docs: add comprehensive beginner setup guide for MentraOS development

[nglebm19]

Summary

Added a complete beginner's setup guide for new MentraOS developers.

Changes

• ✅ Complete step-by-step setup instructions for all platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• ✅ Smart glasses compatibility table and setup guide
• ✅ Troubleshooting section for common issues
• ✅ Clear next steps and community resources
• ✅ Architecture explanation with diagrams

Target Audience

Complete beginners with no prior MentraOS experience

Testing

• Verified MDX syntax
• Checked all links and references
• Reviewed for clarity and completeness

Issues

#1221

[aisraelov]

@isaiahb or @Drakonheart check this out when you get a chance. I think could use some tweaking (ex: don't include Android/iOS SDK stuff in the Mentra SDK... this would confuse users). But a general easy to understand overview could be worthwhile.

[isaiahb]

This is awesome, thank you!

[isaiahb]

@aisraelov should we rename it so it's more clear this is setup is not required for developing apps using the SDK, just for making changes to the underlying mobile app and or cloud?

[Drakonheart]

This is awesome, @nglebm19 ! I really liked the way you went into so much detail, and the diagram is great too.

One question I had, would it be possible to combine this with the other file that also goes into detail about setting up Mentra OS locally and in the cloud (MentraOS/cloud/docs/development/local-setup.mdx)?

I’m assuming you were using Mintlify to check if everything worked, though when I ran it I couldn’t find the doc you created. I had to manually go to http://localhost:3001/beginner-setup-guide to get to your page.

Other than that, if you could fix those few things, it should be good to go, boss.

Sorry for the late response, the team has been really busy.

Thanks again,
A.F.P.

[nic-olo]

@nglebm19 isn't replying. @Drakonheart can you please make these changes yourself so we can merge this PR?

[nglebm19]

Hi @Drakonheart
Sorry for the delay – I've been swamped with midterms and didn't have time to check your feedback until now.

Thanks for the detailed review! I've made the following updates:
✅ Added beginner-setup-guide to the navigation in docs.json - it now shows up in the sidebar under "Getting Started"
✅ Enhanced cross-references between the beginner guide and the cloud setup guide so users know which one to follow
✅ Both guides now link to each other for better discoverability
I kept them as separate docs since they serve different audiences (complete beginners vs. cloud developers), but they're now properly connected with clear signposting.
Should be good to go now! Feel free to let me know if you need anything else.
Thanks for your patience!

[Drakonheart]

Hey @nglebm19 ! Sorry we missed you earlier; the team’s been super busy lately. We had a discussion about your PR, and I just want to say it’s awesome. We really appreciate the time and thought you put into it.

After reviewing it, we realized that right now there isn’t a perfect place to fit it into our current documentation hierarchy without possibly confusing new developers. That said, your work actually highlighted something important, we really need a dedicated section for contributor and third-party developer documentation.

We’re in the process of creating a more organized documentation structure with a stronger focus on those areas. Once that’s ready, we’d love to revisit your PR and integrate it properly. For now, we’ll keep your PR open, and when the time comes, we’ll reach out to you directly.

Thanks again for your patience and for putting so much care into your contribution; it really means a lot to us.

[nglebm19]

Hey @Drakonheart,

No worries at all — totally understand how things can get hectic! Thanks so much for the thoughtful feedback and the kind words. I really appreciate you and the team taking the time to review my PR so thoroughly.

That all makes perfect sense. I completely agree that having a dedicated section for contributor and third-party developer documentation would make things much clearer. I’m glad my PR could help highlight that gap.

I’ll keep an eye out for updates on the new documentation structure, and I’m more than happy to revisit and adapt my contribution once that’s in place. Thanks again for keeping me in the loop — really appreciate the open communication and support!