# Mix of Agents Install and Runtime Modes

Mix of Agents is packaged as a PowerShell-first agentic harness for constrained Windows systems.

## Baseline runtime: PowerShell

The baseline supported runtime is Windows PowerShell 5.1 under a standard user profile. Python is optional.

Use these launchers when Python is blocked or unavailable:

- `Start AgentOS.bat` -> menu launcher
- `Start AgentOS.bat` -> direct PowerShell-only mode
- `Start AgentOS.bat` -> AgentOS PowerShell console
- `Start AgentOS.bat` -> AgentOSX PowerShell fast-iteration console

These launchers do not require Python.

## Optional Python runtime: AgentOSP

AgentOSP uses Python only if available. Detection order:

1. `Tools\Python\python.exe`
2. Windows Python launcher: `py -3`
3. PATH Python: `python.exe`
4. Bundled portable Python zip: `Installers\Python\python-*-embed-amd64.zip`, extracted to `Tools\Python`

If local policy blocks Python extraction or execution, AgentOSP will fail gracefully and the PowerShell agents remain usable.

## Installer behavior

`Install Mix of Agents.bat` launches `Install-Mix-of-Agents.ps1` with `-ExecutionPolicy Bypass`.
The installer:

- creates workspace folders
- configures provider endpoint/model/key files
- attempts optional Python detection/bootstrap
- writes `Config\python_runtime.json`
- continues in PowerShell-only mode if Python cannot be used

## Distribution hygiene

Generic distribution packages should include `Installers\Python\python-*-embed-amd64.zip` but should not include real API key files, chat history, logs, outputs, or machine-specific state.
