Kestrel release channels are independent. Packages and CLI/TUI are Stable; Desktop and Kestrel One are Beta. Packages come from npm, Desktop is available as a signed download and through its stable updater, Kestrel One source comes from its source tag, and Lumi hosting requires an organization invitation.
Current release
| Surface | Documented line | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | 0.8.8 | Stable |
| Protocol | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Conversation | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Files | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| SDK | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Memory | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Next.js | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| AI SDK | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Observability | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| Workspace skills | 0.8.5 | Stable |
| CLI | 0.8.8 | Stable |
| Desktop | 0.8.6 | Beta |
| Kestrel One | 0.8.5 | Beta |
Versions covered
| Surface | Compatible line | Contract note |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | 0.8.8 | Runtime and CLI distribution; package compatibility follows its declared dependencies |
| Protocol | 0.8.5 | Owns execution, conversations, executable plugins, approvals, recovery, Mission Control, and events |
| Conversation | 0.8.5 | Projects durable turns, streaming presentation, queues, composer actions, and typed host interactions |
| Files | 0.8.5 | Classifies uploaded media and extracts bounded host-side representations |
| SDK | 0.8.5 | Consumes the exact matching runner and protocol contracts |
| Memory | 0.8.5 | Provides governed memory contracts, backends, and retrieval helpers |
| Next.js | 0.8.5 | Adapts SDK results to server routes |
| AI SDK | 0.8.5 | Adapts runner streams to AI SDK presentation events |
| Observability | 0.8.5 | Carries compatible trace context and correlation |
| Workspace skills | 0.8.5 | Installs and verifies portable workspace guidance |
| CLI | 0.8.8 | Install the canonical npm artifact on macOS arm64 or Linux x64 with Node.js 22 |
| Desktop | 0.8.6 | Signed and notarized macOS arm64 application with stable OTA support |
| Kestrel One | 0.8.5 | Versioned source plus an invitation-only Lumi-hosted deployment |
First-party compatibility follows the exact dependency contracts declared by each owning package; compatible packages do not need equal semantic versions. Hosted operation separately records Vercel deployment and migration results and the selected tag and provider result for each explicitly targeted runtime surface.
Install and access
- Install the CLI/TUI with Node.js 22 on macOS arm64 or Linux x64.
- Install Desktop on macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon, or update an earlier signed Desktop installation through the stable channel.
- Get Kestrel One source from
v0.8.5. - Use an organization invitation for the Lumi-hosted Kestrel One service.
- Pin each installed Kestrel package to the exact version in the compatibility matrix; Runtime/CLI is
0.8.8and its public dependencies are0.8.5.
Compatibility
Kestrel 0.8 does not add 0.7 wire or SDK compatibility shims. Upgrade the full integration boundary together and follow Upgrading to 0.8.
Platform limits
Desktop release support is macOS arm64. CLI release support is macOS arm64 and Linux x64. Other platforms are not release-verified for 0.8.
Release evidence
Use the artifact's own GitHub release or registry record, published checksums, release notes, and hosted build identity. Do not treat one artifact as proof that another surface passed its gate.