Before you start
What you need
Time: 10 minutes to read
- Nothing yet. This page helps you choose the computer.
- A network cable, or the Wi-Fi password for your masjid.
What OpenMasjidOS is
OpenMasjidOS is free software that runs on one small computer in your masjid. It gives you a web page, called the dashboard, that you open from any phone or laptop on your network. From the dashboard you install apps: prayer timetables for your screens, card donations, and madrasa fees.
The software is yours. It runs on your hardware, and your records stay in your building.
Words you need first
You meet these three words in every guide. Every other technical word is explained where the guide first uses it.
Terminal. A window where you type commands instead of clicking buttons. You use it once, to install OpenMasjidOS.
IP address. The number that identifies your computer on your network. It looks like
192.168.1.50, and you type it into your browser to open the dashboard.
Docker. The tool that runs each app in its own container. The installer sets Docker up for you, and you never use it directly.
Choose your computer
| Computer | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A mini-PC | Recommended for most masjids | Small, quiet, low power, and built to be left on. A second-hand ex-office one is cheap. |
| A Proxmox container | Recommended if the masjid already has a server | No new machine to buy. Use a Debian 12 container. |
| A PC or laptop you already own | Works. Good for trying it out | Free today. Do not leave a laptop as the permanent masjid computer — the guide says why. |
What the computer must run
The installer checks these and stops with a clear message if something does not match.
| Requirement | Supported |
|---|---|
| Processor | 64-bit Intel or AMD (amd64), or 64-bit ARM (arm64) |
| Operating system | Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04 or 24.04 · Debian 11 or 12 · Raspberry Pi OS (Bullseye or Bookworm) · Fedora 38 or newer |
| Access | You must be able to run commands as root, or use sudo |
| Network | The computer must reach the internet to download the software |
How long the whole thing takes
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prepare the computer | 20 to 40 minutes |
| Run the installer | 5 to 15 minutes |
| Create your admin account | 5 minutes |
| Install your first app | 5 minutes |
The installer downloads about half a gigabyte. On a slow connection it takes longer.
Choose your guide
Now go to the guide for the computer you picked.
- A mini-PC or a laptop — the usual choice
- A container on Proxmox — if the masjid already runs Proxmox
Both finish at the same place: Open it for the first time.
Checkpoint
You know which computer you will use, and you know that it meets the requirements in the table above.
If something goes wrong
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I do not know what my masjid already has. | Many masjids have a computer from an earlier project in a cupboard. | Ask on the Discord server. Describe what you find, and somebody will tell you whether it is suitable. |
| My computer is 32-bit. | Very old PCs and some small ARM boards are 32-bit. | Use a 64-bit machine. Any mini-PC from the last ten years is 64-bit. |