Five months. Eight releases. A complete rebuild of the chat box. This is the Arka timeline.
February — v0.1.0: Introducing Arka AI
The first public release. Minimal chat interface, Firebase auth, dark mode, a foundation we knew we would rebuild but wanted live for users to react to. Two-thirds of what is in Arka today did not exist yet.
March — v0.2.0 and v0.2.1: Multi-model and chat history
Added support for switching between models, then took it away again because nobody needs it. Introduced persistent chat history. The settings panel was born. The memory system shipped as an opt-in capability.
March–April — v0.3.0: Model standardization and mobile
Standardised on a single high-quality model. First mobile-responsive pass. The slide-in sidebar was added. Touch targets sorted.
April — v0.3.1 through v0.4.1: Stability and content
Hostinger auth bugs hunted down. File analysis arrived — PDFs, code, Markdown. Usage dashboard appeared. The homepage was redesigned. About, Constitution, Changelog, and Guidelines pages went live.
May — v0.4.2 through v0.5.0: the big rebuild
The splash screen got a failsafe so mobile users could not get stuck on it. The cache pipeline was rebuilt so updates always reach users. The mobile chat box was rebuilt as a card. The model was renamed Helix 1. Projects shipped. The pricing page got the Claude-style overhaul it deserved. The Tips popup replaced raw error bubbles. The Downloads modal arrived. The export and clear-all buttons were retired.
If you have been with Arka since February, you have watched it become a different product. If you have just arrived, this is the one we want you to remember.