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* chore(release): prepare v0.15.0 Bump version across app, web, AUR, and Flatpak metainfo. Document GitHub release-notes rules, refresh README/UPDATE/INSTALL/USER_GUIDE for the 0.15 series (sidebar settings, AppImage, auto-pause/keepalive, Vulkan device selection), and align website product surfaces with shipped features. Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com> * docs(release): fold latest main into v0.15.0 notes Include dictation capitalization/trailing-space, ibus-wayland injection, IBus teardown, and settings notice polish landed on main after the initial release prep rebase. Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com> * docs(release): include Bluetooth mic crash fix in v0.15.0 notes Fold #599 (PortAudio Bluetooth SCO probe heap corruption) into README, UPDATE, changelog, AppStream, and release history after rebasing onto main. Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com> * docs(release): include language catalog expansion in v0.15.0 notes Fold #616 (Hungarian and expanded speech languages, Fixes #565) into README, UPDATE, changelog, AppStream, PRODUCT.md, and release history after rebasing onto latest main. Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com> * docs(release): fold settings footer and language follow-ups into v0.15.0 Include #618 sidebar dictation footer, #619 Custom Shortcut Record/Set restore, and #617 English (India) Whisper language mapping after rebasing onto latest main. Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com> --------- Co-authored-by: Cursor Agent <cursoragent@cursor.com> Co-authored-by: Jatin K Malik <jatinkrmalik@users.noreply.github.com>
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Product (vocalinux.com)
Platform
web (Next.js marketing site under web/)
Users
Linux desktop users who want voice dictation that stays on their machine: developers, writers, and people reducing keyboard strain. They already live in terminals, browsers, IDEs, and GTK/Qt apps.
Product purpose
Vocalinux is free, open-source offline voice dictation for Linux. It turns speech into typed text in whatever app has focus, using local engines (whisper.cpp default, Whisper, VOSK) or an optional user-configured remote API. Success is: install once, dictate in any app, without cloud transcription or telemetry.
Positioning
Offline-first Linux voice typing with real desktop integration (system tray, X11 and Wayland text injection, toggle and push-to-talk, Silero VAD, suspend recovery). A cloud SaaS voice product cannot truthfully claim local-only models plus no usage telemetry from the installed app.
Operating context
- Install via a one-line shell installer, AppImage from GitHub Releases, AUR, or local Flatpak build; then run from PATH, app menu, or the AppImage binary
- System tray indicator and settings GUI (GTK) with searchable sidebar navigation and an always-visible sidebar footer for dictation status / Test Dictation / Close
- Dictation into terminals, browsers, IDEs, office apps
- Engines and models chosen for hardware (CPU, optional Vulkan GPU with discrete-device preference)
- Guides and comparison pages on vocalinux.com; source on GitHub
Capabilities and constraints
- Engines: whisper.cpp (default), OpenAI Whisper, VOSK, optional Remote API
- Speech languages: large selectable catalog (~33 + Auto-detect) shared by Settings/CLI; VOSK only lists languages with official Alphacephei models; remaining Whisper languages available via Auto-detect
- Display servers: X11 and Wayland
- Shortcut modes: toggle and push-to-talk; left/right modifier distinction; configurable modifier+key combos
- Optional voice commands (English-only); Silero neural VAD with amplitude fallback
- Continuous dictation polish: capitalize after sentence punctuation; trailing space after each completed utterance
- Optional auto-pause while configured apps run; optional idle model keep-alive unload
- Vulkan discrete GPU auto-select with manual device override in Advanced settings
- Wayland: IBus when
ibus-waylandis running, including on compositors previously treated as unbridged - Packaging: install.sh, AppImage (x86_64/aarch64), AUR, Flatpak (local/Flathub status as documented)
- No usage telemetry in the installed app
- GPL-3.0; marketing version string is tracked in site package/version surfaces
- Website is Next.js marketing + SEO guides (static export); languages page documents per-engine support honestly
Brand commitments
- Name: Vocalinux (also part of the "Voca" family with VocaMac / VocaWin)
- Mark: microphone logo assets under
public/ - Emerald accent in the project green family (not purple SaaS defaults)
- Voice: practical, specific, Linux-native; not hype-first SaaS copy
Evidence on hand
- Real app screenshots in
public/screenshots/ - Install/uninstall commands pointing at GitHub raw install scripts
- JSON-LD on the home page (software application, FAQ, how-to)
- Do not invent user counts, testimonials, or benchmarks
Product principles
- Privacy is default: local engines process audio on-device; remote only when the user opts in.
- Ship the install path and real desktop proof, not abstract feature theater.
- Stay honest about engines, hardware, and what runs offline vs remote.
- Prefer Linux craft and clarity over generic AI-startup marketing patterns.
Accessibility
- Respect
prefers-reduced-motion - Body text contrast at least 4.5:1; large text at least 3:1
- Keyboard-reachable install copy controls and navigation