Getting Started

🚀 Getting Started

One computer keeps the store's data: checks, menu, staff and reports. Every other screen (a register, a kitchen screen, a tablet) joins it over the store's network. For a food truck, one computer is enough.

🖥️ Set up a computer

On a computer with Linux (Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit, Debian 13, Ubuntu 26.04 or Fedora 44) and an internet connection, open a terminal and paste:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ViewTouch/viewtouch/main/modern/packaging/install-viewtouch.sh | sudo sh

• If the computer says curl: command not found, use wget -qO- in place of curl -fsSL.
• If it says sudo: command not found (Debian set up with a root password), type su - and the root password first, then the same line without sudo.

It asks one question:

1. Only for ViewTouch (recommended for registers, kitchen screens, kiosks and time clocks). It installs ViewTouch, locks the computer down and restarts it. From then on everything is by touch.
2. Next to the desktop. It installs ViewTouch beside the computer's desktop, and a text menu asks what the computer is.

The first start

A computer installed Only for ViewTouch asks by touch:

• what it is: main register, another register, kitchen screen, self-order kiosk or time clock;
• its name;
• the network (a cable, or Wi-Fi with the on-screen keyboard);
• the store's time zone;
• the maintainer's code: the code for the computer's own settings. Keep it between the owner and the store's technician; it isn't anyone's staff PIN.

Then ViewTouch starts. On the main register, the setup guide opens when a manager logs in: the store's name, how you serve (restaurant, food truck or retail), your logo, your look, your taxes, your first menu items and your team.

📱 Add a screen or tablet

1. On any store screen: Manager → Terminals → Pair a Device. A code like K7QM4-XHP2W appears. It works once, for 10 minutes.
2. On the new screen or tablet (the ViewTouch Android app, Android 9 or newer), ViewTouch shows Join a ViewTouch store with the stores it found. Pick yours, type the code and a name for the screen (for example "Bar"), and touch Join.
3. The new screen appears in Manager → Terminals, where you choose its receipt printer and whether it has a cash drawer.

☕ The demo café

A new store starts with a demo café, so you can try everything right away:

PIN	Who
1234	Morgan, manager (everything)
1111	Sam, server
2222	Casey, cashier
5555	Rosa, a server whose screens are in Spanish

When you're ready for real, Manager → Factory Reset → An empty store starts over with no menu, tables or sample staff. ViewTouch makes a backup first. Then Menu Builder → Import brings in the menu you already have (from Square, Clover, Toast or a spreadsheet).

🧑‍🍳 Everyday places

To…	Go to
Close the day	Manager → End of Day
Add a person	Manager → Employees → + Add
Change a price	Manager → Menu → the item → Price → Save
Mark an item sold out	Check… → Sold Out (86)…, or Manager → Sold Out
Find an old check, reprint a receipt	Manager → Find a Check…
Pair a tablet	Manager → Terminals → Pair a Device
Close ViewTouch on a screen	Manager → Close ViewTouch (touch it twice)

The user manual (PDF) has every screen, step by step.