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# Using MetoYou

## Sign In

MetoYou signs in through a signaling server. The signaling server validates the user account, coordinates server membership, relays selected realtime messages, and helps peers establish WebRTC connections.

For the desktop Local API, the same signaling server allow-list is used before local bearer tokens can be issued. This keeps local automation tied to servers you explicitly trust.

## Find or Join Servers

Use the server search flow to find known servers. A server can be public, private, or password-protected depending on its settings. Invite links can be created from the title bar menu while a server is active.

A server contains:

- basic profile information such as name, topic, description, privacy, and maximum users;
- text channels;
- voice or custom channel sections;
- roles and permissions;
- members and voice state;
- optional server-scoped plugin requirements.

## Text Channels and Messages

Text channels are selected inside the active server. Messages are persisted locally by the client and synchronized through realtime events while connected. Plugins with the relevant capabilities can read, send, edit, delete, moderate, or sync messages.

Direct messages use the same shell but are not part of a room channel context.

## Voice, Video, and Screen Sharing

Voice and media are peer-to-peer. The signaling server coordinates connection setup, while media streams travel through WebRTC peer connections.

Desktop builds include platform integrations such as Linux display-server detection and optional monitor audio routing for screen sharing. Plugin media APIs can contribute custom audio or video streams when the user grants the necessary capabilities.

## Plugins

Open the Plugin Store from the title bar package button or menu. The plugin manager separates global client plugins from server-scoped plugins. Installed plugins can be activated, reloaded, unloaded, disabled, inspected for logs, and granted capabilities.

Plugins are explicit runtime modules. MetoYou loads browser-safe ES modules, passes a frozen API object, and cleans up registered disposables when a plugin unloads.

## Desktop Settings

Desktop settings cover:

- auto-start and close-to-tray behavior;
- hardware acceleration and Linux VA-API video encode options;
- update manifests and target update versions;
- local HTTP API hosting;
- Scalar API documentation;
- Docusaurus app/plugin documentation;
- allowed signaling servers for local API authentication;
- local plugin discovery and store sources;
- themes and user data import/export.
