FLECS v5.2.0–red-deer: Simplified Deployment and Improved Lifecycle Reliability

FLECS v5.2.0-red-deer Release date: 11 March 2026 Release type: Minor release Focus: Stability improvements, simplified deployment, and improved WebApp usability Welcome to FLECS v5.2.0–red-deer. This release focuses on improving platform reliability across lifecycle operations, simplifying startup behavior, and introducing a new container-based installation approach. In addition, the WebApp received usability improvements that make managing applications more transparent and responsive. At a glance - Improved reliability for app updates, installs, restores, and file handling - More predictable platform startup through simplified initialization logic - New containerized installer enabling simpler and more consistent deployments - Cleaner App Store structure in the WebApp - Improved visual feedback during install and update operations - Internal cleanup and refactoring to support future platform development Upgrade impact This release primarily focuses on stability, deployment consistency, and maintainability. For most environments, the update risk is low to medium. Operational impact - Platform startup behavior is more predictable due to simplified initialization logic. - Deployment can now be performed through a containerized installer. - The WebApp provides clearer feedback during install and update operations. Changes that may require attention - Legacy installation methods have been removed. - Distribution is now consistently centered around container-based deployment. Recommended checks after update - Verify app update behavior on at least one representative system. - Validate install and restore workflows if backup-based recovery is used. - Confirm that deployment pipelines or scripts do not rely on legacy installation paths. Highlights Core Improved reliability across lifecycle operations Several issues affecting app updates, restore workflows, installation-time file handling, and network configuration have been resolved. These improvements reduce the likelihood of rare lifecycle-related errors and improve overall platform stability. More robust platform startup Startup logic has been simplified by moving system-specific setup tasks into the installer. This reduces dependency on host-specific configuration and leads to more predictable startup behavior for the FLECS stack. Deployment Containerized installer for simplified deployment FLECS can now be installed using the new filip startup container, which provides a containerized setup process for deploying FLECS on systems with a Docker runtime. By running the setup container, FLECS can be deployed on systems that provide a Docker runtime without requiring system-specific installation steps. This container-based installer simplifies deployment across different environments and creates a more consistent and reproducible setup process. For installation details, see the documentation: https://docs.flecs.tech/product-docs/flecs-core/installing-flecs-core#installation-steps WebApp Cleaner App Store experience The App Store view has been visually refined and app organization improved. Installed apps are now clearly separated from the broader catalog, making it easier to understand what is already running on a device and which applications are available for installation. Clearer install and update feedback Install and update actions now provide clearer visual feedback, including responsive buttons and improved progress indicators. This helps users understand when operations are running and prevents accidental duplicate actions. Improved stability and maintainability Internal fixes and structural improvements make the WebApp faster to load, more reliable during operations, and easier to extend in future releases. Important changes Removed - Legacy installation methods - Legacy migration artifacts within the WebApp and packaging process Changed - Startup preparation responsibilities have moved into the installer - Distribution is now consistently aligned with container-based deployment Deprecated No explicit deprecations are identified from the available release information. Breaking changes No explicit breaking changes are identified from the available release information. Platform Status This section describes the current maturity and capabilities of the FLECS platform. It provides context for operators, integrators, and application developers working with the platform. Supported capabilities The following capabilities are currently supported by the FLECS platform: - Application lifecycle management (install, update, restore, remove) - Container-based application distribution - Web-based platform management via the FLECS WebApp - Consistent operation of industrial software across heterogeneous environments These capabilities allow FLECS to act as a shared software layer for running and managing industrial software across machines and infrastructure. Current platform limitations The following limitations apply to the current FLECS platform and are not introduced by this release. REST API authentication from other containers Since FLECS 5.0.0-red-deer, the platform includes user management. However, its use for REST API access to the FLECS Core from other containers is not yet implemented. As a result, other containers cannot currently authenticate against the Core via REST API. Core information therefore cannot yet be retrieved through authenticated REST API calls from other containers or services. This limitation mainly affects integration scenarios that depend on direct API-based communication with the FLECS Core. Platform direction FLECS continues to evolve as a shared software layer for Software Defined Automation. Current platform development focuses on improving lifecycle management, deployment consistency, and secure integration capabilities for industrial software environments. Repository changelogs FLECS Core - relic::network: Extract common functionality into crate (#1073) - implement minimal startup container (#1074) - Remove upload of latest file from CI workflows (#1075) - Fix instance update (#1076) - Remove obsolete VSCode C++ configuration (#1078) - Update net-spider dependency (#1080) - Set ownership when extracting files (#1081) - Bump version to 5.2.0 (#1082) Full changelog https://github.com/FLECS-Technologies/flecs-public/releases/tag/v5.2.0-red-deer FLECS WebApp - Redesign app cards (#376) - Improve behavior during network changes (#377) - Responsive install/update buttons (#378) - Marquee text for install/update buttons (#379) - Remove legacy migration artifacts (#380) - Refactor project structure (#381) - Remove dev environment configuration (#382) - Remove packaging of WebApp (#383) - Revert network restart change (#384) Full changelog https://github.com/FLECS-Technologies/flecs-webapp/releases/tag/v5.2.0-red-deer Feedback If you encounter issues after upgrading, please open an issue in the corresponding repository or contact the FLECS team.