Guided installations
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## Summary
Guided Installations is the next step after installation manifests. A manifest tells an installer
*what* needs to happen; a guided installation tells them *how* to do it, in order, right on the
device they're working from. It is a live, interactive companion for installation-day that
automates as much of the process as it safely can and, for everything that remains manual, walks
the installer through each step so they never have to figure out where to start or what comes next.
The goal is simple: an installer arrives at the site, opens the guided session for the job, and is
told, step by step, exactly what to do and in what order — with the repetitive, error-prone parts
already done for them.
## The Problem
Installation day today is the most knowledge-dependent, least repeatable part of a Selora project.
Even with a complete installation manifest, the installer still has to:
- **Reconstruct the sequence** — knowing which hardware to mount first, which integration to pair
before the next, which credentials to enter when
- **Reach for tribal knowledge** — the "gotchas" that live in senior installers' heads or in chat
history, not in a checklist
- **Switch context constantly** — between the physical hardware, a laptop terminal, the Selora
dashboard, and the project notes
- **Handle the boring but error-prone steps by hand** — credential entry, integration pairing,
verification, and progress logging, all done the same way on every job
None of that is uniquely hard, but together it is where installation-day time and mistakes go to
die. The answer is not another document to read; it is a live process that runs the installer
through the job.
## What Guided Installations Is
A guided installation is a live session, tied to a specific project and its installation manifest,
that runs in real time on the installer's device. It is the difference between a checklist and a
navigator: it does not just list steps, it tracks where the installer is, does what it can on their
behalf, and always shows the single next action.
### Core Capabilities
1. **Automated pre-work** — Selora prepares what can be prepared before the installer ever arrives:
integrations that require sensitive credentials, base configuration, and pre-validated device
profiles, so on-site time is spent on hardware, not setup
2. **Sequenced step-by-step guidance** — A clear, ordered run of every remaining task, each with
the exact instructions needed. The installer is never deciding what to do next — the session is
telling them
3. **Live progress tracking** — Steps complete automatically where possible and are marked as the
installer moves, so the state of the job is always accurate and visible to the team
4. **Context-aware next step** — The interface surfaces only the current task and what's needed for
it, removing the decision overhead of scanning a long list
5. **Automated verification** — After each step, the system checks that the device or integration is
actually up and connected before moving on, catching issues on the spot rather than at
handover
6. **Support visibility** — The support team sees the same live state, so when a question comes in
they know exactly where the installer is and what they've already done
## How It Builds on Installation Manifests
Installation manifests are the input; guided installations are the execution layer. The manifest
defines the perimeter — the home, the devices, the upgrades, the integrations, and the owner
preferences. Guided Installations turn that perimeter into a running, ordered, partially-automated
workflow for installation-day. Where a manifest is a map, a guided installation is the drive
navigation.
## Benefits
- **For installers**: No more reconstructing the sequence or digging for tribal knowledge — a
single, live, ordered guide that does the routine work and always knows the next step
- **For homeowners**: A faster, cleaner install with fewer interruptions, and a verified system
handed over on the first visit
- **For support**: Full real-time context for every job, so help is informed and faster
- **For Selora**: Standardized, repeatable installations across every installer — better
first-time-right rates, fewer repeat visits, and installation-day time that scales with the job,
not with the installer's experience
epic