> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.altnautica.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Updating the Agent

> Update the ADOS Drone Agent to the latest version with ados update.

# Updating the Agent

`ados update` moves the agent to the latest version on the `main` branch. It re-runs the canonical installer in upgrade mode, which is the one path that actually updates the agent (the Rust daemons and the CLI). Your device identity and config are preserved.

## What `ados update` does

The command fetches the latest `scripts/install.sh` from the `main` branch and runs it with `--upgrade`. What happens next depends on the platform:

* **Linux.** The prebuilt installer is refetched and the full install chain re-runs, elevating with `sudo`. It updates the Rust service binaries, the systemd units, and the CLI, then restarts the agent.
* **macOS.** The source checkout is updated with `git pull` and rebuilt. macOS is a development target and does not run systemd or radio hardware.

Both paths keep `/etc/ados/config.yaml`, the device ID, and pairing state intact.

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ados update
```

By default the command asks for confirmation before it installs.

## Flags

| Flag           | What it does                                                                   |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--check-only` | Report the current version and the latest version on `main`. Installs nothing. |
| `--yes`        | Skip the confirmation prompt and update straight away.                         |
| `--json`       | Print `{current_version, latest_version, update_available}` and exit.          |

### Check without installing

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ados update --check-only
```

Example output:

```text theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
Current version: 0.89.2
Latest version:  0.90.0
Update available: yes
```

### Update without a prompt

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ados update --yes
```

### Machine-readable check

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ados update --json
```

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
{
  "current_version": "0.89.2",
  "latest_version": "0.90.0",
  "update_available": true
}
```

## Checking the installed version

`ados version` prints the installed version. It works even when the agent service is down.

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ados version
```

## Updating with the install one-liner

`ados update` is a wrapper around the installer's upgrade mode, so you can run the same upgrade by hand:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
# Linux
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/altnautica/ADOSDroneAgent/main/scripts/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- --upgrade
```

On macOS, run the one-liner without `sudo`.

## Rolling back

There is no rollback API. To return to an earlier version, reinstall it by running the installer against that version's commit or release. Fetch `install.sh` from the tag or commit you want (replace `main` in the URL) and run it the same way as a fresh install:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
# Replace <ref> with the release tag or commit you want
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/altnautica/ADOSDroneAgent/<ref>/scripts/install.sh | sudo bash
```

On macOS, run it without `sudo`. A reinstall preserves `/etc/ados/config.yaml` and pairing state, the same as an upgrade.

<Tip>
  Test an update on a bench drone before you roll it out to a field fleet. Run `ados update --check-only` to see what version `main` is on, update the bench node, confirm it flies, then update the rest.
</Tip>