Overview

Hands-on walkthroughs for building a virtual operating system in Unreal Engine. Each tutorial links to the matching C++ API types where relevant.

flowchart TB
  subgraph start["Getting started"]
    direction LR
    Prerequisites["Prerequisites"] --> Demo["Try the demo map"] --> Actor["Create a device actor"] --> Device["Create a device"] --> OperatingSystem["Create an operating system"]
  end
  subgraph extend["Extend"]
    direction LR
    Examples["Examples & Patterns"] --> Program["Create a custom program"] --> Terminal["Custom terminal command"] --> Filesystem["Filesystem operations"]
  end
  subgraph integrate["Integrate"]
    direction LR
    GlobalMessenger["Using Global Messenger"] --- DeviceMessenger["Using Device Messenger"] --- SaveLoad["Save and load"]
  end
  OperatingSystem --> Program
  Terminal --> GlobalMessenger
  Program --> DeviceMessenger
  OperatingSystem --> SaveLoad

Getting started

Tutorial	Description
Prerequisites	Editor settings and plugin content before you begin
Try the demo map	Open DemoMap and explore a working OS
Create a device actor	Place AOperatingSystemDeviceActor in your level
Create a device	Configure UOperatingSystemBaseDevice with hardware
Create an operating system	Build UOperatingSystemNonUnix or UOperatingSystemUnix

Programs and files

Tutorial	Description
Create a custom program	Blueprint program from UOperatingSystemBaseProgram
C++ program from scratch	Native program class with validation and widgets
C++ extension examples	Add/extend programs, commands, files, settings, messengers in C++
Custom file type	Open files with UOperatingSystemFile subclasses
Filesystem operations	Create, move, and delete files and directories at runtime

Terminal and world integration

Tutorial	Description
Custom terminal command	Blueprint or C++ UOperatingSystemTerminalCommand
Using Global Messenger	Bridge terminal commands to actors in the game world
Using Device Messenger	Events scoped to a single running device

Devices and persistence

Tutorial	Description
Portable device	Battery, charging, and AOperatingSystemPortableDeviceActor
Save and load	Program settings, OS state, and UOperatingSystemSaveGame
User accounts	Multi-user login with UOperatingSystemUserManager
Custom notifications	Toast notifications from Blueprint or C++

Extension patterns (cookbook)

Tutorial	Description
Examples & Patterns	Cookbook index — all patterns with bundled asset references
Full Device Stack	Actor → device → OS → collections
Simple Blueprint Program	Calculator-style minimal app
Program with Data & Settings	Mail-style triple-class pattern
Terminal Command	BP_CMD_Help graph reference
C++ + Blueprint Child	Native logic + editor defaults
Custom Setting Module	Theme / Wallpaper module pattern
Custom File Type	Explorer double-click open
Messenger Bridges	Device vs Global Messenger
Extend Bundled Program	Duplicate + Blueprint child reskin
Portable Device & Battery	Battery simulation and events

Reference

• Blueprint Reference — common nodes and widget classes
• C++ Reference — modules, includes, and extension points
• Plugin Classes — architecture overview

Start with Getting Started if you have not enabled the plugin yet.