---
title: Release Channels
description: Install OrchestKit from stable, beta, or alpha release channels using Claude Code's multiple-marketplace pattern.
---

import { Card, Cards } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/card';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

OrchestKit offers three release channels. Each channel is a **separate git branch** that Claude Code resolves via the marketplace `@ref` syntax. The **stable** channel (default) is recommended for most users.

## How It Works

Claude Code's plugin system uses **git refs** to resolve plugin versions. When you add a marketplace with `@beta`, CC clones the repo at the `beta` branch — which has a different version stamped into `plugin.json` (e.g., `7.2.0-beta.3` vs `7.2.0`). CC caches each version separately at `~/.claude/plugins/cache/ork/<version>/`.

```
main branch    →  marketplace.json version "7.2.0"          →  stable
beta branch    →  marketplace.json version "7.2.0-beta.3"   →  beta
alpha branch   →  marketplace.json version "7.2.0-alpha.42" →  alpha
```

## Channel Comparison

| Channel | Stability | Version Format | Who Should Use |
|---------|-----------|---------------|----------------|
| **Stable** (default) | Production-ready | `7.2.0` | All users |
| **Beta** | Mostly functional | `7.2.0-beta.N` | Early adopters, experienced users |
| **Alpha** | Experimental | `7.2.0-alpha.N` | Contributors, advanced users only |

## Stable Channel (Default)

Stable is the default when you install OrchestKit. Thoroughly tested and recommended for production use.

<Steps>
<Step>
### Install stable

```bash
/plugin install yonatangross/orchestkit
```

> **CC < 2.1.80:** Use `claude plugin marketplace add yonatangross/orchestkit && claude plugin install ork`
</Step>
<Step>
### Verify installation

```bash
/ork:doctor
```

Look for: `Plugin: ork v7.2.0 (stable)`
</Step>
</Steps>

**What you get:**
- Fully tested features across macOS, Ubuntu, Windows
- Regular bug fixes and security patches
- Compatible with Claude Code >= 2.1.80

**Update frequency:** Weekly or as needed for bug fixes.

## Beta Channel

Beta contains upcoming features that are largely functional but may have rough edges. The beta branch receives pre-release versions stamped by CI after passing the full test suite + cross-platform matrix (Node 18/20/22, macOS/Ubuntu/Windows).

<Steps>
<Step>
### Install beta

```bash
/plugin install yonatangross/orchestkit@beta
```

> **CC < 2.1.80:** Use `claude plugin marketplace add yonatangross/orchestkit@beta && claude plugin install ork`
</Step>
<Step>
### Verify channel

```bash
/ork:doctor
```

Look for: `Plugin: ork v7.2.0-beta.3 (beta)`
</Step>
</Steps>

**Update frequency:** Multiple times per week as development progresses.

## Alpha Channel

Alpha is cutting-edge and experimental. For contributors and advanced users only. May break, have missing features, or require manual fixes.

<Steps>
<Step>
### Install alpha

```bash
/plugin install yonatangross/orchestkit@alpha
```

> **CC < 2.1.80:** Use `claude plugin marketplace add yonatangross/orchestkit@alpha && claude plugin install ork`
</Step>
</Steps>

**Update frequency:** Multiple times per day as commits land.

## Switching Channels

### From Stable to Beta

```bash
claude plugin uninstall ork
/plugin install yonatangross/orchestkit@beta
```

### From Beta/Alpha Back to Stable

```bash
claude plugin uninstall ork
/plugin install yonatangross/orchestkit
```

**Note:** Restart Claude Code after switching channels for the change to take effect.

## Version Format

OrchestKit uses semantic versioning with pre-release identifiers:

```
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH              →  Stable release
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH-CHANNEL.N    →  Pre-release build

Examples:
  7.2.0              Stable release
  7.2.0-beta.3       Beta build 3 of v7.2.0
  7.2.0-alpha.42     Alpha build 42 of v7.2.0
```

Pre-release versions are **automatically stamped** by CI into all plugin files (`marketplace.json`, `plugin.json`, `package.json`, `pyproject.toml`, `CLAUDE.md`, `version.txt`) before the GitHub Release is created. This ensures CC sees a distinct version for each channel.

## Dogfooding Model

OrchestKit is tested daily across multiple real-world projects before any stable release. This "dogfooding-as-alpha" approach means:

- **Alpha signal**: The maintainer's 6+ projects running OrchestKit daily serve as the alpha test matrix
- **Beta signal**: Features stabilize on the beta branch after cross-project validation
- **Stable signal**: Merging to main triggers release-please for automated versioning and changelog

The beta and alpha channels provide **opt-in early access** for external users who want bleeding-edge features, while the dogfooding loop ensures quality before anything reaches stable.

## Checking Your Channel

```bash
/ork:doctor
```

Look for the version line:

```
Plugin:     ork v7.2.0 (stable)
            or
Plugin:     ork v7.2.0-beta.3 (beta)
            or
Plugin:     ork v7.2.0-alpha.42 (alpha)
```

## Compatibility

All three channels require:
- Claude Code >= 2.1.108
- Node.js >= 18 (for hooks)
- Git (for commit/PR workflows)

Pre-release builds may require a newer Claude Code version if they use unreleased CC APIs. The doctor health check will warn you of mismatches.

## Reporting Issues

When reporting issues from beta or alpha:

1. Run `/ork:doctor` to get your exact version
2. Include the full version string (e.g., `v7.2.0-beta.3`)
3. Report on [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/yonatangross/orchestkit/issues) with reproduction steps

## Channel Stability Guarantee

- **Stable**: No breaking changes within a major version (7.x → 8.0 is breaking, 7.1 → 7.2 is not)
- **Beta**: Breaking changes possible before stable release
- **Alpha**: All changes possible at any time

## Next Steps

<Cards>
  <Card title="Installation" href="/docs/getting-started/installation" description="Full installation instructions" />
  <Card title="Your First 10 Minutes" href="/docs/getting-started/first-10-minutes" description="Get started after installation" />
  <Card title="Configuration" href="/docs/getting-started/configuration" description="Configure memory, MCP, and environment" />
</Cards>
