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+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,18 +5,23 @@


-> **Open-source, AI-native backend for real business apps.** Describe a business app and AI builds the whole thing — objects, APIs, UI, workflows, and permissions — as version-controlled Zod metadata on a database you own. Self-host it; AI agents then operate it within RBAC / RLS and audit.
+> **A metadata protocol and TypeScript toolkit for AI-native business apps.** Describe your objects, permissions, workflows, APIs, UI, and AI tools once as typed, version-controlled Zod metadata — and ObjectStack derives the TypeScript types, REST API, client SDK, UI, and MCP tools from that single definition.
-**Try it in ~30s** — boot the [HotCRM](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/hotcrm) reference app on [StackBlitz](https://stackblitz.com/github/objectstack-ai/hotcrm) (no install). · Hosted platform: **[ObjectOS](https://cloud.objectos.app)**.
+```
+ObjectStack (this repo) → how a business app is described — the protocol + toolkit
+ObjectOS → where it runs, and where AI plugs in — the runtime
+```
+
+This repo is the **framework**: the protocol, kernel, SDK, and CLI you build with. To *run* apps and let AI operate them under your permissions, deploy on **[ObjectOS](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/objectos)**. · Try a live app in ~30s on [StackBlitz](https://stackblitz.com/github/objectstack-ai/hotcrm) (no install).
-
-
The runtime Console rendering a dashboard defined entirely in metadata — KPI cards, charts, and scheduled reports.
+
+
One typed definition → TypeScript types, REST API, client SDK, UI, and MCP tools.
## What is ObjectStack?
-ObjectStack is an **open-source**, metadata-driven backend for building business applications that AI agents can understand, operate, and audit safely — self-hostable, with your data on your own database.
+ObjectStack is an **open-source** metadata protocol and toolkit for *describing* business applications — so one typed definition powers your data model, API, UI, and AI tools. Apps run, and AI operates them under your permissions, on the [ObjectOS](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/objectos) runtime.
Instead of hiding business logic inside ad-hoc SQL queries, UI state, or JavaScript strings, ObjectStack makes the business system explicit:
@@ -25,7 +30,7 @@ Instead of hiding business logic inside ad-hoc SQL queries, UI state, or JavaScr
- **Business logic** is represented as analyzable metadata: flows, conditions, policies, and artifacts.
- **Business runtime** is a microkernel that loads plugins, drivers, services, and compiled environment artifacts.
-The goal is not to be another low-code UI builder. ObjectStack is the structured execution layer for AI-native business software: agent-ready, permission-aware, versioned, and auditable.
+The goal is not to be another low-code UI builder. ObjectStack is the structured *definition* layer for AI-native business software — agent-ready, versioned, and analyzable; permissions and audit are enforced at runtime by ObjectOS.
ObjectStack is built around three protocol layers:
@@ -37,40 +42,9 @@ All core definitions start with **Zod schemas** (1,600+ exported schemas across
See [ARCHITECTURE.md](./ARCHITECTURE.md) for the full microkernel and layer architecture documentation, and [content/docs/concepts/north-star.mdx](./content/docs/concepts/north-star.mdx) for the product north star (metadata protocols · environment-aware runtime · compiled app artifacts).
-## See it in action
-
-ObjectStack ships a runtime **Console** and a visual **Studio** on top of the same metadata — every object, view, dashboard, flow, and permission you declare in code is immediately explorable, editable, and operable in the browser.
-
-**One object, every view.** The same `task` records — rendered as a board, a Gantt schedule, a calendar, or a cover gallery. View types are metadata, and the per-view bindings (kanban group-by, Gantt start/end/progress, calendar date, gallery cover) are auto-derived from the object, so switching layout takes no extra UI code.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Board · Gantt · Calendar · Gallery — the same records, four visualizations, zero extra UI code (grid, timeline, and map ship too).
-
-**Model and automate.**
-
-
-
-
-
-Model business objects as typed metadata — fields, relations, validation, sections · Automate with flows that compile to analyzable metadata.
+## Author your app — in code or in Studio
-**Ask your data.**
-
-
-
-
AI agents act through the same objects, actions, and permissions you defined — agent-ready by construction, not bolted on.
-
-
-## How it works
-
-Everything is **typed metadata**. Author a business object once — fields, a color-coded picklist, validation, all declarative:
+Everything is **typed metadata**. Define a business object once — fields, a color-coded picklist, validation — all declarative:
```ts
import { ObjectSchema, Field } from '@objectstack/spec/data';
@@ -93,11 +67,17 @@ export const Task = ObjectSchema.create({
});
```
-From that single schema, ObjectStack compiles a running backend — the database table, an auto-generated REST API and typed client SDK, the Console & Studio UI (list, board, calendar, Gantt…), and MCP tools for agents — all behind the same permissions, over a database you host.
+From that single schema, ObjectStack derives the database table, an auto-generated REST API and typed client SDK, UI views (list, board, calendar, Gantt…), and MCP tools for agents — all from one definition.
+
+Prefer clicking? Author the same metadata visually in **Studio** — objects, relations, validation, and flows — and it compiles to the exact same artifacts:
-
+
+
+Model objects as typed metadata · Automate with visual flows — both produce the same analyzable metadata.
+
+> **Want to see it running?** Deploy on **[ObjectOS](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/objectos)** for the live Console — dashboards, boards, calendars, records, and AI working your data under your permissions.
## Key Features
@@ -125,7 +105,7 @@ The point isn't lines of code. The point is **fit in an agent's context window.*
| AI maintainability | Agents must crawl sprawling app code | Whole app fits in an agent's context window |
| Governance | App-level conventions | Auth, RBAC, RLS, FLS, audit, and versioned artifacts |
-This makes ObjectStack a backend substrate for AI-native business applications: CRM agents, support agents, operations agents, workflow agents, and internal tools that must act on real business data without bypassing permissions or audit trails.
+Described in ObjectStack and deployed on [ObjectOS](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/objectos), this is the substrate for AI-native business apps — CRM, support, operations, and workflow agents acting on real business data without bypassing permissions or audit.
## Quick Start
@@ -199,6 +179,17 @@ os explain # Explain protocol concepts on the command line
Cloud, package registry, and environment management subcommands (`os publish`, `os rollback`, `os package`, `os login`, `os whoami`, `os cloud …`) are available when targeting an ObjectStack Cloud control plane.
+## Use the generated API
+
+Every object ships a REST API automatically — no controllers to write:
+
+```bash
+# CRUD endpoints for the `todo_task` object you defined above
+curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/todo_task
+```
+
+For the browser, the typed client SDK and React hooks (`useQuery` / `useMutation` / `usePagination`) live in [`@objectstack/client-react`](packages/client-react). Need a new capability? Write a plugin, driver, or service against the same kernel APIs — every built-in is one (see below).
+
## Package Directory
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