Documentation Hub

1. Introduction & Philosophy

Welcome to the official technical documentation for the Hyde Ecosystem. Hyde is a collection of privacy-first, ad-free digital tools designed to restore user sovereignty in the digital age. In a web ecosystem dominated by data harvesting, intrusive advertising, and algorithmic manipulation, Hyde stands as a counter-movement focused on utility, speed, and anonymity.

Our mission is simple: To build the utility layer of the internet without the surveillance. We believe that software should serve the user, not the advertiser.

Core Principles

• Zero Knowledge: We architect our systems so that we cannot know who you are or what you do, even if compelled.
• Ad-Free Forever: We do not accept advertising revenue. Our products are funded by donations and passion.
• User Control: You own your data. Our tools operate locally whenever possible.

2. Ecosystem Overview

Hyde is a monolithic project composed of several distinct but philosophically aligned applications. Below is the current operational status of the entire suite as of January 2026.

3. Licensing & Distribution

4. Hyde Music: User Guide

Hyde Music is an aggregation client that indexes audio streams from multiple public APIs (YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Jamendo) and presents them in a unified, ad-free interface.

Getting Started

Web Version: The easiest way to start is via our web player. It requires no installation and works on any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).

Platform Support Matrix

• Windows 10/11: Supported (Native App). Offers media key support and background performance optimization.
• Android: Coming Soon (Q1 2026). Native APK in final testing stages.
• macOS / Linux: Canceled. Please use the Web Player PWA (Progressive Web App).
• iOS: Web Only. Use Safari -> Share -> Add to Home Screen.

5. Music Architecture

Understanding how Hyde Music works helps users troubleshoot issues and understand the privacy benefits.

Audio Normalization Engine

Hyde uses the Web Audio API to analyze the audio buffer in real-time. It calculates the RMS (Root Mean Square) amplitude and dynamically adjusts the gain node to ensure consistent volume levels across different tracks.

Caching Strategy (IndexedDB)

To save bandwidth, Hyde implements a local caching layer. When a track is fully buffered, it is stored in your browser's IndexedDB. Subsequent plays load directly from your disk, offering offline-like speeds and reducing network requests.

6. Installation Guide (Windows)

Follow these steps to install the native Windows client.

1. Download the latest installer (HydeMusic-Setup.exe) from our download page.
2. Run the installer. You may see a "Windows Protected Your PC" popup.
3. This appears because we are an independent developer and do not buy expensive signing certificates from Microsoft.
4. Click "More Info" and then "Run Anyway". The app is 100% safe and virus-free.
5. The app will install to AppData/Local/Programs/HydeMusic and launch automatically.

7. Troubleshooting

8. Hyde Chat: Security Manual

Hyde Chat is an ephemeral, encrypted communication tool. It is built for situations where data retention is a liability.

Key Security Features

• No Database: Messages are relayed via RAM. Once delivered, they are wiped from the server.
• No Accounts: You do not sign up. You do not provide an email. You do not provide a phone number.
• Room Isolation: Each chat room generates a unique cryptographic salt. Interception of one room does not compromise others.

9. Chat Threat Model

What we protect against:
- Passive network surveillance (ISP snooping).
- Server seizure (data is in RAM, not disk).
- Database leaks (there is no database).

What we do NOT protect against:
- Compromised user devices (Keyloggers on your PC).
- Someone looking over your shoulder.

10. Hyde Downloader Capabilities

The Hyde Downloader is a GUI wrapper for advanced media extraction tools. It runs locally on Windows.

Feature Set

• 8K Video Support: Downloads the highest quality video stream available.
• Format Conversion: Automatically merges video and audio streams into MP4/MKV.
• Audio Extraction: Can rip audio tracks to MP3 (320kbps) or WAV (Lossless).
• Playlist Support: Can process entire playlists in batch mode.

11. Supported Sites

Hyde Downloader supports over 1,000 domains. Major supported platforms include:

12. Hyde Browser (Future Tech)

Currently in the planning phase, the Hyde Browser aims to be the most secure entry point to the web.

The "Fingerprinting" Problem

Most privacy browsers block cookies, but they fail to block "Fingerprinting". Websites track you based on your screen resolution, installed fonts, and hardware canvas rendering.

Our Solution

Hyde Browser will implement Canvas Randomization. Every time you restart the browser, it will slightly alter the way it reports your hardware to websites, making you appear as a completely different user every session.

13. Hyde Human (AI Research)

Hyde Human is an experimental project exploring "Affective Computing".

Current AI assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini) are helpful but robotic. Hyde Human aims to simulate emotional permanence. It will have "moods" based on interaction history, creating a more realistic and grounded conversational partner.

14. Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 2026

Article 1: Acceptance

By accessing the Hyde Ecosystem, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms, you may not use our services.

Article 2: Usage License

Permission is granted to use the software for personal, non-commercial use. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title. You may not modify, decompile, or use the materials for any commercial purpose without explicit written consent from the developer (Tirth).

Article 3: Content Liability

Hyde Downloader is a tool provided for personal archiving. The Hyde Organization does not host, distribute, or index any copyrighted material. The user bears full legal responsibility for how they use the tool. We do not condone piracy.

Article 4: Disclaimer

The software is provided "as is". Hyde makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding stability, uptime, or data persistence. Use at your own risk.

15. Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 2026

Article 1: Data Collection

We practice Data Minimization. We do not collect names, emails, phone numbers, or physical addresses. We do not log IP addresses on our core application servers.

Article 2: Local Storage

Hyde Music stores your preferences (volume, theme, playlists) locally on your device using localStorage and IndexedDB. This data never leaves your device.

Article 3: Third-Party APIs

Hyde Music acts as a proxy. When you search for a song, your query is sent to our anonymous relay server, which then fetches data from YouTube/SoundCloud. This prevents the big tech companies from seeing your original IP address.

Article 4: Cookies

We do not use tracking cookies. We do not use pixel tags. Any cookies present are strictly necessary for session management (e.g., maintaining a WebSocket connection in Hyde Chat).