIREMENT
The most critical build requirement is Python setuptools. Python 3.12+ removed distutils, causing build failures.
Platform-Specific setuptools Installation
# macOS (Homebrew Python - most common issue)
/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.13/bin/python3.13 -m pip install setuptools --break-system-packages
# macOS (System Python)
python3 -m pip install setuptools --user
# Windows
pip install setuptools
# Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt-get install python3-setuptools
# Linux (CentOS/RHEL/Fedora)
sudo dnf install python3-setuptools
CRITICAL: 90% of build failures are caused by missing Python setuptools. Install this first before attempting npm install. This is especially common on macOS with Homebrew Python.
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
- SSD Storage: Use SSD drives for better file operation performance
- Available RAM: More RAM allows for better handling of large file operations
- Regular Maintenance: Periodic database exports help maintain optimal performance
- File Organization: Use categories effectively to improve search performance
PERFORMANCE NOTE: Large file operations (uploading/exporting files over 1 GB) may take longer on systems with limited RAM or slower storage devices.
NETWORK REQUIREMENTS
- Internet Connection: Not required for operation
- Offline Operation: Fully functional without network access
- Cloud Storage: Optional for storing backup archives
- Network Drives: Can access files from network locations (may be slower)
SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
File Permissions
Read access to source files and write access to home directory for database storage.
User Privileges
Standard user account sufficient - administrator privileges not required for normal operation.
Antivirus
May need to whitelist Crono in antivirus software to prevent false positive detections.
Firewall
No network access required - firewall configuration not necessary for operation.
SCALABILITY LIMITS
Maximum Files
No Hard Limit
Database Size
Limited by Storage
File Size
Limited by Storage
Categories
Unlimited
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Built with modern technologies for reliability and performance:
- Electron Framework: Cross-platform desktop application framework
- Node.js: JavaScript runtime for backend operations
- SQLite: Lightweight, reliable database engine
- Better-SQLite3: High-performance SQLite bindings (requires native compilation)
- Native Dependencies: Optimized for each platform, requires build tools
BUILD NOTE: better-sqlite3 is a native Node.js module that requires compilation. This is why Python setuptools and platform build tools are required when building from source.
COMPATIBILITY
File System Support
- Windows: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT
- macOS: APFS, HFS+, ExFAT
- Linux: ext4, ext3, XFS, Btrfs
Archive Portability
- Database exports are cross-platform compatible
- File paths are normalized during import
- Unicode filename support across all platforms
- Metadata preserved during platform migrations
OPTIMIZATION TIP: For best performance with large archives (10,000+ files), use SSD storage and ensure adequate RAM. Consider periodic database maintenance through export/import cycles.
SYSTEM VERIFICATION
For Pre-Built Applications
- Check available storage space in your home directory
- Verify operating system version and architecture
- Test file access permissions in intended storage locations
- Ensure adequate free memory for your expected archive size
- Download and test Crono with a small set of files first
For Source Code Builds
# Check Node.js version (should be 18+)
node --version
# Check Python and setuptools (CRITICAL)
python3 --version
python3 -c "import setuptools; print('setuptools OK')" || echo "MISSING - INSTALL FIRST"
# Check build tools
# macOS: xcode-select -p
# Windows: where cl.exe
# Linux: gcc --version
# Verify npm is working
npm --version
IMPORTANT: While Crono has no hard limits on file count or size, performance will depend on your hardware specifications. Start with smaller archives and scale up as needed.