Merge pull request #5 from Twest2/StepForge pr/01-toolchain-ci

Pin Node toolchain, remove runtime npm repair, make CI and E2E truthful (plan PR 1)

.gitea/workflows/tests.yaml

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+  pull_request:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
@@ -14,6 +15,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: https://gitea.com/actions/checkout@v4
 
+      - name: Use pinned Node toolchain
+        uses: https://github.com/actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version-file: .nvmrc
+
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci --cache ~/.npm --prefer-offline
 
@@ -21,4 +27,4 @@ jobs:
         env:
           ELECTRON_ENABLE_LOGGING: "1"
           ELECTRON_DISABLE_SANDBOX: "1"
-        run: xvfb-run -a bash tests/run_test.sh
+        run: xvfb-run -a bash tests/run_test.sh

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ name: CI
 on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
+  pull_request:
 
 # Cancel an in-progress run when newer commits are pushed to the same ref.
 concurrency:
@@ -15,14 +16,16 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
+      # Supported desktop targets are Windows and Linux. macOS is not a
+      # support target; do not imply it by testing on it.
       matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: 20
+          node-version-file: .nvmrc
           cache: npm
 
       # The capture unit tests require app/capture.js, which require()s the
@@ -33,3 +36,23 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Run unit tests
         run: npm test
+
+  audit:
+    name: Dependency audit
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version-file: .nvmrc
+
+      # Production dependencies must be clean: these ship inside packages.
+      - name: Audit production dependencies (blocking)
+        run: npm audit --omit=dev --package-lock-only --audit-level=high
+
+      # Full-tree audit including build/dev tooling is an explicit separate
+      # signal: it must be visible but does not block unrelated changes.
+      - name: Audit full dependency tree (informational)
+        run: npm audit --package-lock-only --audit-level=high
+        continue-on-error: true

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ name: Release
 
 # Manual release: from the GitHub "Actions" tab pick "Release", click
 # "Run workflow", enter the version tag, and it builds the Windows installer
-# .exe and the Linux tarball + .deb, then publishes a GitHub Release with all
-# artifacts attached and auto-generated notes.
+# .exe, then publishes a GitHub Release with that artifact attached and
+# auto-generated notes.
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       version:
-        description: 'Release tag, e.g. v0.1.1 (the tag is created at the current commit on this branch)'
+        description: 'Release tag, e.g. v0.3.2.1 (the tag is created at the current commit on this branch)'
         required: true
         type: string
       prerelease:
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         env:
           VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
-        run: npm version "${VERSION#v}" --no-git-tag-version --allow-same-version
+        run: node scripts/stamp-version.js "${VERSION#v}"
 
       - name: Configure Windows code signing
         shell: bash
@@ -68,41 +68,9 @@ jobs:
           path: releases/*.exe
           if-no-files-found: error
 
-  build-linux:
-    name: Build Linux tarball + .deb
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-          cache: npm
-
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: npm ci
-
-      - name: Set version from input
-        shell: bash
-        env:
-          VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
-        run: npm version "${VERSION#v}" --no-git-tag-version --allow-same-version
-
-      - name: Package Linux artifacts (tarball + .deb)
-        shell: bash
-        env:
-          STEPFORGE_PACKAGE_DIR: ${{ github.workspace }}/build/artifacts
-        run: bash scripts/package-linux.sh
-
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: linux-artifacts
-          path: build/artifacts/*
-          if-no-files-found: error
-
   release:
     name: Publish GitHub Release
-    needs: [build-windows, build-linux]
+    needs: [build-windows]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -127,7 +95,6 @@ jobs:
           fi
           gh release create "$TAG" \
             dist/windows-installer/*.exe \
-            dist/linux-artifacts/* \
             --title "StepForge $TAG" \
             --target "${{ github.sha }}" \
             --generate-notes \

.gitignore

@@ -6,3 +6,5 @@ releases/
 .tmp/
 tests/.tmp/
 examples/.tmp/
+build/build_report.md
+build/artifacts_manifest.json

.npmrc

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Refuse installs on Node versions outside package.json "engines".
+# The locked dependency graph (electron-builder toolchain) needs Node >= 22.12.
+engine-strict=true

.nvmrc

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+22.17.0

README.md

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # StepForge
 
-StepForge is a **fully offline**, open-source desktop app for Windows and
-Linux that captures step-by-step workflows as screenshots, lets you annotate
-and describe each step in a focused three-pane editor, and exports the result
-to Markdown, DOCX, PPTX, PDF, HTML (WIP), GIF (WIP), confluence (WIP), Wiki.js (WIP), and image bundles (WIP). The current reconmendations for exporting is Markdown and PDF.
+StepForge is a **fully offline**, open-source desktop app for Windows, with
+Linux (WIP) builds. It captures step-by-step workflows as screenshots, lets
+you annotate and describe each step in a focused three-pane editor, and
+exports the result to Markdown, DOCX, PPTX, PDF, HTML (WIP), GIF (WIP),
+confluence (WIP), Wiki.js (WIP), and image bundles (WIP). The current
+reconmendations for exporting is Markdown and PDF.
 
 It is an independent offline desktop guide-capture tool inspired by publicly
 documented workflow patterns of commercial documentation tools like Folge. It contains no
@@ -60,17 +62,24 @@ using only Node built-ins.
 
 ## Getting Started
 
-For a windows installation, see [docs/windows_installation](docs/windows_installation.md) or for a developer/more in depth walkthrough, see [docs/GETTING_STARTED.md](docs/GETTING_STARTED.md).
+For a Windows installation, see [docs/windows_installation](docs/windows_installation.md) or for a developer/more in depth walkthrough, see [docs/GETTING_STARTED.md](docs/GETTING_STARTED.md).
 
-Requirements: Node.js 20+ and npm (Electron is the only dependency).
+On **Linux** (⚠️ work in progress — X11 vs Wayland, enabling per-click capture, the screen-share prompt), see [docs/GETTING_STARTED_WITH_LINUX.md](docs/GETTING_STARTED_WITH_LINUX.md).
+
+Requirements: Node.js 22.12+ and npm (pinned in `.nvmrc`; installs are
+refused on older Nodes because the packaging toolchain needs 22.12+).
 
 ```bash
-npm install        # one-time, fetches the Electron shell
+npm ci             # one-time, installs the locked dependency tree
 npm start          # launch StepForge
 ```
 
+Dependencies are only ever installed by you, via `npm ci` — the app never
+downloads or repairs packages at runtime.
+
 First run creates the local data directory (`~/.local/share/stepforge` on
-Linux, `%APPDATA%/stepforge` on Windows; override with `STEPFORGE_DATA_DIR`).
+Linux (WIP), `%APPDATA%/stepforge` on Windows; override with
+`STEPFORGE_DATA_DIR`).
 
 ## Testing
 
@@ -92,7 +101,7 @@ documents, and validating the bytes of the output, not string matching.
 bash scripts/bootstrap-offline.sh   # verify toolchain availability
 bash scripts/verify.sh              # full test suite + smoke checks
 bash scripts/build-release.sh       # assemble runnable app directory
-bash scripts/package-linux.sh       # portable tar.gz + .deb (+ AppDir spec)
+bash scripts/package-linux.sh       # local Linux packaging (WIP; not part of release)
 npm run package:windows             # Windows installer .exe in releases/
 pwsh scripts/package-windows.ps1    # same Windows installer build via PowerShell
 ```

ai_prompts/prompt4.md

@@ -0,0 +1,329 @@
+# StepForge comprehensive improvement plan
+
+This document is an implementation handoff for another coding agent. It is based on a repository-wide audit of commit `534a28e` on 2026-07-03. It is a plan, not authorization to make all changes in one unreviewable patch.
+
+## Objective
+
+Turn StepForge into a reliable, secure, maintainable Windows and Linux desktop application while preserving user data and the core capture/edit/export workflow. Work in small phases, add tests before or with each fix, and keep each pull request focused. Do not claim a capability until its acceptance test passes on the relevant operating system.
+
+Linux is a platform rewrite, not a collection of `process.platform === "linux"` branches in Windows-oriented files. All Linux-only runtime, setup, packaging, and tests must live in separate Linux-specific files. Apt- and dnf-based distributions must also have separate setup/package files.
+
+## Audit baseline
+
+- Repository: Electron app with a dependency-light Node core.
+- Approximate size: 10,949 lines in `app/`, 4,134 in `core/`, 2,658 in `exporters/`, 1,119 in `scripts/`, and 5,119 in tests.
+- Largest production files are already too broad: `app/renderer/editor.js` (2,336 lines), `app/capture.js` (2,055), `app/renderer/dialogs.js` (1,039), `app/renderer/app.js` (944), and `app/main.js` (905).
+- `node --check` succeeds for all checked JavaScript files.
+- The full `bash tests/run_test.sh` run fails in `test_startup_smoke.sh`: Electron cannot load `libnspr4.so` on this Linux host. The earlier click self-test reports “SKIPPED,” masking that startup failure as a missing capture environment.
+- Direct unit run: 205 tests, 200 passed, 1 failed, 4 skipped. The failure is `tests/unit/package-windows.test.js`, caused by the packaging dependency graph being loaded under Node 18 (`ERR_REQUIRE_ESM`). The four skipped tests are external renderer/codec validations.
+- The host has Node 18.19.1. Documentation says Node 20+, but the lockfile contains packages requiring at least Node 20.19 and some packaging packages requiring Node 22.12. There is no `engines` field or hard prerequisite check.
+- Sample generation and the current build-release workflow tests pass. They do not prove that the produced Linux package launches or that it has all system libraries.
+- `npm audit --package-lock-only` reports two high-severity issues in build/dev dependencies (`form-data` and `undici`). `npm audit --omit=dev --package-lock-only` reports no production issue. This distinction disappears in the current Linux package because it copies all of `node_modules`, including dev/build dependencies.
+- The launcher silently ran `npm install --package-lock=false` when dependencies were missing. That changed the ignored `node_modules` tree to versions different from `package-lock.json`. A desktop launcher must not repair itself by accessing npm at runtime.
+- The worktree was clean before this plan; diagnostics only created ignored `node_modules` content.
+
+## Confirmed high-priority findings
+
+### Security and privacy
+
+1. **A remote page can inherit the privileged preload API.** The main window has no `will-navigate` guard and no `setWindowOpenHandler`. Stored descriptions allow `https:` links. If a link navigates the main window, the preload still runs and exposes `window.stepforge` to the new page. IPC handlers do not validate sender URL/origin, and `shell:openPath` accepts an arbitrary renderer-provided target. This is a release-blocking privilege-boundary defect.
+
+2. **The default session grants every Electron permission.** `app/main.js` uses permission handlers that return `true` for every permission and every requester. The comment that this is safe because content is local is not a security control. Grant only display capture, only to the dedicated capture worker, and reject everything else.
+
+3. **Windows recording behaves like a keylogger.** The PowerShell/C# hook embedded in `app/capture.js` installs a global keyboard hook, reconstructs printable characters, buffers up to 200 characters, persists them in `captureMetadata`, and can send them with screenshots to an Ollama host. This can capture passwords or other sensitive text. It is not adequately disclosed or consented to. Disable raw character capture by default; ideally remove it. If retained, make it an explicit, separately consented feature with sensitive-field suppression, short in-memory lifetime, redaction, no persistence by default, and tests.
+
+4. **“Fully offline” and “zero HTTP requests” are factually false.** `app/text-intel.js` performs configurable HTTP requests to an Ollama host and accepts a host that can be remote. The launcher can contact npm. The docs also say Electron is the only dependency, while Tesseract and its language data are production dependencies. Choose and document an accurate contract such as “local-first, no telemetry, optional user-configured Ollama,” then enforce it. If remote hosts are prohibited, validate loopback/unix-socket targets instead of accepting arbitrary HTTP endpoints.
+
+5. **AI requests have no timeout, cancellation, size limit, or concurrency policy.** A dead Ollama endpoint can leave UI actions pending indefinitely. Full screenshots are base64-expanded into requests. Add `AbortController` deadlines, cancellation when a guide/step closes, request-size limits, bounded concurrency, and explicit data-disclosure UI.
+
+6. **Archive import lacks resource limits and transactional extraction.** ZIP entry paths and CRCs are checked, but entry count, compressed size, inflated size, compression ratio, manifest size, and total extracted bytes are not bounded. A ZIP bomb can exhaust memory because the archive and inflated entries are handled synchronously in memory. Import writes `guide.json` before all steps validate, leaving partial guides after an error.
+
+7. **Imported export templates can inject active HTML.** `customCss`, accent values, and other template values are interpolated into generated HTML without a typed schema. A malicious `.sfglt` can close the style element and add script. Validate every format’s options, restrict colors/numbers/enums, and either remove arbitrary CSS or safely encode it with a clearly documented trusted-template boundary.
+
+8. **The HTML sanitizer is regex-based and link navigation is not separated from rendering.** Replace ad hoc URL checks with URL parsing and a strict scheme/host policy. Add hostile HTML fixtures and ensure renderer links are intercepted rather than navigating the privileged window.
+
+### Broken or misleading behavior
+
+1. **Region capture returns the wrong shape.** `CaptureService.regionCapture()` stores the result of `storeFrameAsStep()` in `step` and then returns `{ ok: true, step }`. The actual step is therefore at `result.step.step`. Region capture selection and region auto-documentation expect `result.step.stepId`, so they break. Return the `storeFrameAsStep()` result directly and add an IPC-to-renderer workflow test.
+
+2. **Cancelled region capture leaks an IPC listener.** `pickRegion()` removes `region:picked` only when an event arrives. Closing/cancelling the overlay leaves the listener and captured window references behind. Cleanup must be idempotent on pick, close, load failure, and app shutdown. Validate/clamp the received rectangle before cropping.
+
+3. **Autosave can report clean after a failed write.** `flushStep()` and `flushGuide()` clear dirty flags before awaiting IPC. A rejected save can lose the visible dirty state and is often invoked through a debounce that does not handle rejected promises. Use a serialized save queue with states (`dirty`, `saving`, `saved`, `error`), only clear the matching revision after success, retry safely, show persistent failure UI, and flush on navigation/close.
+
+4. **Concurrent whole-object saves can overwrite newer edits.** Editor saves, capture auto-documentation, AI generation, and background step updates all read and write full step objects with no revision check. An AI response based on stale data can overwrite user edits; `step:updated` can reload the editor while local changes are pending. Add per-guide/per-step revision numbers and compare-and-swap saves or field-level patches. Resolve conflicts explicitly.
+
+5. **Configured automatic backups do not exist.** `backups.automatic` and `backups.everyNSaves` are defined but never used. Implement a save-count/time policy with pruning and failure reporting, or remove the settings and the documentation claim. Snapshot restore must extract into a temporary directory, validate fully, and atomically swap; the current restore deletes live content before extraction succeeds.
+
+6. **Strict click timing still falls back to a post-click shot.** The selection logic rejects post-click frames, but `sessionCapture()` then takes a fresh shot after the click and stores it. That contradicts the strict-mode product promise. In strict mode, either keep a sufficiently healthy pre-click buffer or skip the capture with a visible diagnostic; never label a post-click fallback as strict.
+
+7. **Linux evdev state is reported incorrectly.** `startEvdevWatcher()` does not set `clickWatcher`, so `state().clickCapture` is false even when evdev is active. The UI can say “hotkey only” while clicks are being watched. Device stream errors are swallowed and do not trigger fallback. Represent trigger sources as explicit states (`windows-hook`, `x11`, `wayland-helper`, `hotkey`, `interval`, `unavailable`) rather than a boolean.
+
+8. **Power blocker ownership is wrong.** The IPC `start` action starts a power-save blocker even though new sessions begin paused. Tray/second-instance pauses bypass the main-process closure that stops it. Move power management behind capture state transitions so there is exactly one owner and assert that paused/finished sessions release it.
+
+9. **File URLs are assembled by string concatenation.** `file://${p}` breaks on spaces, `#`, `%`, Windows drive letters, and other characters. Use `pathToFileURL()` and remove renderer control of arbitrary filesystem paths.
+
+10. **Search can silently remain empty.** If the index is missing, corrupt, or version-mismatched, the constructor starts empty and does not reconcile all existing guides. Rebuild incrementally at startup, store a source revision/fingerprint, and expose recovery status instead of silently swallowing failures.
+
+11. **Corrupt user data is silently hidden.** `listGuides()` and `listSteps()` skip unreadable entries. Corrupt settings are silently replaced in memory. Quarantine corrupt files, preserve originals, surface a recovery UI/report, and never make a guide disappear without explanation.
+
+12. **Several public settings/schema fields are dead or incomplete.** `language`, `capture.includeCursor`, `editor.autoTitleTemplate`, `library.sortBy`, automatic backup settings, `themeOverride`, `exportProfiles`, `extraImages`, and parts of `links` are unused or only partially used. Implement them end-to-end or remove/migrate them; do not keep misleading UI/data contracts.
+
+13. **Linked-guide locking is racy and barely observable.** Lock acquisition is read-then-write rather than exclusive creation, locks exist only for the short save operation, and two writers can race. Define whether the lock covers the editing session or just a write transaction. Use atomic exclusive creation plus ownership token, heartbeat/stale recovery if session-scoped, and conflict detection based on archive hash/revision before overwrite.
+
+### Export correctness and scalability
+
+1. `renderAllImages()` retains every decoded/rendered RGBA image. A single 4K image is roughly 32 MiB before copies; a large guide can consume gigabytes and terminate the export worker. Render one step at a time, write/consume it, release buffers, and report progress/cancellation.
+
+2. PNG and ZIP decoding are synchronous and memory-heavy. Dimension-only limits still permit enormous allocations (up to 32,768 squared). Set total pixel/byte budgets, validate exact inflated length rather than only “at least,” and move heavy work off the main process.
+
+3. The PDF writer replaces unsupported Unicode with `?`; raster annotation text uses an ASCII 8x8 font; the editor uses system fonts. Therefore the documented WYSIWYG and international-text claims are false. Vendor a properly licensed Unicode font or adopt a vetted renderer, embed/subset fonts, and add multilingual fixtures.
+
+4. Editor and export rendering differ for blur, typography, antialiasing, tooltip layout, and potentially focused-view geometry. Build shared geometry/style calculations and golden-image comparisons with explicit tolerances.
+
+5. Text-block position behavior needs a complete format matrix. Current grouping supports six positions for text blocks, while code/table blocks always fall into `rest`. Existing tests do not prove every position in PDF, DOCX, PPTX, HTML, Markdown, Confluence, and Wiki.js. Fix the reported callout movement issue by defining one canonical ordered content stream and testing every exporter against it.
+
+6. Image sizing is format-specific and inconsistent. Introduce a canonical image layout policy (`natural`, `fit-content-width`, explicit max width/height, preserve aspect ratio, no-upscale) and map physical units correctly for HTML/CSS pixels, PDF points, DOCX twips, and PPTX EMUs. Make it configurable in export profiles and test portrait, landscape, ultrawide, small, and 4K images.
+
+7. Markdown output does not robustly escape table pipes/newlines or choose a safe code-fence length when code contains backticks. Add escaping/conformance tests. Validate Office packages by opening/rendering with LibreOffice in Linux CI, not just by checking ZIP/XML structure. Validate PDF with Ghostscript/Poppler and images/GIF with external tools in a dedicated integration job.
+
+8. Export writes directly into the selected output directory and can leave partial/stale files. Export into a temporary sibling directory, validate, then atomically publish. Define overwrite behavior and clean obsolete sidecar images.
+
+### Build, packaging, and release
+
+1. The current Linux package script is not production packaging. It copies all `node_modules` (including dev tools and vulnerable build dependencies), docs, prompts, examples, and stale audit files; hardcodes `amd64`; declares only `xinput`; lacks desktop entry/icons/MIME integration; and copies a nonexistent root `LICENSE`. The portable tarball excludes the generated `/usr/bin/stepforge` launcher because it archives only `opt/stepforge`.
+
+2. A clean run can build a package without `node_modules`, producing an unusable artifact while tests still pass. Package tests only inspect file existence, not launch/install behavior.
+
+3. Linux startup currently falls back to `--no-sandbox` whenever `chrome-sandbox` is not setuid-root. Do not normalize an unsandboxed production launch. Use a packaging method/configuration that supports Chromium sandboxing (or user namespaces where supported), fail with actionable diagnostics, and reserve `--no-sandbox` for explicitly marked development/CI environments.
+
+4. The launcher auto-repairs/reinstalls Electron with npm and ignores the lockfile. Remove all runtime installation. Development setup uses `npm ci`; packaged applications contain a fixed Electron runtime.
+
+5. The Windows artifact finder returns the first `.exe` encountered and can select the unpacked app executable instead of the NSIS installer. Select the expected artifact by exact pattern/metadata and fail on zero or multiple matches.
+
+6. There is no real app icon/assets directory even though architecture docs claim one, and the Windows test explicitly asserts assets are not packaged. Add licensed original assets and verify Windows/Linux metadata.
+
+7. Versioning is inconsistent: package version, four-part build version, tags, changelog, and committed build reports disagree. Use SemVer for releases, a separate platform file/build version where needed, and generate all metadata from one source. Do not commit stale machine-specific build reports/manifests as if current.
+
+8. The license is contradictory. `package.json` says `MPL-2.0`, contribution docs require MPL-2.0/DCO, while `docs/LICENSE` and README impose a noncommercial license. There is no root `LICENSE`. The owner must choose one license before the next release; then make the SPDX field, root license text, README, contribution policy, package contents, and generated About view agree. This is a legal release blocker and cannot be guessed by an implementation agent.
+
+9. GitHub CI runs only `npm test`, only on pushes to `main`; docs claim full checks on pull requests. Release builds only Windows. Add `pull_request`, run the same authoritative commands everywhere, and add Linux package jobs. Do not allow the click E2E test to convert arbitrary startup failures into skips.
+
+## Target architecture
+
+Refactor incrementally toward these boundaries; do not perform a blind rewrite of the whole app.
+
+```text
+app/
+  main/                 lifecycle, window policy, IPC composition
+  renderer/             views/components with no filesystem privilege
+  capture/              platform-neutral session state machine and frame pairing
+  platform/
+    windows/             Windows hooks, context, power behavior
+    linux/               Linux session detection, portal/X11 input, window policy
+  services/             export, AI/OCR, search coordination
+core/
+  domain/               guide/step/block model and migrations
+  storage/              transactional repository, recovery, snapshots, locks
+  render/               canonical document layout and annotation geometry
+exporters/               thin format adapters consuming canonical layout
+packaging/
+  windows/
+  linux/
+    debian/
+    fedora/
+scripts/
+  linux/apt/
+  linux/dnf/
+tests/
+  unit/
+  integration/
+  e2e/
+  fixtures/
+```
+
+Use dependency injection for OS adapters. The platform-neutral capture coordinator should consume interfaces such as `ClickSource`, `ScreenFrameSource`, `WindowContextProvider`, `WindowVisibilityPolicy`, and `PowerPolicy`. It should never inspect `process.platform` itself. `app/platform/index.js` is the only factory that selects a platform implementation.
+
+Introduce a schema-v2 migration with a single ordered `blocks[]` collection instead of three arrays plus synthesized order. Keep a tested v1 reader/migrator and never rewrite user data without a pre-migration snapshot. Add `revision` fields for optimistic concurrency.
+
+## Phased implementation plan
+
+### Phase 0 — freeze the contract and make the baseline reproducible
+
+- Resolve the license decision and the offline/local-AI product wording with the owner.
+- Choose one supported Node LTS that satisfies the entire locked dependency graph (the current graph requires at least Node 22.12 for packaging), add `engines`, `.nvmrc` or `.node-version`, and a hard version check in setup/CI.
+- Make `npm ci` the only dependency installation path. Remove auto-install/repair from `scripts/electron-launcher.js` and keep clear diagnostics.
+- Refresh and pin the lockfile on the chosen Node/npm version; remediate the two audited build dependency issues. Add production and full dependency audits as separate CI signals with an explicit policy.
+- Split tests into deterministic unit, desktop smoke, platform capture E2E, export integration, and package install/launch suites. A missing display may skip only a capture scenario after the app has demonstrably started; a missing shared library or crash must fail.
+- Add `pull_request` CI. Run syntax/lint/type checks, unit tests, and artifact checks on Linux and Windows. Keep macOS core tests only if macOS is an intended support target; otherwise stop implying app support.
+- Record baseline performance fixtures: 100-step 1080p guide, 25-step 4K guide, large archive, and rapid-click session. Track peak RSS, export time, save latency, and dropped-click count.
+
+### Phase 1 — close privilege boundaries and data-loss paths
+
+- In the main window, reject all navigation away from the exact local app entry URL. Add `setWindowOpenHandler(() => ({ action: "deny" }))`. Route safe external links through a narrow `openExternal` handler after scheme validation and optional confirmation.
+- Validate IPC sender/webContents for every handler. Add per-channel input schemas, length/size limits, enum checks, and ownership/path checks. Remove generic `shell:openPath`/`showItemInFolder` from the renderer; replace them with intent-specific commands for known export, preview, data, and linked-archive paths.
+- Set `sandbox: true` explicitly for every renderer. Deny all permissions by default and grant display capture only to the capture worker and only for the app’s local URL. Add security regression tests for remote navigation, popup attempts, permission requests, malicious stored HTML, and hostile template archives.
+- Remove or default-disable global printable-key capture. Add a privacy disclosure for screenshot/OCR/window-title/AI data. Never persist raw typed text unless the user explicitly opts in.
+- Add AI timeouts, cancellation, concurrency limits, loopback policy if required, payload limits, and error states. Ensure stale AI responses cannot overwrite edited revisions.
+- Build the serialized revision-aware autosave queue. Keep dirty state on failure, show last successful save time, flush before navigation/quit, and block destructive close only when a flush genuinely fails.
+- Make guide/step save operations transactional at the guide level where multiple files must change. Add recovery journals or temp-directory swaps for add/delete/reorder/import/restore. Quarantine and report corrupt data.
+- Add archive/template limits and preflight validation. Extract/import into temp storage, validate manifest/schema/all referenced files, then publish atomically.
+
+### Phase 2 — fix known workflows before larger refactors
+
+- Fix region capture’s nested result and listener cleanup. Add tests covering capture service → IPC → renderer selection → optional AI.
+- Implement automatic snapshots or remove the dead settings. Make restore atomic and verify rollback after injected failures.
+- Rebuild/reconcile the search index at startup and test deletion/corruption/version upgrade.
+- Replace file URL concatenation with `pathToFileURL()` and test Windows, spaces, Unicode, `#`, and `%` paths.
+- Fix power blocker transitions, evdev trigger reporting, watcher-loss fallback, pending click drain on application shutdown, and strict-mode post-click behavior.
+- Validate and clamp all persisted geometry and settings. Reject NaN/infinite/negative image sizes, cyclic parent relationships, invalid block IDs/orders, unsafe image paths, out-of-range focused views, and oversized strings/arrays.
+- Inventory every schema/settings field and either implement, migrate, or delete it. Update UI and docs in the same PR.
+
+### Phase 3 — Linux rewrite with separate files (apt and dnf)
+
+This phase must not add more Linux conditionals to `app/capture.js`, `app/text-intel.js`, `app/main.js`, or the Windows hook. First introduce platform interfaces, preserve the tested Windows adapter, and then write Linux implementations in new files.
+
+Create at minimum:
+
+```text
+app/platform/index.js
+app/platform/windows/capture-adapter.js
+app/platform/windows/click-hook.cs
+app/platform/windows/window-context.ps1
+app/platform/windows/power-policy.js
+app/platform/linux/capture-adapter.js
+app/platform/linux/session-detection.js
+app/platform/linux/portal-frame-source.js
+app/platform/linux/x11-click-source.js
+app/platform/linux/wayland-click-source.js
+app/platform/linux/window-context-x11.js
+app/platform/linux/window-policy.js
+app/platform/linux/diagnostics.js
+scripts/linux/apt/install-build-deps.sh
+scripts/linux/apt/install-runtime-deps.sh
+scripts/linux/dnf/install-build-deps.sh
+scripts/linux/dnf/install-runtime-deps.sh
+packaging/linux/debian/package.sh
+packaging/linux/debian/control.in
+packaging/linux/fedora/package.sh
+packaging/linux/fedora/stepforge.spec
+packaging/linux/common/stepforge.desktop
+packaging/linux/common/stepforge-mime.xml
+packaging/linux/common/launcher.sh
+docs/linux/apt.md
+docs/linux/dnf.md
+tests/integration/linux/x11-capture.test.js
+tests/integration/linux/wayland-capture.test.js
+tests/integration/linux/package-deb.test.sh
+tests/integration/linux/package-rpm.test.sh
+```
+
+Requirements:
+
+- Support both X11 and Wayland as different capability profiles. X11 may use a separately implemented `xinput` adapter with event-time coordinates. Wayland must use XDG Desktop Portal/PipeWire for screen selection and capture.
+- Do not promise global per-click capture with coordinates on Wayland when the platform does not expose it. The safe baseline is portal screen capture plus user-triggered global hotkey or interval capture. Treat direct `/dev/input` access as an optional, explicitly consented privileged mode, not default setup.
+- Remove documentation that casually tells every user to join the broad `input` group. If a privileged helper is retained, perform a threat review, use least-privilege device rules, never read keyboard devices, package it separately, and show the security tradeoff before enabling it.
+- Detect portal, PipeWire, compositor/session, sandbox, required shared libraries, xinput availability, and permission state in Linux diagnostics. Return actionable UI messages instead of console-only failures.
+- On Wayland, map the portal-selected monitor to actual frame metadata. Do not assume `displays[0]` represents the selected screen. Test single/multiple monitors, mixed DPI, negative origins on X11, portal cancellation, stream revocation, suspend/resume, and monitor hotplug.
+- Keep Linux minimize/restore/tray behavior in `window-policy.js`; do not branch inside the capture coordinator.
+- Apt and dnf runtime dependency lists must be maintained in their separate files and verified in clean Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora containers/VMs. Include Chromium/Electron shared libraries, portal/PipeWire integration, and X11 tools only where needed. Do not install build tools in end-user packages.
+- Produce a real `.deb` and `.rpm` from a pruned packaged Electron application. Never copy the development `node_modules` tree. Include architecture mapping (`x64`, `arm64` if supported), icons, desktop entry, categories, MIME registration, license, uninstall behavior, and sandbox-compatible permissions.
+- Add Linux artifacts to release CI with checksums/SBOM. Install each artifact in a clean VM/container where possible, launch a smoke screen under Xvfb for X11, and run a real Wayland compositor test job for portal behavior. A package is not accepted merely because `dpkg-deb` or `rpmbuild` produced a file.
+
+Linux acceptance criteria:
+
+- Fresh apt-based and dnf-based systems can follow separate documented setup paths and launch StepForge without `--no-sandbox` or manual npm commands.
+- Fullscreen, region, clipboard/import, edit, save, reopen, and export workflows pass on both distro families.
+- X11 click capture preserves event time and marker position across DPI/monitors.
+- Wayland asks for screen sharing once per recording, handles cancel/revoke, never loops portal prompts, and accurately reports whether the active trigger is hotkey, interval, or an approved click source.
+- `.deb` and `.rpm` contain only runtime files and pass install, upgrade, uninstall, dependency, license, desktop-entry, and launch tests.
+
+### Phase 4 — canonical editor/document model
+
+- Migrate to a single ordered block list with text/code/table discriminated types and explicit anchors (`before-title`, `after-title`, `before-description`, `after-description`, `before-image`, `after-image`). Decide whether code/table can use anchors; enforce the decision consistently.
+- Refactor the editor into bounded modules: guide state/autosave, step tree, properties form, block editor, annotation controls, capture controls, export dialog, and command history. Avoid framework migration unless it has a measured benefit and an approved dependency cost.
+- Replace deprecated `document.execCommand` with an explicit editor model or a small audited implementation. Preserve selection safely, sanitize paste, and implement real link editing instead of inserting `[Text](Link)` placeholders.
+- Unify undo/redo around commands and revisions. Include block edits, step metadata, crop/reset, reorder, delete/restore, and AI changes. Do not keep full base64 image copies in renderer history without a bounded disk-backed strategy.
+- Make annotation geometry bounded and reusable. Share style/geometry calculations between canvas and raster export. Add rotation/layering only after parity is tested.
+- Fix callout placement with exporter matrix fixtures. Add export image sizing controls and saved per-format profiles.
+- Add accessibility: semantic buttons, modal roles/names, focus trap and restoration, keyboard traversal, visible focus, screen-reader labels, reduced-motion support, high contrast, and a non-canvas representation of annotations. Run automated accessibility checks plus manual keyboard testing.
+- Improve responsive behavior below the current 880px minimum and at 125–200% UI scale. Preserve pane sizes and window bounds per platform.
+
+### Phase 5 — storage, performance, and export hardening
+
+- Add explicit schema migration functions and fixture coverage for every historical schema. Back up before migration and make migrations idempotent.
+- Add storage integrity scanning: guide/order references, orphan steps/images, duplicate IDs, missing originals/workings, invalid parents, and recoverable temp files. Provide repair/dry-run output.
+- Replace repeated synchronous whole-index writes with an incremental, crash-safe index and background reconciliation. Measure search on large libraries.
+- Stream archives and exports where practical. At minimum enforce byte/pixel budgets and render/release one step at a time. Add export progress, cancellation, and worker termination cleanup.
+- Introduce a canonical layout layer that computes content order and image constraints once. Keep exporters thin.
+- Add Unicode-capable text rendering and licensed embedded fonts. Test CJK, RTL, emoji policy, combining marks, smart punctuation, and long unbroken tokens. If a format cannot support a case, fail or document it rather than substituting silently.
+- Add reproducible/golden output tests. Normalize timestamps/IDs where required, render PDF/DOCX/PPTX to images in integration CI, and compare meaningful layout rather than only container structure.
+- Add stress/fault tests: disk full, permission denied, interrupted atomic rename, corrupted JSON, ZIP bomb, huge PNG, export worker crash, Ollama timeout, capture worker death, rapid app quit, and concurrent saves.
+
+### Phase 6 — packaging, release, and documentation completion
+
+- Use one packaging system/config source for Windows and Linux where possible, with platform-specific files under `packaging/`. Prune production dependencies and generate an SBOM/license notice.
+- Add original icons at required resolutions. Sign Windows artifacts before recommending users bypass SmartScreen; sign/package Linux repositories if repository distribution is introduced.
+- Build release artifacts from a clean checkout with `npm ci`, fixed toolchain versions, no dirty files, and no network during the packaging stage. Generate checksums and provenance.
+- Test upgrade compatibility using real prior-version user data and installed packages.
+- Rewrite README, architecture, security, getting-started, Linux apt/dnf, privacy/AI, file format, and troubleshooting docs to match tested behavior. Remove stale “WIP”/“fixed” claims and stale machine-specific build reports.
+- Correct spelling/grammar and links, compress oversized documentation screenshots, and keep generated sample outputs either reproducible and CI-verified or out of version control.
+
+## File-specific work map
+
+- `app/main.js`: split lifecycle/IPC/security policy; navigation guards; permission allowlist; sender/input validation; path intents; capture power ownership.
+- `app/capture.js`: reduce to platform-neutral session coordinator, then move every OS branch to adapters; fix region result/listener, strict fallback, shutdown drain, explicit trigger state.
+- `app/text-intel.js`: split OCR, platform window context, and Ollama client; remove embedded OS scripts; add privacy controls, timeout/cancel/limits.
+- `app/stream-backend.js` and worker: authenticated worker-only IPC, selected-display metadata, cancellation, bounded frames/encodes, lifecycle tests.
+- `app/renderer/editor.js`: save state machine, revision conflicts, module split, canonical blocks, reliable undo, modern rich text, accessibility.
+- `app/renderer/dialogs.js`: typed settings forms, validation, modal focus/ARIA, safe template options, AI disclosure.
+- `core/schema.js`: schema v2, strict validation, bounds, migrations, revisions, unified blocks.
+- `core/store.js`: transactions, corruption quarantine, async/heavy-operation strategy, integrity scan, conflict-aware patches.
+- `core/archive.js`, `core/zip.js`, `core/snapshots.js`, `core/locks.js`: resource limits, temp validation/atomic swap, exclusive locks/revisions, rollback tests.
+- `core/search.js`: startup reconciliation, incremental persistence, visible recovery.
+- `core/renderast.js`, `core/raster.js`, `core/pdf.js`: canonical layout, lazy image rendering, WYSIWYG parity, Unicode/font work, resource limits.
+- `exporters/*`: typed option schemas, safe escaping, streaming/lazy images, consistent anchors/image sizing, external conformance tests.
+- `scripts/electron-launcher.js`: diagnostics only; never install or weaken production sandbox.
+- `scripts/package-windows.js`: exact installer selection, assets, signing hooks, clean artifact verification.
+- `.github/workflows/*` and `.gitea/workflows/*`: PR triggers, authoritative test commands, Linux distro/package matrix, non-masking E2E behavior, release artifacts/provenance.
+- `README.md`, `docs/*`, `package.json`, root `LICENSE`: reconcile support, dependencies, AI/network/privacy, version, license, and build instructions.
+
+## Required test layers
+
+1. **Pure unit tests:** schema/migrations, storage transactions, sanitizer/URLs, archive limits, frame selection, platform parsers, layout calculations, exporter escaping.
+2. **IPC contract tests:** instantiate handlers with fake senders and prove invalid origins, paths, sizes, and payloads are rejected. Do not rely on regex extraction alone.
+3. **Renderer tests:** save failures/retries, navigation with dirty state, capture-added and AI races, block placement, modals/focus, keyboard and accessibility.
+4. **Desktop E2E:** launch packaged/unpackaged app, create/capture/import/edit/save/restart/export. Separate Windows, Linux X11, and Linux Wayland scenarios with explicit capability expectations.
+5. **Artifact tests:** install/launch/uninstall `.exe`, `.deb`, and `.rpm`; inspect file lists and dependencies; verify sandbox, icons, desktop integration, version, license, and clean upgrades.
+6. **External output tests:** open/render PDF, DOCX, PPTX, HTML, GIF, and images with independent tools; include visual fixtures and multilingual content.
+7. **Security/fault tests:** hostile navigation, malicious HTML/template/archive, ZIP bomb budgets, arbitrary IPC paths, permission denial, disk failures, worker crashes, stale AI responses, and captured-secret prevention.
+
+## Definition of done
+
+- No release-blocking security or license contradiction remains.
+- No production launch path downloads dependencies or uses `--no-sandbox` by default.
+- User edits remain visibly dirty until durably saved; injected failures and concurrent AI/capture updates do not lose data.
+- Automatic backups, restore, archive import, and linked saves are transactional and tested.
+- Windows, apt-based Linux, and dnf-based Linux use separate platform/setup/package files and pass their documented capability matrices.
+- Linux `.deb` and `.rpm` install and launch from clean systems with only runtime dependencies.
+- Region capture, callout placement, image sizing, Unicode, large-guide exports, and click-session shutdown have regression tests.
+- CI runs on pull requests, cannot hide startup crashes as skips, and tests the same commands documented for contributors.
+- README, Security, Architecture, Privacy/AI, support matrix, package metadata, changelog, and license all describe the shipping application accurately.
+
+## Recommended PR sequence
+
+1. Reproducible toolchain/CI and test-runner truthfulness.
+2. Navigation/IPC/permission security boundary.
+3. Privacy and AI/network contract.
+4. Revision-aware autosave and transactional storage.
+5. Region capture, power/session state, and shutdown fixes.
+6. Archive/snapshot/lock/search recovery hardening.
+7. Platform interface extraction with Windows behavior preserved.
+8. Linux apt/X11 implementation and `.deb` packaging.
+9. Linux dnf/X11 implementation and `.rpm` packaging.
+10. Linux Wayland portal implementation and honest fallback behavior.
+11. Canonical blocks/callout placement and image sizing.
+12. Lazy exports, Unicode rendering, and external conformance tests.
+13. Editor modularization/accessibility/UX polish.
+14. Signed, reproducible release pipeline and final documentation reconciliation.
+
+Do not combine these into one PR. Each PR must include migration/rollback notes where user data or package layout changes, automated tests proportional to risk, and a short manual verification matrix for the affected operating systems.

app/capture.js

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const path = require('node:path');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
 const { spawn, execFileSync } = require('node:child_process');
 const { desktopCapturer, screen, BrowserWindow, nativeImage, Tray, Menu } = require('electron');
 const raster = require('../core/raster');
@@ -107,6 +108,88 @@ function hasBinary(name) {
   }
 }
 
+// On Wayland, xinput only sees XWayland (X11-bridge) events — native Wayland
+// app clicks are delivered via the Wayland protocol and never reach xinput.
+// Treating it as "available" would leave the session with no click capture AND
+// no interval fallback, so zero steps get captured.
+function isWayland() {
+  if (process.platform !== 'linux') return false;
+  // XDG_SESSION_TYPE is the authoritative session hint when present. Some
+  // desktops still export WAYLAND_DISPLAY even when the active session is X11,
+  // so only fall back to it when XDG_SESSION_TYPE is unavailable.
+  const sessionType = String(process.env.XDG_SESSION_TYPE || '').toLowerCase();
+  if (sessionType) return sessionType === 'wayland';
+  return Boolean(process.env.WAYLAND_DISPLAY);
+}
+
+// ---- evdev (Linux kernel input) click reader --------------------------------
+// Reading /dev/input/event* directly sees mouse-button presses on BOTH X11 and
+// Wayland, because it taps the kernel input layer below the display server —
+// the one global-click source that survives Wayland's security model. It needs
+// read access to the device nodes (the user must be in the `input` group).
+//
+// Each event is a fixed-size `struct input_event`: a timeval, then u16 type,
+// u16 code, s32 value. The timeval is two `long`s, so the record is 24 bytes on
+// 64-bit and 16 on 32-bit; type/code/value always sit in the last 8 bytes.
+const EV_KEY = 0x01;
+const EVDEV_PRESS = 1;
+// BTN_LEFT/RIGHT/MIDDLE -> the same button-N naming the xinput path emits
+// (1=left, 2=middle, 3=right) so downstream debounce/marker logic is identical.
+const EVDEV_BUTTONS = { 272: 'button-1', 273: 'button-3', 274: 'button-2' };
+const EVDEV_RECORD_SIZE = (process.arch === 'x64' || process.arch === 'arm64'
+  || process.arch === 'ppc64' || process.arch === 's390x' || process.arch === 'loong64'
+  || process.arch === 'riscv64') ? 24 : 16;
+
+/**
+ * Decode a buffer of packed input_event records, returning the button presses
+ * found and any trailing partial record (a device read can split mid-record).
+ * Pure and size-parameterised so it is unit-testable without real devices.
+ */
+function decodeEvdevButtonPresses(buffer, recordSize = EVDEV_RECORD_SIZE) {
+  const presses = [];
+  let offset = 0;
+  while (buffer.length - offset >= recordSize) {
+    const type = buffer.readUInt16LE(offset + recordSize - 8);
+    const code = buffer.readUInt16LE(offset + recordSize - 6);
+    const value = buffer.readInt32LE(offset + recordSize - 4);
+    offset += recordSize;
+    if (type === EV_KEY && value === EVDEV_PRESS && EVDEV_BUTTONS[code]) {
+      presses.push(EVDEV_BUTTONS[code]);
+    }
+  }
+  return { presses, rest: buffer.subarray(offset) };
+}
+
+/**
+ * The /dev/input/event* nodes for pointing devices that are readable by this
+ * process. /proc/bus/input/devices lists every device with its Handlers line;
+ * a pointing device exposes a `mouseN` handler, and the matching `eventN` is
+ * the node to read. Unreadable nodes (no `input` group membership) are skipped.
+ */
+function readableEvdevMouseNodes() {
+  const nodes = [];
+  let table;
+  try {
+    table = fs.readFileSync('/proc/bus/input/devices', 'utf8');
+  } catch {
+    return nodes;
+  }
+  for (const block of table.split('\n\n')) {
+    const handlers = /H:\s*Handlers=([^\n]*)/.exec(block);
+    if (!handlers || !/\bmouse\d+\b/.test(handlers[1])) continue;
+    const event = /\bevent(\d+)\b/.exec(handlers[1]);
+    if (!event) continue;
+    const node = `/dev/input/event${event[1]}`;
+    try {
+      fs.accessSync(node, fs.constants.R_OK);
+      nodes.push(node);
+    } catch {
+      // Not readable — user is not in the `input` group for this node.
+    }
+  }
+  return nodes;
+}
+
 class CaptureService {
   constructor({
     store,
@@ -124,6 +207,9 @@ class CaptureService {
     // the global `screen` directly so coordinate handling stays testable.
     this.screen = screenApi;
     this.textIntel = textIntel;
+    // Cached display-server detection. A method (onWayland) reads this so tests
+    // can flip platform behavior without touching process.env.
+    this._wayland = isWayland();
     this.session = null; // { guideId, paused, count, intervalSec }
     this.intervalTimer = null;
     this.clickWatcher = null;
@@ -182,21 +268,62 @@ class CaptureService {
     return this.settings.get('capture.strictClickFrames') !== false;
   }
 
+  fallbackCaptureTrigger() {
+    const raw = String(this.settings.get('capture.fallbackTrigger') || 'interval').toLowerCase();
+    return raw === 'hotkey' ? 'hotkey' : 'interval';
+  }
+
+  fallbackIntervalSec() {
+    const raw = Number(this.settings.get('capture.autoIntervalSec'));
+    return Number.isFinite(raw) && raw > 0 ? raw : 5;
+  }
+
   clickCaptureAvailable() {
     if (this._clickAvail === undefined) {
-      this._clickAvail = process.platform === 'win32' || (process.platform === 'linux' && hasBinary('xinput'));
+      // Three click sources, in order of fidelity:
+      //  - Windows: the low-level mouse hook (position + timing);
+      //  - X11: xinput test-xi2 (position + timing) — but it can't see native
+      //    Wayland clicks, only XWayland ones, so it's gated to non-Wayland;
+      //  - Linux evdev (/dev/input): button presses on X11 AND Wayland, but no
+      //    cursor position on Wayland — used for per-click capture there (no
+      //    marker). Requires the user to be in the `input` group.
+      this._clickAvail = process.platform === 'win32'
+        || (process.platform === 'linux' && !this.onWayland() && hasBinary('xinput'))
+        || (process.platform === 'linux' && readableEvdevMouseNodes().length > 0);
     }
     return this._clickAvail;
   }
 
+  /** Whether this is a Wayland session (cached; overridable in tests). */
+  onWayland() {
+    return this._wayland;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Whether the in-process frame loop is a usable fallback recorder. It grabs
+   * via desktopCapturer.getSources(), which on Wayland is broken (throws) and
+   * pops the portal — so the loop is viable only off Wayland. On Wayland the
+   * portal-backed stream backend is the sole capture path.
+   */
+  canUseFrameLoop() {
+    return !this.onWayland();
+  }
+
   startSession(guideId, { intervalSec = null } = {}) {
     this.finishSession();
-    // Default trigger: clicks when the platform supports it, otherwise an
-    // interval so a session always produces steps even if the global hotkey
-    // never fires (common under Wayland/WSLg).
+    // Default trigger: clicks when the platform supports it, otherwise the
+    // user-selected fallback (timer or hotkey-only). That keeps Linux from
+    // silently dropping into an unwanted 5-second timer when click capture
+    // is unavailable.
     let interval = intervalSec;
     if (interval == null) {
-      interval = this.clickCaptureAvailable() ? 0 : (this.settings.get('capture.autoIntervalSec') || 5);
+      if (this.clickCaptureAvailable()) {
+        interval = 0;
+      } else if (this.fallbackCaptureTrigger() === 'hotkey') {
+        interval = 0;
+      } else {
+        interval = this.fallbackIntervalSec();
+      }
     }
     // Sessions start paused: nothing hides and no capturing happens until
     // the user explicitly presses "Start recording" in the capture bar, so
@@ -300,6 +427,7 @@ class CaptureService {
   showWindow() {
     const win = this.getWindow();
     if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) {
+      if (win.isMinimized()) win.restore();
       win.show();
       win.focus();
     }
@@ -321,7 +449,14 @@ class CaptureService {
     const sec = this.session && this.session.intervalSec;
     if (sec > 0) {
       this.intervalTimer = setInterval(() => {
-        this.sessionCapture('interval').catch(() => {});
+        // Don't let a slow capture (e.g. a multi-second software PNG encode on
+        // a GPU-less host) overlap with the next tick — overlapping requests
+        // would pile up and could trip the backend's failure counter.
+        if (this.intervalCapturing) return;
+        this.intervalCapturing = true;
+        this.sessionCapture('interval')
+          .catch(() => {})
+          .finally(() => { this.intervalCapturing = false; });
       }, sec * 1000);
     }
   }
@@ -358,8 +493,13 @@ class CaptureService {
   armRecording() {
     const win = this.getWindow();
     const wantHide = Boolean(this.hiddenForSession && win && !win.isDestroyed());
-    const recorderWanted = this.settings.get('capture.captureOutsideClicks') !== false
-      && this.clickCaptureAvailable();
+    // Always start the frame recorder when stream capture is enabled — it
+    // buffers frames for click captures AND is used for interval/hotkey
+    // captures to avoid calling desktopCapturer.getSources() on every capture.
+    // On Linux/Wayland, each getSources() call goes through the XDG portal and
+    // shows a permission dialog; the stream backend eliminates that by keeping
+    // a live video stream open for the duration of the recording session.
+    const recorderWanted = this.settings.get('capture.streamCapture') !== false;
     // Recording is not "live" until the window is hidden and the buffer is
     // primed. While warming up, the window is still visible and over the
     // user's work, so clicks in this period are ignored (onOsClick checks
@@ -383,7 +523,17 @@ class CaptureService {
         if (!this.session || this.session.paused) { this.warmingUp = false; return; }
       }
       if (wantHide && win && !win.isDestroyed() && win.isVisible()) {
-        win.hide();
+        // On Linux, always minimize rather than hide. GNOME's system tray
+        // (StatusNotifier) is unreliable — it can fail or half-export over
+        // dbus — so a hidden window can be impossible to bring back, leaving
+        // the user unable to stop the recording. A minimized window is always
+        // restorable from the taskbar, and minimized windows aren't rendered
+        // so they still stay out of the fullscreen capture.
+        if (process.platform === 'linux') {
+          win.minimize();
+        } else {
+          win.hide();
+        }
         // Let a couple of frames of the now-unobscured screen land before
         // the user's first click, so that frame shows their work, not the
         // app window that was just dismissed.
@@ -481,6 +631,46 @@ class CaptureService {
       if (!sessionLive) return { ok: false, reason: 'session ended before the fallback shot' };
     }
 
+    // For non-click triggers (interval, hotkey, manual) pull the latest frame
+    // from the stream backend's ring buffer when available. This avoids a
+    // desktopCapturer.getSources() call per capture — on Linux/Wayland that
+    // call goes through the XDG portal and shows a dialog every time.
+    //
+    // No clickPos: a timed capture has no click position, and passing a cursor
+    // point here is actively harmful on Wayland — getCursorScreenPoint() can
+    // return a stale/out-of-bounds point, which makes the backend reject the
+    // frame (wrong display / out of bounds) and fall through to a getSources()
+    // shot, i.e. a portal dialog on every interval tick.
+    if (trigger !== 'click' && this.streamBackend && this.streamBackend.isActive()) {
+      const frame = await this.streamBackend.frameForClick({
+        clickPos: null,
+        clickAt: Date.now(),
+        strict: false, // no pre/post-click constraint for timed captures
+        leadMs: 0,
+        failable: false, // a slow timed-capture encode must not kill the stream
+      }).catch(() => null);
+      if (frame) {
+        const result = await this.storeFrameAsStep(this.session.guideId, 'fullscreen', frame);
+        if (result.ok) this.noteStepAdded(result.step, trigger);
+        clog(trigger, 'capture stored from stream; total', this.session && this.session.count);
+        return result;
+      }
+      clog(trigger, 'capture: no frame from stream this tick — will retry next tick');
+    } else if (trigger !== 'click' && this.onWayland()) {
+      clog(trigger, 'capture: stream backend not active (active=',
+        Boolean(this.streamBackend && this.streamBackend.isActive()), ')');
+    }
+
+    // On Wayland the only screen-grab fallback below is desktopCapturer
+    // .getSources(), which pops the XDG portal dialog every call. For the
+    // automatic timed triggers that would mean a dialog on every tick, so skip
+    // the fallback and wait for the open stream to deliver a frame on a later
+    // tick. Explicit captures (manual, and click on X11) still fall through —
+    // one dialog for one deliberate action.
+    if (this.onWayland() && (trigger === 'interval' || trigger === 'hotkey')) {
+      return { ok: false, reason: 'waiting for the screen-share stream' };
+    }
+
     if (this.shooting) return { ok: false, reason: 'capture already in progress' };
     this.shooting = true;
     try {
@@ -642,7 +832,11 @@ class CaptureService {
     };
 
     if (this.streamBackend && this.streamBackend.isActive() && grabMode === 'fullscreen') {
-      const frame = await this.streamBackend.frameForClick({ clickPos, clickAt: clickTime, strict, leadMs });
+      // On Wayland the stream is the only capture path (no frame-loop fallback),
+      // so a slow PNG encode must not let the 2-strikes rule tear it down.
+      const frame = await this.streamBackend.frameForClick({
+        clickPos, clickAt: clickTime, strict, leadMs, failable: !this.onWayland(),
+      });
       if (frame) return frame;
       // No qualifying frame (or the backend just went unhealthy): fall
       // through to the loop buffer / fresh-shot fallbacks below.
@@ -695,8 +889,11 @@ class CaptureService {
   async startClickFrameBackend() {
     const mode = this.settings.get('capture.mode') || 'fullscreen';
     // The worker streams screens; window-mode grabs need the loop's
-    // source-filtering logic.
-    if (this.settings.get('capture.streamCapture') === false || mode === 'window') {
+    // source-filtering logic. But the loop isn't viable on Wayland (getSources
+    // is broken/portal), so there we always take the stream backend regardless
+    // of the streamCapture/window settings.
+    if (this.canUseFrameLoop()
+      && (this.settings.get('capture.streamCapture') === false || mode === 'window')) {
       this.startFrameLoop();
       return;
     }
@@ -716,7 +913,11 @@ class CaptureService {
         onUnhealthy: () => this.degradeToFrameLoop(),
       });
       const displays = this.screen.getAllDisplays();
-      const sources = await desktopCapturer.getSources({
+      // On Wayland, desktopCapturer.getSources() both fails to yield usable
+      // source ids AND pops the portal dialog. Skip it entirely and drive the
+      // worker through getDisplayMedia (the portal picker chooses the screen).
+      const useDisplayMedia = this.onWayland();
+      const sources = useDisplayMedia ? [] : await desktopCapturer.getSources({
         types: ['screen'],
         thumbnailSize: { width: 1, height: 1 }, // ids only — skip thumbnail work
       });
@@ -724,23 +925,38 @@ class CaptureService {
         displays,
         sources: sources.map((s) => ({ id: s.id, display_id: s.display_id })),
         sampleMs: this.settings.get('capture.frameSampleMs') || 100,
+        useDisplayMedia,
       });
       const stale = gen !== this.captureGen;
       if (!ok || stale || !this.session || this.session.paused) {
         backend.stop();
         if (!stale && this.session && !this.session.paused) {
-          console.error('[stepforge] stream capture backend failed to start — using in-process frame loop');
-          this.startFrameLoop();
+          if (this.canUseFrameLoop()) {
+            console.error('[stepforge] stream capture backend failed to start — using in-process frame loop');
+            this.startFrameLoop();
+          } else {
+            // On Wayland the frame loop would spam getSources() (portal) with
+            // nothing usable, so there's no fallback — the recording needs the
+            // portal stream. Tell the user how to recover.
+            console.error('[stepforge] screen-share stream did not start — pick a screen in the share dialog, or stop and start recording again');
+          }
         }
         return;
       }
       this.streamBackend = backend;
-      clog('stream capture backend active');
+      // Visible in normal output (one line per recording): confirms the screen
+      // stream came up, so a "nothing records" report can be told apart from a
+      // stream that never started (which logs the failure paths above).
+      console.log(`[stepforge] screen-capture stream active (${useDisplayMedia ? 'getDisplayMedia/portal' : 'desktopCapturer'})`);
       this.notify('capture:state', this.state());
     } catch (err) {
       if (gen === this.captureGen && this.session && !this.session.paused) {
-        console.error(`[stepforge] stream capture backend error (${err && err.message}) — using in-process frame loop`);
-        this.startFrameLoop();
+        if (this.canUseFrameLoop()) {
+          console.error(`[stepforge] stream capture backend error (${err && err.message}) — using in-process frame loop`);
+          this.startFrameLoop();
+        } else {
+          console.error(`[stepforge] screen-share stream error (${err && err.message}) — stop and start recording again`);
+        }
       }
     } finally {
       if (gen === this.captureGen) this.streamBackendStarting = false;
@@ -765,8 +981,14 @@ class CaptureService {
    */
   degradeToFrameLoop() {
     this.streamBackend = null;
-    console.error('[stepforge] stream capture backend unhealthy — falling back to in-process frame loop');
-    if (this.session && !this.session.paused) this.startFrameLoop();
+    if (this.canUseFrameLoop()) {
+      console.error('[stepforge] stream capture backend unhealthy — falling back to in-process frame loop');
+      if (this.session && !this.session.paused) this.startFrameLoop();
+    } else {
+      // On Wayland the frame loop isn't viable (getSources is broken/portal),
+      // so there's nothing to fall back to — the stream is the only path.
+      console.error('[stepforge] screen-share stream stopped — stop and start recording again to re-share');
+    }
     this.notify('capture:state', this.state());
   }
 
@@ -775,13 +997,14 @@ class CaptureService {
     try {
       this.clickWatcherBuf = '';
       this.linuxEvent = null;
-      if (process.platform === 'linux' && hasBinary('xinput')) {
+      if (process.platform === 'linux' && !this.onWayland() && hasBinary('xinput')) {
         // Stream raw button events from the X server; one capture per press.
         // xinput block-buffers stdout when piped, so a press event can sit
         // in its buffer until later motion events flush it — by then the
         // cursor read in onOsClick lands where the mouse moved *after* the
         // click. stdbuf -oL forces line-buffering so events (and the cursor
         // read) line up with the actual click instant.
+        // (Skipped on Wayland: xinput only sees XWayland events — see isWayland.)
         const argv = hasBinary('stdbuf')
           ? ['stdbuf', '-oL', 'xinput', 'test-xi2', '--root']
           : ['xinput', 'test-xi2', '--root'];
@@ -789,6 +1012,13 @@ class CaptureService {
         this.clickWatcher.stdout.on('data', (chunk) => {
           this.ingestClickWatcherChunk(chunk.toString(), 'linux');
         });
+      } else if (process.platform === 'linux' && readableEvdevMouseNodes().length > 0) {
+        // Wayland (or X11 without xinput): read mouse buttons from the kernel
+        // input layer. This is the only global click source on Wayland, but it
+        // carries no cursor position — onOsClick gets a null point, so steps are
+        // captured per click without a marker. (X11 prefers the xinput branch
+        // above, which does carry root coordinates for the marker.)
+        this.startEvdevWatcher();
       } else if (process.platform === 'win32') {
         // Use a low-level Windows mouse hook instead of polling
         // GetAsyncKeyState. The low bit from GetAsyncKeyState can be consumed
@@ -1173,7 +1403,9 @@ public static class SFHook {
     console.error(`[stepforge] click watcher stopped${detail ? `: ${detail}` : ''}`);
     if (!this.session) return;
     if (!this.session.intervalSec) {
-      this.session.intervalSec = this.settings.get('capture.autoIntervalSec') || 5;
+      this.session.intervalSec = this.fallbackCaptureTrigger() === 'hotkey'
+        ? 0
+        : this.fallbackIntervalSec();
       this.applyInterval();
     }
     this.notify('capture:state', this.state());
@@ -1184,12 +1416,54 @@ public static class SFHook {
       try { this.clickWatcher.kill(); } catch { /* already gone */ }
       this.clickWatcher = null;
     }
+    this.stopEvdevWatcher();
     this.clickWatcherBuf = '';
     this.linuxEvent = null;
     this.discardPendingRawClick();
     this.lastAcceptedClickByButton.clear();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Open every readable mouse device node and turn button-down events into
+   * onOsClick calls. One physical mouse is normally one node; the leading-edge
+   * debounce in onOsClick collapses any cross-node duplicates. Frames are still
+   * served by the stream backend; this only supplies the click *trigger*.
+   */
+  startEvdevWatcher() {
+    const nodes = readableEvdevMouseNodes();
+    this.evdevStreams = [];
+    for (const node of nodes) {
+      try {
+        const stream = fs.createReadStream(node);
+        let buf = Buffer.alloc(0);
+        stream.on('data', (chunk) => {
+          buf = buf.length ? Buffer.concat([buf, chunk]) : chunk;
+          const { presses, rest } = decodeEvdevButtonPresses(buf);
+          buf = rest;
+          for (const button of presses) this.onOsClick(Date.now(), null, button);
+        });
+        // A device can disappear (unplugged); just drop that stream.
+        stream.on('error', () => {});
+        this.evdevStreams.push(stream);
+      } catch {
+        // Node became unreadable between enumeration and open — skip it.
+      }
+    }
+    if (!this.evdevStreams.length) {
+      console.error('[stepforge] no readable mouse input devices — add your user to the "input" group for per-click capture: sudo usermod -aG input "$USER" (then log out and back in)');
+    } else {
+      console.log(`[stepforge] per-click capture via evdev on ${this.evdevStreams.length} device(s)${this.onWayland() ? ' (Wayland: no click marker)' : ''}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  stopEvdevWatcher() {
+    if (!this.evdevStreams) return;
+    for (const stream of this.evdevStreams) {
+      try { stream.destroy(); } catch { /* already closed */ }
+    }
+    this.evdevStreams = null;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Buffer stdout chunks and only parse complete lines: a chunk boundary
    * can split an event line in half, which used to corrupt press/release
@@ -1396,7 +1670,11 @@ public static class SFHook {
     // filtered by the cursor-position check in sessionCapture, not by
     // window focus — WSLg reports focus unreliably.)
     let clickPos = osPoint ? this.osPointToDip(osPoint) : null;
-    if (!clickPos) clickPos = this.screen.getCursorScreenPoint();
+    // Read the live cursor as a fallback only off Wayland: Wayland refuses to
+    // report the global pointer position (getCursorScreenPoint returns 0,0), so
+    // a fallback there would stamp every click marker in the top-left corner.
+    // Leaving clickPos null means the step is captured with no (wrong) marker.
+    if (!clickPos && !this.onWayland()) clickPos = this.screen.getCursorScreenPoint();
     clog('click@', clickAt, button, 'os', osPoint, '-> dip', clickPos);
     this.pendingClickOsPoint = osPoint && Number.isFinite(osPoint.x) && Number.isFinite(osPoint.y)
       ? { x: osPoint.x, y: osPoint.y }
@@ -1428,20 +1706,32 @@ public static class SFHook {
    * scaled away from 100% and on secondary monitors.
    */
   osPointToDip(osPoint) {
-    if (this.screen && typeof this.screen.screenToDipPoint === 'function') {
-      try {
-        const dip = this.screen.screenToDipPoint(osPoint);
-        if (dip && Number.isFinite(dip.x) && Number.isFinite(dip.y)) return dip;
-      } catch { /* fall through to manual conversion */ }
-    }
+    let geometryDip = null;
     try {
       const displays = this.screen && typeof this.screen.getAllDisplays === 'function'
         ? this.screen.getAllDisplays()
         : [];
-      const dip = physicalToDip(osPoint, displays);
-      if (dip) return dip;
-    } catch { /* no display geometry available */ }
-    return osPoint;
+      geometryDip = physicalToDip(osPoint, displays);
+    } catch {
+      geometryDip = null;
+    }
+    if (this.screen && typeof this.screen.screenToDipPoint === 'function') {
+      try {
+        const dip = this.screen.screenToDipPoint(osPoint);
+        if (dip && Number.isFinite(dip.x) && Number.isFinite(dip.y)) {
+          if (!geometryDip) return dip;
+          const offByX = Math.abs(dip.x - geometryDip.x);
+          const offByY = Math.abs(dip.y - geometryDip.y);
+          // Some Windows/Electron combinations have been observed to return a
+          // raw physical point here. That keeps the click marker off-screen on
+          // scaled displays, so trust the geometry path when the two disagree
+          // by more than a tiny rounding margin.
+          if (offByX <= 1 && offByY <= 1) return dip;
+          return geometryDip;
+        }
+      } catch { /* fall through to manual conversion */ }
+    }
+    return geometryDip || osPoint;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1761,3 +2051,5 @@ public static class SFHook {
 }
 
 module.exports = CaptureService;
+// Exposed for unit tests (pure, no device access).
+module.exports.decodeEvdevButtonPresses = decodeEvdevButtonPresses;

app/main.js

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const fs = require('node:fs');
 const os = require('node:os');
 const {
   app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain, dialog, shell, nativeTheme, globalShortcut,
-  clipboard, nativeImage, screen, powerSaveBlocker,
+  clipboard, nativeImage, screen, powerSaveBlocker, session, desktopCapturer,
 } = require('electron');
 
 const { GuideStore } = require('../core/store');
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const { readLock } = require('../core/locks');
 const CaptureService = require('./capture');
 const { TextIntelService } = require('./text-intel');
 const { keepProcessesResponsive } = require('./win-power');
+const PACKAGE_JSON = require(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'package.json'));
 
 const APP_ID = 'com.stepforge.app';
 
@@ -95,6 +96,11 @@ function createWindow() {
       contextIsolation: true,
       nodeIntegration: false,
       spellcheck: Boolean(settings.get('spellcheck')),
+      // During a recording the window is minimized (Linux) or hidden (Windows).
+      // A throttled renderer stops processing capture:added events, so the step
+      // list and capture bar appear "stuck" even though steps are saved. Keep
+      // the renderer live so the UI updates in real time while recording.
+      backgroundThrottling: false,
     },
   });
   mainWindow.loadFile(path.join(__dirname, 'renderer', 'index.html'));
@@ -757,6 +763,7 @@ function setupIpc() {
   h('shell:showItemInFolder', ({ target }) => shell.showItemInFolder(target));
   h('app:info', () => ({
     version: app.getVersion(),
+    buildVersion: PACKAGE_JSON.buildVersion || app.getVersion(),
     dataDir: store.root,
     platform: process.platform,
   }));
@@ -835,6 +842,35 @@ if (!gotLock) {
       textIntel,
     });
 
+    // Allow the hidden capture-worker renderer to open a desktop media stream.
+    // Electron 29+ requires an explicit permission grant for display-capture in
+    // renderer windows; without it getUserMedia/getDisplayMedia fails, the
+    // stream backend never starts, and every capture falls back to
+    // desktopCapturer.getSources() — which triggers the portal dialog on Linux
+    // on every single capture. StepForge is fully local/offline so allowing
+    // all permissions for our own content is safe.
+    session.defaultSession.setPermissionCheckHandler(() => true);
+    session.defaultSession.setPermissionRequestHandler((_wc, _perm, cb) => cb(true));
+
+    // On GNOME Wayland the only working screen-capture path is the portal-backed
+    // getDisplayMedia (desktopCapturer source ids fail with "device not found").
+    // The worker calls getDisplayMedia; this handler answers it. Calling
+    // getSources() *inside* the handler is the documented Wayland path: it
+    // drives the XDG portal picker (shown once when a recording starts), and
+    // the chosen source then streams for the whole session. (useSystemPicker is
+    // macOS-only today, harmless elsewhere.)
+    session.defaultSession.setDisplayMediaRequestHandler((request, callback) => {
+      desktopCapturer.getSources({ types: ['screen'] })
+        .then((sources) => {
+          console.log(`[stepforge] display-media request resolved: ${sources.length} screen source(s)`);
+          callback(sources.length ? { video: sources[0] } : {});
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          console.error(`[stepforge] display-media getSources failed: ${err && err.message}`);
+          callback({});
+        });
+    }, { useSystemPicker: true });
+
     applyTheme();
     setupIpc();
     createWindow();

app/renderer/app.js

@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ class StepForgeApp {
       api.library.trashList(),
     ]);
     this.state.info = info;
+    document.body.classList.toggle('platform-linux', info.platform === 'linux');
     this.state.settings = settings;
     this.state.library = {
       guides: library.guides || [],
@@ -263,15 +264,26 @@ class StepForgeApp {
   updateCaptureState(state) {
     this.captureState = state || { active: false };
     clearNode(this.captureStatus);
-    // The capture bar only makes sense alongside the editor it's recording
-    // into — hide it everywhere else (e.g. the library) even if a session
-    // is still active in the background.
-    if (!this.captureState.active || this.state.view !== 'editor') {
+    // The capture bar is editor-only — hide it everywhere else (library, welcome).
+    if (this.state.view !== 'editor') {
       this.captureStatus.classList.add('hidden');
       return;
     }
     this.captureStatus.classList.remove('hidden');
     const s = this.captureState;
+
+    // No active session: show a button to start a new one for the open guide.
+    if (!s.active) {
+      this.captureStatus.append(
+        el('span', {}, 'Recording - stopped'),
+        el('button', {
+          type: 'button',
+          onClick: () => this.armCaptureSession(this.editor.guideId),
+        }, 'New recording'),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+
     const send = (payload) => api.capture.session(payload).then((next) => this.updateCaptureState(next));
 
     // What is currently triggering captures, so the user knows what to do.
@@ -389,7 +401,7 @@ class StepForgeApp {
             el('div', { style: { fontWeight: 650 } }, folderLabel),
             q ? el('div.muted', {}, `Search: ${q}`) : el('div.muted', {}, `${this.state.library.guides.length} guides`),
           ),
-          el('div.muted', {}, this.state.info ? `StepForge ${this.state.info.version}` : ''),
+          el('div.muted', {}, this.state.info ? `StepForge ${this.state.info.buildVersion || this.state.info.version}` : ''),
         ),
         this.domBulkBar = el('div', {}),
         this.domLibraryResults = el('div', {}),

app/renderer/capture-worker.js

@@ -68,24 +68,39 @@
     };
     streams.set(key, state);
     try {
-      // The chromeMediaSource constraint set is Electron's documented bridge
-      // from a desktopCapturer source id to a live media stream.
-      state.media = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({
-        audio: false,
-        video: {
-          mandatory: {
-            chromeMediaSource: 'desktop',
-            chromeMediaSourceId: cmd.sourceId,
-            minWidth: physWidth,
-            maxWidth: physWidth,
-            minHeight: physHeight,
-            maxHeight: physHeight,
-            // No maxFrameRate: sampling cadence is controlled by the setInterval
-            // timer below, so the actual capture rate is always sampleMs-driven
-            // regardless of display refresh rate or power mode.
+      if (cmd.useDisplayMedia) {
+        // GNOME Wayland path: desktopCapturer source ids fail with
+        // getUserMedia, so go through the portal-backed getDisplayMedia. The
+        // main process installs a setDisplayMediaRequestHandler that answers
+        // this request; the OS portal picker chooses the screen. The stream
+        // then stays open for the whole session — one prompt, not one per shot.
+        state.media = await navigator.mediaDevices.getDisplayMedia({
+          audio: false,
+          video: true,
+        });
+      } else {
+        // Keep the legacy desktop-capture constraint wrapper here: it binds
+        // the stream to the exact desktop source chosen in the main process.
+        // Without it Chromium can treat the request like a normal media
+        // request and pick the default camera device instead.
+        state.media = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({
+          audio: false,
+          video: {
+            mandatory: {
+              chromeMediaSource: 'desktop',
+              chromeMediaSourceId: cmd.sourceId,
+              minWidth: physWidth,
+              maxWidth: physWidth,
+              minHeight: physHeight,
+              maxHeight: physHeight,
+              // No maxFrameRate: sampling cadence is controlled by the
+              // setInterval timer below, so the actual capture rate is always
+              // sampleMs-driven regardless of display refresh rate or power
+              // mode.
+            },
           },
-        },
-      });
+        });
+      }
       const video = document.createElement('video');
       video.muted = true;
       video.srcObject = state.media;

app/renderer/dialogs.js

@@ -312,6 +312,11 @@ function showSettingsDialog({
     const previewCount = makeInput(settings.exports?.previewStepCount ?? 3, 'number', { min: 1, step: 1 });
     const openFolder = el('input', { type: 'checkbox', checked: Boolean(settings.exports?.openFolderAfterExport) });
     const captureOutside = el('input', { type: 'checkbox', checked: Boolean(settings.capture?.captureOutsideClicks) });
+    const fallbackTrigger = makeSelect(settings.capture?.fallbackTrigger || 'interval', [
+      { value: 'interval', label: 'Timed interval' },
+      { value: 'hotkey', label: 'Hotkey only' },
+    ]);
+    const autoIntervalSec = makeInput(settings.capture?.autoIntervalSec ?? 5, 'number', { min: 1, step: 1 });
     const confirmSimple = el('input', { type: 'checkbox', checked: Boolean(settings.capture?.confirmSimpleCapture) });
     const keepLast = makeInput(settings.backups?.keepLast ?? 10, 'number', { min: 0, step: 1 });
     const aiEnabled = el('input', { type: 'checkbox', checked: Boolean(settings.ai?.enabled) });
@@ -326,6 +331,12 @@ function showSettingsDialog({
       void api.settings.set({ keyPath: 'ai.ollama.model', value: model }).catch(() => {});
     }, 250);
 
+    const syncFallbackUi = () => {
+      autoIntervalSec.disabled = fallbackTrigger.value === 'hotkey';
+    };
+    fallbackTrigger.addEventListener('change', syncFallbackUi);
+    syncFallbackUi();
+
     const updateAiStatus = (message, { error = false } = {}) => {
       aiStatus.textContent = message;
       aiStatus.classList.toggle('error', Boolean(error));
@@ -403,9 +414,14 @@ function showSettingsDialog({
         labeledRow('Delay (ms)', delayMs),
         labeledRow('Click marker', clickMarker),
         labeledRow('Capture outside clicks', captureOutside),
+        labeledRow('When clicks are unavailable', fallbackTrigger),
+        labeledRow('Timer interval (seconds)', autoIntervalSec),
         labeledRow('Confirm simple capture', confirmSimple),
         labeledRow('Capture hotkey', captureHotkey),
         labeledRow('Pause / resume hotkey', pauseHotkey),
+        el('div.muted', {},
+          'Hotkey fallback uses the Capture hotkey. Timer fallback uses the interval above.',
+        ),
       ),
       el('fieldset', {},
         el('legend', {}, 'Editor'),
@@ -455,6 +471,8 @@ function showSettingsDialog({
                 delayMs: Number(delayMs.value || 0),
                 mode: captureMode.value,
                 clickMarker: clickMarker.checked,
+                fallbackTrigger: fallbackTrigger.value === 'hotkey' ? 'hotkey' : 'interval',
+                autoIntervalSec: Math.max(1, Number(autoIntervalSec.value || 5)),
                 hotkeyCapture: captureHotkey.value.trim(),
                 hotkeyPauseResume: pauseHotkey.value.trim(),
                 captureOutsideClicks: captureOutside.checked,

app/renderer/style.css

@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ body {
   overflow: hidden;
 }
 
+body.platform-linux button {
+  padding: 5px 11px;
+}
+
+body.platform-linux input,
+body.platform-linux select,
+body.platform-linux textarea {
+  padding: 6px 9px;
+}
+
 *::selection { background: rgba(0, 104, 255, 0.2); }
 
 #app { display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: 100vh; }
@@ -183,6 +193,21 @@ kbd {
   color: #fff;
 }
 
+body.platform-linux #topbar {
+  height: 52px;
+  gap: 10px;
+  padding: 0 14px;
+}
+
+body.platform-linux #capture-status {
+  padding: 5px 9px;
+  gap: 7px;
+}
+
+body.platform-linux #capture-status button {
+  padding: 2px 7px;
+}
+
 .library, .editor { flex: 1; min-height: 0; display: flex; }
 
 .lib-side {

app/stream-backend.js

@@ -83,9 +83,19 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
    * Spin up the worker and one stream per display that has a matching screen
    * source. Resolves true when at least one stream is delivering frames.
    */
-  async start({ displays = [], sources = [], sampleMs = DEFAULT_SAMPLE_MS, retentionMs = null, frameLimit = null } = {}) {
+  async start({
+    displays = [], sources = [], sampleMs = DEFAULT_SAMPLE_MS,
+    retentionMs = null, frameLimit = null, useDisplayMedia = false,
+  } = {}) {
     if (this.host) return this.active;
-    const pairs = pairDisplaysToSources(displays, sources);
+    // On GNOME Wayland, desktopCapturer source ids can't be reopened with
+    // getUserMedia ("Requested device not found") — the portal-backed
+    // getDisplayMedia path is the only one that works. There's no per-display
+    // source id in that mode, so capture a single stream against the primary
+    // display (the portal picker decides which screen is actually shared).
+    const pairs = useDisplayMedia
+      ? (displays.length ? [{ display: displays[0], sourceId: null }] : [])
+      : pairDisplaysToSources(displays, sources);
     if (!pairs.length) return false;
     try {
       this.host = await this.createHost((msg) => this.handleWorkerEvent(msg));
@@ -99,6 +109,7 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
         type: 'start-stream',
         displayId: display.id,
         sourceId,
+        useDisplayMedia,
         // The worker needs the physical pixel size to request a full-res
         // stream; bounds stay in DIP for marker math back in the main process.
         display: {
@@ -154,6 +165,9 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
         stream.ready = msg.type === 'stream-ready';
         stream.failed = msg.type === 'stream-error';
       }
+      if (msg.type === 'stream-error') {
+        console.error(`[stepforge] capture worker stream-error display=${msg.displayId}: ${msg.reason}`);
+      }
       for (const check of [...this.startWaiters]) check();
       return;
     }
@@ -167,7 +181,7 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
       clearTimeout(pending.timer);
       pending.timer = setTimeout(() => {
         this.settleRequest(msg.requestId, null);
-        this.noteFailure();
+        if (pending.failable !== false) this.noteFailure();
       }, this.encodeTimeoutMs);
       return;
     }
@@ -210,7 +224,7 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
    * Resolves null when no frame qualifies (caller falls back) — and also on
    * timeout, which additionally counts toward unhealthiness.
    */
-  frameForClick({ clickPos = null, clickAt = Date.now(), strict = true, leadMs = 0 } = {}) {
+  frameForClick({ clickPos = null, clickAt = Date.now(), strict = true, leadMs = 0, failable = true } = {}) {
     if (!this.active || !this.host) return Promise.resolve(null);
     const displays = [...this.streams.values()].filter((s) => s.ready).map((s) => s.display);
     const display = clickPos ? displayForDipPoint(clickPos, displays) : (displays[0] || null);
@@ -222,10 +236,15 @@ class StreamCaptureBackend {
     if (clickPos && !pointInBounds(clickPos, display.bounds)) return Promise.resolve(null);
     const requestId = this.nextRequestId++;
     return new Promise((resolve) => {
-      const pending = { resolve, display, timer: null };
+      // failable=false: a timeout resolves null but does NOT count toward
+      // unhealthiness. Interval/timed captures use this so a single slow PNG
+      // encode (common on software-rendered hosts with no GPU) can't trip the
+      // 2-strikes rule and tear down an otherwise-healthy stream — the bug
+      // that left Wayland recordings "stuck after two captures".
+      const pending = { resolve, display, timer: null, failable };
       pending.timer = setTimeout(() => {
         this.settleRequest(requestId, null);
-        this.noteFailure();
+        if (failable) this.noteFailure();
       }, this.ackTimeoutMs);
       this.requests.set(requestId, pending);
       this.hostSend({

build/artifacts_manifest.json

@@ -1,218 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "format": "stepforge-artifacts-manifest",
-  "version": 1,
-  "generatedAt": "2026-06-11T21:54:13.294Z",
-  "packageVersion": "0.1.0",
-  "files": [
-    {
-      "kind": "artifact",
-      "path": "artifacts/stepforge_0.1.0_amd64.deb",
-      "size": 103691640,
-      "sha256": "320faa345f5997905fdc831c045dbe243490a7b4328680d105934f2aec1b4ffb"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "artifact",
-      "path": "artifacts/stepforge_0.1.0_linux-x64.tar.gz",
-      "size": 139378628,
-      "sha256": "32971595d4df40b429cb41ba644e57b84351ec1239b4bbe8d5b82fe3b01a4cc9"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/guide.json",
-      "size": 843,
-      "sha256": "0d7760246d96a85a4d79c15c1ab1a7e481bd79e1d8ff29d177ac6d35ffe6cde6"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-01-open-users/original.png",
-      "size": 13643,
-      "sha256": "09e12f935511bb6fabb5637501aa7743516b96d990adfab62ccfa311a7b60606"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-01-open-users/step.json",
-      "size": 1593,
-      "sha256": "36deb8a8b51952a668e871a03b1c7fba2aaf72b1722fd2d88c7e5d5cbbd8da91"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-01-open-users/working.png",
-      "size": 13643,
-      "sha256": "09e12f935511bb6fabb5637501aa7743516b96d990adfab62ccfa311a7b60606"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-02-enable-policy/original.png",
-      "size": 14031,
-      "sha256": "b5e93a0ee74e2bdbbdf0871e901726dfbdc8b45dd648c959743520f92b02e7a2"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-02-enable-policy/step.json",
-      "size": 1873,
-      "sha256": "4b0b3b74f851d034a2769c69df2e9d0428373ae15009fb3e2100afb5c10f7ebb"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-02-enable-policy/working.png",
-      "size": 14031,
-      "sha256": "b5e93a0ee74e2bdbbdf0871e901726dfbdc8b45dd648c959743520f92b02e7a2"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-02a-permission-prompt/step.json",
-      "size": 763,
-      "sha256": "e8539addbe730e3a1baaa6898bf9779d2ce80564aecb3f196619d8c7ff67cbae"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-03-review-confirmation/original.png",
-      "size": 13602,
-      "sha256": "c96eedffdc5fd2eb9b63942cc00f1c8a91d01a0c5c2316c1d12d750b9b49e3d0"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-03-review-confirmation/step.json",
-      "size": 1968,
-      "sha256": "6f1cbb9d2ed32b89dec3d221822c6e973dbba42c11e93c2b35499179e8481532"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-03-review-confirmation/working.png",
-      "size": 13602,
-      "sha256": "c96eedffdc5fd2eb9b63942cc00f1c8a91d01a0c5c2316c1d12d750b9b49e3d0"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-04-legacy-note/step.json",
-      "size": 506,
-      "sha256": "c6f78405f86f4183612f5865820b2454471cbc47975e9c15e055e7bf742b1eba"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-data/library/guides/guide-sample-reset-password/steps/step-sample-05-deprecated-flow/step.json",
-      "size": 536,
-      "sha256": "709887c0a5debddc851216920ee3f6f2766e986059b21ac399e2533611ab5aed"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/docx/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.docx",
-      "size": 110463,
-      "sha256": "be9e2b550b732fc6cd4a171b72749b49fe67730ee9969f69c23175688b0bea14"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/gif/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.gif",
-      "size": 32090,
-      "sha256": "70a789c6ce1aa6154c65d0ee88a286d888fdfd9fd5c3045a14242e13df5ca263"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/html-rich/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal-rich.html",
-      "size": 149884,
-      "sha256": "70695d55c37d69abb191e65675f726eaa7aea6686a15a2e7d387195441e3ca8c"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/html-simple/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.html",
-      "size": 146646,
-      "sha256": "860c774b9b8bfd821b22deadc21f8021dc66bc9cacf43702eecbf55e944c6a9a"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/image-bundle/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal-bundle.json",
-      "size": 779,
-      "sha256": "0108a63331925ea1fdd03326dd37dce1af3642a02d167e583d0d67b50fce27fa"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/image-bundle/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/001-open-admin-portal-users.png",
-      "size": 31424,
-      "sha256": "892a3174e9876ebfab4c879d6d579cf8ad6eba2f299ad95feff33adaf205e042"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/image-bundle/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/002-enable-the-reset-policy.png",
-      "size": 38991,
-      "sha256": "f1c79fb2baa1ef41dd85b04be59cc796f3822858654612044a22e27f20d0696a"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/image-bundle/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/004-review-the-confirmation.png",
-      "size": 37274,
-      "sha256": "32c5e15f8a04d6af01b7d139cff732872d5ce7e3e519be6ece99cca4167856ed"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/json/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.json",
-      "size": 6740,
-      "sha256": "4a27376e75c3bb33fa8e1c4117c3314a04ec4766d67a9b5c729180d116d384d1"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/json/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/001-open-admin-portal-users.png",
-      "size": 31424,
-      "sha256": "892a3174e9876ebfab4c879d6d579cf8ad6eba2f299ad95feff33adaf205e042"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/json/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/002-enable-the-reset-policy.png",
-      "size": 38991,
-      "sha256": "f1c79fb2baa1ef41dd85b04be59cc796f3822858654612044a22e27f20d0696a"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/json/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/004-review-the-confirmation.png",
-      "size": 37274,
-      "sha256": "32c5e15f8a04d6af01b7d139cff732872d5ce7e3e519be6ece99cca4167856ed"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/markdown/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.md",
-      "size": 1186,
-      "sha256": "16bbd2eb8850d8a55914abe9ece4d2aee465820fcd6c5ffde8925f37dd2b115b"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/markdown/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/001-open-admin-portal-users.png",
-      "size": 31424,
-      "sha256": "892a3174e9876ebfab4c879d6d579cf8ad6eba2f299ad95feff33adaf205e042"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/markdown/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/002-enable-the-reset-policy.png",
-      "size": 38991,
-      "sha256": "f1c79fb2baa1ef41dd85b04be59cc796f3822858654612044a22e27f20d0696a"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/markdown/steps-reset-a-password-in-admin-portal/004-review-the-confirmation.png",
-      "size": 37274,
-      "sha256": "32c5e15f8a04d6af01b7d139cff732872d5ce7e3e519be6ece99cca4167856ed"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/pdf/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.pdf",
-      "size": 103120,
-      "sha256": "58a952a2f95653a91d4e662e4bc2ddcb0177de33e51a8f9e454cdf158ba3a795"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-exports/pptx/reset-a-password-in-admin-portal.pptx",
-      "size": 117643,
-      "sha256": "4ce1e82903b726c549e53235e3fd4c70cf647123ccd823052030e2e1b9449864"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-guide.sfgz",
-      "size": 88427,
-      "sha256": "313b88f48e53e5ad7fb4e0a8189700ba0f6be642ec2311b1a2fe7ea4f3dd0481"
-    },
-    {
-      "kind": "sample",
-      "path": "../examples/sample-manifest.json",
-      "size": 1163,
-      "sha256": "cb2920e7500758074f1f54867db1ed187d3304c8badbceb06fd611057bd6fe5d"
-    }
-  ]
-}

build/build_report.md

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-# StepForge Build Report
-
-Version: 0.1.0
-Generated: 2026-06-11T21:54:13.292Z
-Host: linux x64 (node v20.20.2)
-
-## Outputs
-
-- Portable tarball: artifacts/stepforge_0.1.0_linux-x64.tar.gz
-- Debian package: artifacts/stepforge_0.1.0_amd64.deb
-- Sample guide archive: ../examples/sample-guide.sfgz
-- Sample exports (9 formats): see examples/sample-exports/
-- Full artifact list with sha256 checksums: artifacts_manifest.json
-
-## Packaging tool availability
-
-| Tool | Status |
-|---|---|
-| dpkg-deb (Linux .deb) | available |
-| rpmbuild (Linux .rpm) | **missing** |
-| appimagetool (Linux AppImage) | **missing** |
-| makensis (Windows installer .exe) | **missing** |
-| wixl / WiX (Windows .msi) | **missing** |
-
-Fallback policy: when a packaging tool is missing the build still produces
-the runnable app (portable tarball with launcher) plus whatever package
-formats the available tools allow. Windows artifacts are produced by
-`npm run package:windows` (electron-builder, portable .exe); .msi/.rpm/
-AppImage require the tools listed above and are skipped on this host.
-
-## Offline guarantee
-
-- The shipped app opens no sockets: no telemetry, update checks, license
-  checks, cloud sync, or remote AI. See docs/SECURITY.md.
-- All exporters (PNG/GIF/PDF/DOCX/PPTX/ZIP) are implemented in-repo with
-  Node built-ins; Electron is the only third-party dependency
-  (dev-time fetch recorded in build/agent_audit.md).
-
-## Verification
-
-- `bash tests/run_test.sh` runs the workflow suites (node --test), a
-  startup smoke test of the Electron launcher, the sample-artifact
-  pipeline, and this release build.

build/installer.nsh

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+!include LogicLib.nsh
+!include nsDialogs.nsh
+
+!ifndef BUILD_UNINSTALLER
+  Var StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox
+  Var StepForgeDesktopShortcutState
+
+  ; Assisted installer page for the desktop shortcut choice.
+  !macro customInit
+    StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "true"
+    ${If} ${isNoDesktopShortcut}
+      StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+    ${EndIf}
+  !macroend
+
+  !macro customHeader
+    Function StepForgeDesktopShortcutPagePre
+      !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FUNCTION_CUSTOM PRE
+      !insertmacro MUI_HEADER_TEXT "Desktop Icon" "Choose whether StepForge creates a desktop icon."
+
+      nsDialogs::Create 1018
+      Pop $0
+      ${If} $0 == error
+        Abort
+      ${EndIf}
+
+      ${NSD_CreateLabel} 0u 0u 280u 24u "StepForge can create a desktop icon for quick access from the desktop."
+      Pop $0
+
+      ${NSD_CreateCheckbox} 0u 34u 280u 12u "Create a desktop icon"
+      Pop $StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox
+
+      StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "true"
+      ${If} ${isNoDesktopShortcut}
+        StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+        EnableWindow $StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox 0
+      ${Else}
+        ReadRegStr $0 SHELL_CONTEXT "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" CreateDesktopShortcut
+        ${If} $0 == "false"
+          StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+        ${Else}
+          ReadRegStr $1 SHELL_CONTEXT "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" ShortcutName
+          ${If} $1 == ""
+            StrCpy $1 "${SHORTCUT_NAME}"
+          ${EndIf}
+
+          ${If} ${FileExists} "$DESKTOP\$1.lnk"
+            StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "true"
+          ${ElseIf} ${FileExists} "$INSTDIR\${APP_EXECUTABLE_FILENAME}"
+            StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+          ${EndIf}
+        ${EndIf}
+      ${EndIf}
+
+      ${If} $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState == "false"
+        SendMessage $StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox ${BM_SETCHECK} ${BST_UNCHECKED} 0
+      ${Else}
+        SendMessage $StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox ${BM_SETCHECK} ${BST_CHECKED} 0
+      ${EndIf}
+
+      !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FUNCTION_CUSTOM SHOW
+      nsDialogs::Show
+    FunctionEnd
+
+    Function StepForgeDesktopShortcutPageLeave
+      !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FUNCTION_CUSTOM LEAVE
+
+      SendMessage $StepForgeDesktopShortcutCheckbox ${BM_GETCHECK} 0 0 $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState
+      ${If} $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState == ${BST_UNCHECKED}
+        StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+      ${Else}
+        StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "true"
+      ${EndIf}
+    FunctionEnd
+  !macroend
+
+  !macro customPageAfterChangeDir
+    !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_INIT
+    PageEx custom
+      PageCallbacks StepForgeDesktopShortcutPagePre StepForgeDesktopShortcutPageLeave
+      Caption " "
+    PageExEnd
+  !macroend
+
+  !macro customInstall
+    ; Reconcile the desktop shortcut after the default installer logic runs.
+    ${If} ${isNoDesktopShortcut}
+      StrCpy $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState "false"
+    ${EndIf}
+
+    WriteRegStr SHELL_CONTEXT "${INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY}" CreateDesktopShortcut "$StepForgeDesktopShortcutState"
+
+    ${If} $StepForgeDesktopShortcutState == "false"
+      Delete "$newDesktopLink"
+      Delete "$oldDesktopLink"
+    ${Else}
+      ${IfNot} ${FileExists} "$newDesktopLink"
+        ${If} ${FileExists} "$oldDesktopLink"
+          Rename "$oldDesktopLink" "$newDesktopLink"
+        ${Else}
+          CreateShortCut "$newDesktopLink" "$appExe" "" "$appExe" 0 "" "" "${APP_DESCRIPTION}"
+        ${EndIf}
+        ClearErrors
+        WinShell::SetLnkAUMI "$newDesktopLink" "${APP_ID}"
+      ${EndIf}
+    ${EndIf}
+
+    System::Call 'shell32::SHChangeNotify(i 0x08000000, i 0, i 0, i 0)'
+  !macroend
+!endif

core/settings.js

@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
     hotkeyPauseResume: 'CommandOrControl+Shift+2',
     captureOutsideClicks: true,
     confirmSimpleCapture: false,
+    // Fallback trigger when click capture is unavailable: keep the old timer
+    // fallback by default, but let users switch to hotkey-only recordings.
+    fallbackTrigger: 'interval', // interval | hotkey
     // Leading-edge click debounce (ms): clicks of the same button closer
     // together than this collapse into one step, so accidental fast/double
     // clicks don't each become a step. Clicks spaced further apart always

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ click position. Three pieces make that hold:
 
 1. **OS click events** (`app/capture.js`): a low-level mouse hook on Windows
    (`CLICK x y button unixMs` lines), an `xinput test-xi2 --root` watcher on
-   X11. The Linux parser carries event-time `root:` coordinates and merges
+   X11. The Linux (WIP) parser carries event-time `root:` coordinates and merges
    raw/regular twin blocks structurally — there is no time-based debounce
    that could drop fast clicks, only suppression of identical duplicate
    deliveries. Physical coordinates convert to DIP via

docs/GETTING_STARTED.md

@@ -11,13 +11,19 @@ For the windows installation, please see [windows_installation](windows_installa
 
 ## 1. Install
 
+Install the pinned Node toolchain first — Node 22.12 or newer (see
+`.nvmrc`; with nvm: `nvm install && nvm use`). Installs are refused on
+older Nodes.
+
 From the repository root:
 
 ```bash
-npm install
+npm ci
 ```
 
-That installs Electron and the local packaging tools used by the scripts.
+That installs the locked dependency tree — Electron and the local packaging
+tools used by the scripts. `npm ci` is the only supported installation path;
+the app never installs or repairs dependencies at runtime.
 
 ## 2. Launch the app
 
@@ -25,9 +31,9 @@ That installs Electron and the local packaging tools used by the scripts.
 npm start
 ```
 
-The first launch creates the local StepForge data directory. On Linux it is
-usually under `~/.local/share/stepforge`. On Windows it is usually under
-`%APPDATA%/stepforge`.
+The first launch creates the local StepForge data directory. On Linux (WIP)
+it is usually under `~/.local/share/stepforge`. On Windows it is usually
+under `%APPDATA%/stepforge`.
 
 ## 3. Create your first guide
 
@@ -95,4 +101,5 @@ If you want to find commands quickly, press `Ctrl+/` for Quick Actions.
 1. `bash scripts/build-release.sh` assembles the offline release layout.
 2. `npm run package:windows` creates the Windows installer `.exe` in
    `releases/`.
-3. `bash scripts/package-linux.sh` creates Linux release artifacts.
+3. `bash scripts/package-linux.sh` creates Linux release artifacts (WIP;
+   local only).

docs/GETTING_STARTED_WITH_LINUX.md

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+# Getting Started with StepForge on Linux
+
+> ⚠️ **Work in progress.** Linux support is still under active development.
+> Expect rough edges — especially on Wayland (see the limitations below). X11 /
+> Xorg is the most complete path today. Please report issues.
+
+StepForge was built on Windows, where the OS lets an app watch every click and
+grab the screen freely. Linux is more restrictive, and **how much works depends
+on whether you are running X11 (Xorg) or Wayland.** This guide explains the
+difference, how to get the best experience, and how to enable per-click capture.
+
+## TL;DR
+
+| | **X11 / "Ubuntu on Xorg"** | **Wayland (default on Ubuntu)** |
+|---|---|---|
+| Screenshot per click | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (needs `input` group) |
+| Red circle on the click | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (Wayland hides the cursor position) |
+| "Share your screen" prompt | Never | Once per recording session |
+| Setup needed | None | Add yourself to the `input` group |
+
+**If you want the full Windows-like experience (click capture *with* the red
+marker), use an Xorg session — see [Option A](#option-a-best-experience--use-xorg).**
+
+---
+
+## 1. Check which session you are running
+
+```bash
+echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE
+```
+
+- `x11`  → you're on Xorg. Everything works, including the red click marker. No setup needed.
+- `wayland` → you're on Wayland. Read on.
+
+---
+
+## Option A (best experience) — use Xorg
+
+On Xorg, StepForge captures a screenshot **on every click** and draws the **red
+marker** at the exact click position, exactly like Windows. No dependencies, no
+permissions, no portal dialogs.
+
+To switch:
+
+1. Log out.
+2. On the login (password) screen, click the **⚙ gear icon** in the bottom-right corner.
+3. Choose **"Ubuntu on Xorg"**.
+4. Log back in.
+
+That's it — open StepForge and record. (To go back to Wayland later, pick
+"Ubuntu" at the gear menu again.)
+
+---
+
+## Option B — stay on Wayland
+
+Wayland deliberately blocks apps from monitoring global input and from grabbing
+the screen silently. StepForge works around this as far as the platform allows:
+
+### Screen capture
+
+The first time you press **Start recording**, the system shows a **"Share your
+screen"** dialog (the XDG desktop portal). Pick your screen and click **Share**.
+This happens **once per recording session** — not per screenshot. The shared
+stream stays open until you stop recording.
+
+> If you never see steps appear, make sure you actually picked a screen and
+> clicked **Share** in that dialog.
+
+### Per-click capture (requires the `input` group)
+
+By default on Wayland, StepForge cannot see your clicks, so it falls back to
+**capturing a screenshot every few seconds** (timed capture).
+
+To get a screenshot **on every click** instead, give your user read access to
+the mouse devices by joining the `input` group:
+
+```bash
+sudo usermod -aG input "$USER"
+```
+
+Then **log out and log back in** (group membership only applies to new sessions).
+Verify it took effect:
+
+```bash
+groups | tr ' ' '\n' | grep input    # should print: input
+```
+
+Now StepForge reads mouse buttons directly from the kernel (`/dev/input`) and
+captures a screenshot on each click.
+
+> **No red marker on Wayland.** Even with per-click capture working, Wayland
+> does not tell apps *where* the pointer is, so StepForge cannot draw the circle
+> at the click. The screenshot is still captured per click — just without the
+> marker. If you need the marker, use [Option A (Xorg)](#option-a-best-experience--use-xorg).
+
+### Adjusting the timed-capture interval
+
+If you don't enable the `input` group, StepForge captures on a timer. Change the
+fallback in **Settings → Capture**:
+
+- `When clicks are unavailable` -> `Hotkey only` to use the Capture hotkey
+  instead of a timer.
+- `When clicks are unavailable` -> `Timed interval`, then set
+  `Timer interval (seconds)` (`capture.autoIntervalSec`, default 5 seconds)
+  if you want timed captures.
+
+---
+
+## How StepForge picks a capture method (for reference)
+
+On launch StepForge chooses the best available click source:
+
+1. **Windows** — low-level mouse hook (position + timing).
+2. **X11** — `xinput` (position + timing → full red marker).
+3. **Linux evdev** (`/dev/input`) — button presses on X11 *and* Wayland, no
+   position on Wayland. Used when `xinput` can't see clicks (i.e. Wayland), if
+   you're in the `input` group.
+4. **Timed capture** — the always-works fallback (a screenshot every N seconds)
+   when no click source is available.
+
+Screen frames come from a single long-lived capture stream per recording, so
+clicks/timer ticks never re-open the screen-share dialog.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+**"It asks to share my screen every time."**
+You're likely on an older build. Update to the current version — the screen
+stream is now opened once per recording session. If it persists, confirm
+`echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE` and that you clicked **Share** (not Cancel) in the dialog.
+
+**"Recording captures a couple of steps then stops."**
+Fixed in the current version (a slow, GPU-less PNG encode used to trip a
+failure guard and tear down the stream). Update and retry.
+
+**"The window disappeared and I can't stop the recording."**
+On Linux the window **minimizes** while recording (GNOME's system tray is
+unreliable). Bring it back from the **taskbar / dock**, then click **Stop
+recording**.
+
+**"No steps at all on Wayland, even after picking a screen."**
+Run from a terminal with logging and look for the diagnostic lines:
+
+```bash
+STEPFORGE_CAPTURE_LOG=1 npm start
+```
+
+- `[stepforge] screen-capture stream active …` — the stream is up.
+- `[stepforge] per-click capture via evdev on N device(s) …` — clicks are wired up.
+- `[stepforge] no readable mouse input devices …` — you need the `input` group (see above).
+
+**Harmless console noise.** Lines like `vaInitialize failed`, `Frame latency is
+negative`, and `StatusNotifierItem … already exported` come from Chromium/GNOME,
+not StepForge, and don't affect recording.

package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "stepforge",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.3.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "stepforge",
-      "version": "0.1.0",
+      "version": "0.3.2",
       "license": "MPL-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@tesseract.js-data/eng": "^1.0.0",
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
       "devDependencies": {
         "electron": "^41.7.1",
         "electron-builder": "^26.15.2"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@electron/asar": {
@@ -2137,17 +2140,17 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/form-data": {
-      "version": "4.0.5",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/form-data/-/form-data-4.0.5.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-8RipRLol37bNs2bhoV67fiTEvdTrbMUYcFTiy3+wuuOnUog2QBHCZWXDRijWQfAkhBj2Uf5UnVaiWwA5vdd82w==",
+      "version": "4.0.6",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/form-data/-/form-data-4.0.6.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-vKatAh4SlVfgbv+YtmhiRjhEMJsYpsG1Y2rMQtR+SVSbytsSD1YGzDIcrAJmdFec88u/+VoGmxnl+80gL1tRCQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "asynckit": "^0.4.0",
         "combined-stream": "^1.0.8",
         "es-set-tostringtag": "^2.1.0",
-        "hasown": "^2.0.2",
-        "mime-types": "^2.1.12"
+        "hasown": "^2.0.4",
+        "mime-types": "^2.1.35"
       },
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 6"
@@ -3910,9 +3913,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/undici": {
-      "version": "6.26.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-6.26.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-4yqz8a3n5HmGTlsbADNtr/dJlhkh/55Rq798G6ibiULcXbDtaLpTl1pvdqcbFfeoj3iSi52lePFM7h9H21cw/A==",
+      "version": "6.27.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/undici/-/undici-6.27.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-YmfV3YnEDzXRC5lZ2jWtWWHKGUm1zIt8AhesR1tens+HTNv+YZlN/dp6G727LOvMJ8xjP9Be7Y2Sdr96LDm+pg==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {

package.json

@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 {
   "name": "stepforge",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.3.2",
+  "buildVersion": "0.3.2.1",
   "description": "Fully offline desktop tool for capturing, annotating, and exporting step-by-step guides.",
   "main": "app/main.js",
   "author": "StepForge [email protected]",
   "license": "MPL-2.0",
   "private": true,
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">=22.12.0"
+  },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "node scripts/start-electron.js",
-    "test": "node --test tests/unit/",
+    "test": "node scripts/run-unit-tests.js",
     "sample": "node scripts/make-sample-guide.js",
     "package:windows": "node scripts/package-windows.js",
     "build": "bash scripts/build-release.sh",

scripts/bootstrap-offline.sh

@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ fi
 
 node - <<'NODE'
 const pkg = require('./package.json');
-console.log(`StepForge ${pkg.version} bootstrap OK`);
+console.log(`StepForge ${pkg.buildVersion || pkg.version} bootstrap OK`);
 NODE

scripts/build-release.sh

@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ for (const rel of walk(examplesRoot, examplesRoot)) {
 }
 
 const pkg = require(path.join(rootDir, 'package.json'));
+const buildVersion = pkg.buildVersion || pkg.version;
 
 const { execSync } = require('node:child_process');
 function toolAvailable(cmd) {
@@ -88,7 +89,8 @@ const toolRows = Object.entries(tools)
 
 const report = `# StepForge Build Report
 
-Version: ${pkg.version}
+Build version: ${buildVersion}
+Package version: ${pkg.version}
 Generated: ${new Date().toISOString()}
 Host: ${process.platform} ${process.arch} (node ${process.version})
 
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@ fs.writeFileSync(manifestFile, JSON.stringify({
   version: 1,
   generatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
   packageVersion: pkg.version,
+  buildVersion,
   files,
 }, null, 2) + '\n');
 NODE

scripts/check-node-version.js

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// Hard prerequisite check for the supported Node toolchain.
+//
+// The locked dependency graph (notably the electron-builder packaging
+// toolchain) requires Node >= 22.12. Older Nodes fail late with confusing
+// errors (ERR_REQUIRE_ESM deep inside dependencies) instead of a clear
+// message, so every entry point calls this first.
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+function parseVersion(version) {
+  const match = /^v?(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)/.exec(String(version).trim());
+  if (!match) return null;
+  return [Number(match[1]), Number(match[2]), Number(match[3])];
+}
+
+function compareVersions(a, b) {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 3; i += 1) {
+    if (a[i] !== b[i]) return a[i] < b[i] ? -1 : 1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+function requiredNodeVersion(projectRoot = path.join(__dirname, '..')) {
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(projectRoot, 'package.json'), 'utf8'));
+  const range = pkg.engines && pkg.engines.node ? String(pkg.engines.node) : null;
+  if (!range) return null;
+  const match = /(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/.exec(range);
+  return match ? match[1] : null;
+}
+
+function checkNodeVersion({
+  currentVersion = process.versions.node,
+  projectRoot = path.join(__dirname, '..'),
+} = {}) {
+  const required = requiredNodeVersion(projectRoot);
+  if (!required) return { ok: true, required: null, current: currentVersion };
+
+  const current = parseVersion(currentVersion);
+  const minimum = parseVersion(required);
+  if (!current || !minimum) return { ok: true, required, current: currentVersion };
+
+  return {
+    ok: compareVersions(current, minimum) >= 0,
+    required,
+    current: currentVersion,
+  };
+}
+
+function assertSupportedNode(options = {}) {
+  const result = checkNodeVersion(options);
+  if (result.ok) return result;
+
+  const message = [
+    `StepForge requires Node ${result.required} or newer; this is Node ${result.current}.`,
+    '',
+    'Install the pinned toolchain (see .nvmrc) and reinstall dependencies:',
+    '',
+    '  nvm install && nvm use    # or install Node 22 LTS another way',
+    '  npm ci',
+    '',
+    'Older Nodes fail unpredictably inside the packaging dependency graph,',
+    'so this check stops early instead.',
+  ].join('\n');
+
+  const error = new Error(message);
+  error.code = 'STEPFORGE_UNSUPPORTED_NODE';
+  throw error;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  assertSupportedNode,
+  checkNodeVersion,
+  compareVersions,
+  parseVersion,
+  requiredNodeVersion,
+};

scripts/electron-launcher.js

@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const { spawnSync } = require('node:child_process');
+// Diagnostics-only Electron launcher helpers.
+//
+// This module never installs, rebuilds, or repairs dependencies at runtime.
+// The only supported dependency installation path is `npm ci` on the pinned
+// Node toolchain (see .nvmrc / package.json engines). A desktop launcher that
+// mutates node_modules silently drifts away from package-lock.json and can
+// download code at runtime; when the runtime is missing we fail with
+// actionable diagnostics instead.
+
 const fs = require('node:fs');
 const path = require('node:path');
 
@@ -60,6 +68,85 @@ function sanitizeElectronEnv(baseEnv = process.env) {
   return env;
 }
 
+// True only when the caller has explicitly marked this as a development or
+// CI environment where launching without the Chromium sandbox is acceptable.
+function noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed(env = process.env) {
+  return env.STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX === '1' || env.ELECTRON_DISABLE_SANDBOX === '1';
+}
+
+function sandboxHelperUsable(electronPath, statSync = fs.statSync) {
+  if (!electronPath) return false;
+  const helperPath = path.join(path.dirname(electronPath), 'chrome-sandbox');
+  try {
+    const stat = statSync(helperPath);
+    return stat.uid === 0 && Boolean(stat.mode & 0o4000);
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+// Decide how to launch on Linux with respect to the Chromium sandbox.
+//   { args: [] }                    sandbox is available, launch normally
+//   { args: ['--no-sandbox'] }      explicitly allowed dev/CI launch
+//   throws                          sandbox unavailable and not explicitly
+//                                   allowed: refuse to normalize an
+//                                   unsandboxed launch, explain how to fix it
+function linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({
+  electronPath,
+  platform = process.platform,
+  statSync = fs.statSync,
+  env = process.env,
+  userNamespaces = userNamespacesAvailable,
+} = {}) {
+  if (platform !== 'linux') return [];
+
+  // Modern kernels with unprivileged user namespaces do not need the setuid
+  // helper; Chromium falls back to the namespace sandbox on its own. The
+  // setuid helper check below covers kernels where that is disabled.
+  if (sandboxHelperUsable(electronPath, statSync)) return [];
+  if (userNamespaces()) return [];
+
+  if (noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed(env)) return ['--no-sandbox'];
+
+  const helperPath = electronPath
+    ? path.join(path.dirname(electronPath), 'chrome-sandbox')
+    : '<node_modules/electron/dist>/chrome-sandbox';
+  throw new Error(
+    [
+      'The Chromium sandbox is not available on this system, and StepForge',
+      'refuses to silently launch unsandboxed.',
+      '',
+      'Fix one of the following:',
+      `  1. Make the setuid sandbox helper usable:`,
+      `       sudo chown root:root "${helperPath}"`,
+      `       sudo chmod 4755 "${helperPath}"`,
+      '  2. Enable unprivileged user namespaces (kernel/sysctl dependent):',
+      '       sudo sysctl -w kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone=1',
+      '',
+      'For development or CI only, you may explicitly opt in to an',
+      'unsandboxed launch with STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX=1.',
+    ].join('\n')
+  );
+}
+
+function userNamespacesAvailable() {
+  try {
+    // Debian/Ubuntu specific knob; absent elsewhere (treated as enabled).
+    const knob = '/proc/sys/kernel/unprivileged_userns_clone';
+    if (fs.existsSync(knob)) {
+      return fs.readFileSync(knob, 'utf8').trim() === '1';
+    }
+    // Ubuntu 23.10+ AppArmor restriction on unprivileged user namespaces.
+    const apparmorKnob = '/proc/sys/kernel/apparmor_restrict_unprivileged_userns';
+    if (fs.existsSync(apparmorKnob)) {
+      return fs.readFileSync(apparmorKnob, 'utf8').trim() === '0';
+    }
+    return fs.existsSync('/proc/self/ns/user');
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
 function electronBinaryCandidates({ packageRoot, distDir, platform }) {
   const candidatePaths = [];
   const pathHint = packageRoot ? readElectronPathHint(packageRoot) : null;
@@ -75,118 +162,21 @@ function electronBinaryCandidates({ packageRoot, distDir, platform }) {
   return candidatePaths;
 }
 
-function runNpmCommand({
-  packageRoot,
-  npmArgs,
-  errorLabel,
-  npmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath || null,
-  npmNodeExecPath = process.env.npm_node_execpath || process.execPath,
-}) {
-  if (!npmExecPath) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  const result = spawnSync(npmNodeExecPath, [npmExecPath, ...npmArgs], {
-    cwd: packageRoot,
-    env: sanitizeElectronEnv(),
-    stdio: 'inherit',
-  });
-
-  if (result.error) {
-    throw result.error;
-  }
-
-  if (result.signal) {
-    throw new Error(`${errorLabel} was interrupted by ${result.signal}`);
-  }
-
-  if (result.status !== 0) {
-    throw new Error(`${errorLabel} failed with exit code ${result.status ?? 1}`);
-  }
-
-  return true;
-}
-
-function runNpmRebuild({
-  packageRoot,
-  npmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath || null,
-  npmNodeExecPath = process.env.npm_node_execpath || process.execPath,
-}) {
-  return runNpmCommand({
-    packageRoot,
-    npmArgs: ['rebuild', 'electron', '--force', '--foreground-scripts'],
-    errorLabel: 'Electron rebuild',
-    npmExecPath,
-    npmNodeExecPath,
-  });
-}
-
-function runNpmInstall({
-  packageRoot,
-  npmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath || null,
-  npmNodeExecPath = process.env.npm_node_execpath || process.execPath,
-}) {
-  return runNpmCommand({
-    packageRoot,
-    npmArgs: [
-      'install',
-      '--include=dev',
-      '--ignore-scripts=false',
-      '--foreground-scripts',
-      '--no-audit',
-      '--no-fund',
-      '--package-lock=false',
-    ],
-    errorLabel: 'Electron dependency install',
-    npmExecPath,
-    npmNodeExecPath,
-  });
-}
-
-function repairElectronInstall({
-  packageRoot,
-}) {
-  const installScript = path.join(packageRoot, 'install.js');
-  if (!fs.existsSync(installScript)) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, [installScript], {
-    cwd: packageRoot,
-    env: sanitizeElectronEnv(),
-    stdio: 'inherit',
-  });
-
-  if (result.error) {
-    throw result.error;
-  }
-
-  if (result.signal) {
-    throw new Error(`Electron repair was interrupted by ${result.signal}`);
-  }
-
-  if (result.status !== 0) {
-    throw new Error(`Electron repair failed with exit code ${result.status ?? 1}`);
-  }
-
-  return true;
-}
-
 function buildMissingElectronError({ packageRoot, distDir, candidatePaths }) {
-  const tried = candidatePaths.map((candidate) => `  - ${candidate}`).join('\n');
+  const tried = (candidatePaths || []).map((candidate) => `  - ${candidate}`).join('\n');
   return [
     'Electron could not be started because the desktop runtime is missing.',
     '',
-    `Looked under: ${packageRoot}`,
-    `Expected the binary in: ${distDir}`,
+    `Looked under: ${packageRoot || '(electron package not installed)'}`,
+    `Expected the binary in: ${distDir || '(unknown)'}`,
     '',
-    'Try reinstalling dependencies from the repo root:',
+    'StepForge never installs dependencies at runtime. Reinstall them from',
+    'the repo root on the pinned Node toolchain (see .nvmrc):',
     '',
-    '  npm install',
-    '  npm rebuild electron --force --foreground-scripts',
-    '  make sure ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD is not set',
+    '  npm ci',
     '',
-    'If that does not help, delete node_modules/electron and install again.',
+    'Make sure ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD is not set while installing.',
+    'If the problem persists, delete node_modules entirely and run npm ci again.',
     '',
     'Searched:',
     tried,
@@ -199,99 +189,38 @@ function resolveElectronBinary({
   platform = process.platform,
   overrideDistPath = process.env.ELECTRON_OVERRIDE_DIST_PATH || null,
 } = {}) {
-  const repairErrors = [];
-
-  function resolveCurrentPackageRoot() {
-    if (packageRoot) return packageRoot;
+  if (!packageRoot) {
     const conventionalRoot = path.join(projectRoot, 'node_modules', 'electron');
     if (fs.existsSync(path.join(conventionalRoot, 'package.json'))) {
       packageRoot = conventionalRoot;
-      return packageRoot;
     }
-    packageRoot = resolveElectronPackageRoot();
-    return packageRoot;
   }
 
-  function tryRepair(label, repairFn) {
-    try {
-      if (!repairFn()) {
-        return null;
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      repairErrors.push(`${label}: ${error && error.message ? error.message : String(error)}`);
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    const currentPackageRoot = resolveCurrentPackageRoot();
-    if (!currentPackageRoot && !overrideDistPath) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    const distDir = overrideDistPath || path.join(currentPackageRoot, 'dist');
-    return electronBinaryCandidates({ packageRoot: currentPackageRoot, distDir, platform }).find((candidate) =>
-      fs.existsSync(candidate)
-    );
-  }
-
-  let currentPackageRoot = resolveCurrentPackageRoot();
-  if (!currentPackageRoot && !overrideDistPath) {
-    const installed = tryRepair('Electron dependency install', () =>
-      runNpmInstall({ packageRoot: projectRoot })
-    );
-    if (installed) {
-      return installed;
-    }
-
-    currentPackageRoot = resolveCurrentPackageRoot();
-  }
-
-  if (!currentPackageRoot && !overrideDistPath) {
+  if (!packageRoot && !overrideDistPath) {
     throw new Error(
       'Electron could not be started because node_modules/electron is not installed.\n\n' +
-        'Run `npm install` from the repo root, then try `npm start` again.'
+        'StepForge never installs dependencies at runtime. Run `npm ci` from the\n' +
+        'repo root on the pinned Node toolchain (see .nvmrc), then try again.'
     );
   }
 
-  const distDir = overrideDistPath || path.join(currentPackageRoot, 'dist');
-  let candidatePaths = electronBinaryCandidates({ packageRoot: currentPackageRoot, distDir, platform });
-  let resolved = candidatePaths.find((candidate) => fs.existsSync(candidate));
+  const distDir = overrideDistPath || path.join(packageRoot, 'dist');
+  const candidatePaths = electronBinaryCandidates({ packageRoot, distDir, platform });
+  const resolved = candidatePaths.find((candidate) => fs.existsSync(candidate));
   if (resolved) {
     return resolved;
   }
 
-  const repairAttempts = [
-    ['Electron rebuild', () => runNpmRebuild({ packageRoot: currentPackageRoot })],
-    ['Electron install repair', () => repairElectronInstall({ packageRoot: currentPackageRoot })],
-    ['Electron dependency install', () => runNpmInstall({ packageRoot: projectRoot })],
-  ];
-
-  for (const [label, repairFn] of repairAttempts) {
-    const repaired = tryRepair(label, repairFn);
-    if (repaired) {
-      return repaired;
-    }
-  }
-
-  throw new Error(
-    buildMissingElectronError({
-      packageRoot: currentPackageRoot,
-      distDir,
-      candidatePaths,
-    }) +
-      (repairErrors.length
-        ? `\n\nAutomatic repair attempts failed:\n${repairErrors.map((error) => `  - ${error}`).join('\n')}`
-        : '')
-  );
+  throw new Error(buildMissingElectronError({ packageRoot, distDir, candidatePaths }));
 }
 
 module.exports = {
   buildMissingElectronError,
   electronBinaryCandidates,
   readElectronPathHint,
-  repairElectronInstall,
-  runNpmRebuild,
-  runNpmInstall,
   sanitizeElectronEnv,
+  noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed,
+  linuxSandboxLaunchArgs,
   resolveElectronBinary,
   resolveElectronPackageRoot,
   platformBinaryCandidates,

scripts/package-linux.sh

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-VERSION="$(node -p "require('${ROOT_DIR}/package.json').version" 2>/dev/null || echo 0.0.0)"
+VERSION="$(node -p "const pkg=require('${ROOT_DIR}/package.json'); pkg.buildVersion || pkg.version" 2>/dev/null || echo 0.0.0)"
 OUT_DIR="${STEPFORGE_PACKAGE_DIR:-$ROOT_DIR/build/artifacts}"
 mkdir -p "$OUT_DIR"
 WORK_DIR="$(mktemp -d "${OUT_DIR%/}/.pkg.XXXXXX")"
@@ -46,8 +46,21 @@ fi
 cat > "$WORK_DIR/usr/bin/stepforge" <<'EOF'
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 APP_DIR=/opt/stepforge
+ELECTRON="$APP_DIR/node_modules/.bin/electron"
+SANDBOX_HELPER="$APP_DIR/node_modules/electron/dist/chrome-sandbox"
 cd "$APP_DIR" || exit 1
-exec "$APP_DIR/node_modules/.bin/electron" "$APP_DIR" "$@"
+if command -v stat >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -e "$SANDBOX_HELPER" ]; then
+  helper_uid="$(stat -c '%u' "$SANDBOX_HELPER" 2>/dev/null || echo '')"
+  helper_mode="$(stat -c '%a' "$SANDBOX_HELPER" 2>/dev/null || echo '')"
+  if [ "$helper_uid" = "0" ] && [ -n "$helper_mode" ]; then
+    helper_mode_num=$((8#$helper_mode))
+    if [ $((helper_mode_num & 04000)) -ne 0 ]; then
+      exec "$ELECTRON" "$APP_DIR" "$@"
+    fi
+  fi
+fi
+printf '%s\n' '[stepforge] Electron sandbox helper is not configured for this install; starting with --no-sandbox' >&2
+exec "$ELECTRON" --no-sandbox "$APP_DIR" "$@"
 EOF
 chmod 0755 "$WORK_DIR/usr/bin/stepforge"
 

scripts/package-windows.js

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const { build, Platform } = require('electron-builder');
 const ROOT_DIR = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
 const PACKAGE_JSON = require(path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'package.json'));
 const APP_ID = 'com.stepforge.app';
+const BUILD_VERSION = PACKAGE_JSON.buildVersion || PACKAGE_JSON.version;
 
 function findInstallerExe(dir) {
   if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) return null;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ function createWindowsInstallerConfig(outputDir) {
   return {
     appId: APP_ID,
     productName: 'StepForge',
+    buildVersion: BUILD_VERSION,
     directories: {
       output: outputDir,
     },
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@ function createWindowsInstallerConfig(outputDir) {
       createDesktopShortcut: true,
       createStartMenuShortcut: true,
       shortcutName: 'StepForge',
+      artifactName: '${productName} Setup ${buildVersion}.${ext}',
+      include: 'build/installer.nsh',
     },
   };
 }
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ async function buildWindowsInstaller() {
   const releaseInstaller = path.join(releaseDir, path.basename(builtInstaller));
   fs.copyFileSync(builtInstaller, releaseInstaller);
 
-  console.log(`StepForge ${PACKAGE_JSON.version} Windows installer written to ${releaseInstaller}`);
+  console.log(`StepForge ${BUILD_VERSION} Windows installer written to ${releaseInstaller}`);
 }
 
 if (require.main === module) {

scripts/run-unit-tests.js

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { spawnSync } = require('node:child_process');
+
+const { assertSupportedNode } = require('./check-node-version');
+
+try {
+  assertSupportedNode();
+} catch (error) {
+  console.error(error.message);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
+function collectTestFiles(rootDir) {
+  const files = [];
+  if (!fs.existsSync(rootDir)) return files;
+
+  const walk = (dir) => {
+    for (const entry of fs.readdirSync(dir, { withFileTypes: true })) {
+      const full = path.join(dir, entry.name);
+      if (entry.isDirectory()) {
+        walk(full);
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (/\.(test|spec)\.(js|mjs|cjs)$/.test(entry.name)) files.push(full);
+    }
+  };
+
+  walk(rootDir);
+  files.sort((a, b) => a.localeCompare(b));
+  return files;
+}
+
+const root = path.join(process.cwd(), 'tests', 'unit');
+const tests = collectTestFiles(root);
+
+if (!tests.length) {
+  console.log('No unit test files found under tests/unit, skipping unit tests.');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const result = spawnSync(process.execPath, ['--test', ...tests], { stdio: 'inherit' });
+
+if (result.error) {
+  console.error(result.error.message);
+  process.exit(result.status ?? 1);
+}
+
+process.exit(result.status ?? 0);

scripts/stamp-version.js

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+function readJson(file) {
+  return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8'));
+}
+
+function writeJson(file, value) {
+  fs.writeFileSync(file, JSON.stringify(value, null, 2) + '\n');
+}
+
+function stampVersion(rootDir, version) {
+  if (!version || typeof version !== 'string') {
+    throw new Error('version is required');
+  }
+
+  const normalized = version.replace(/^v/i, '');
+  const parts = normalized.split('.');
+  const isFourPartBuild = parts.length === 4 && parts.every((part) => /^\d+$/.test(part));
+  const packageVersion = isFourPartBuild ? parts.slice(0, 3).join('.') : normalized;
+  const buildVersion = normalized;
+
+  const pkgPath = path.join(rootDir, 'package.json');
+  const pkg = readJson(pkgPath);
+  pkg.version = packageVersion;
+  pkg.buildVersion = buildVersion;
+  writeJson(pkgPath, pkg);
+
+  const lockPath = path.join(rootDir, 'package-lock.json');
+  if (!fs.existsSync(lockPath)) return;
+
+  const lock = readJson(lockPath);
+  lock.version = packageVersion;
+  if (lock.packages && lock.packages['']) {
+    lock.packages[''].version = packageVersion;
+  }
+  writeJson(lockPath, lock);
+}
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  try {
+    const version = process.argv[2] || process.env.VERSION;
+    stampVersion(process.cwd(), version);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error(err && err.message ? err.message : err);
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
+
+module.exports = { stampVersion };

scripts/start-electron.js

@@ -3,18 +3,39 @@
 
 const { spawn } = require('node:child_process');
 
-const { resolveElectronBinary, sanitizeElectronEnv } = require('./electron-launcher');
+const { assertSupportedNode } = require('./check-node-version');
+const {
+  linuxSandboxLaunchArgs,
+  resolveElectronBinary,
+  sanitizeElectronEnv,
+} = require('./electron-launcher');
 
 let electronPath;
+let sandboxArgs;
 try {
+  assertSupportedNode();
   electronPath = resolveElectronBinary();
+  sandboxArgs = linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({ electronPath });
 } catch (error) {
   console.error(error && error.message ? error.message : error);
   process.exit(1);
 }
 const env = sanitizeElectronEnv();
+if (sandboxArgs.includes('--no-sandbox')) {
+  console.warn(
+    '[stepforge] launching WITHOUT the Chromium sandbox (explicitly allowed via ' +
+      'STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX/ELECTRON_DISABLE_SANDBOX — development/CI only)'
+  );
+}
 
-const child = spawn(electronPath, ['.'], {
+// On Linux, prefer the native Ozone path when available and enable PipeWire-
+// based screen capture so desktopCapturer can go through the XDG Desktop
+// Portal on Wayland without affecting X11.
+const extraArgs = process.platform === 'linux'
+  ? ['--enable-features=WebRTCPipeWireCapturer', '--ozone-platform-hint=auto', ...sandboxArgs]
+  : [];
+
+const child = spawn(electronPath, [...extraArgs, '.'], {
   stdio: 'inherit',
   env,
   windowsHide: false,

tests/checks/test_click_capture_selftest.sh

@@ -13,14 +13,22 @@
 #   arm:      warmup click ignored, first armed click captured
 #   debounce: 4 of 4  (40ms burst collapses to 1, three 300ms clicks kept)
 #
-# If the environment can't run a desktop capture at all (no display/stream),
-# the scenarios never print, so the check skips rather than failing CI.
+# Skip policy (kept honest on purpose): the ONLY allowed skip is the upfront
+# absence of a display server, detected BEFORE launching. Once the app is
+# launched, failing to reach the scenarios is a real failure — a startup
+# crash (missing shared library, launcher bug) must never be reported as
+# "no capture environment".
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
 cd "$ROOT_DIR"
 
+if [[ "$(uname -s)" == "Linux" && -z "${DISPLAY:-}" && -z "${WAYLAND_DISPLAY:-}" ]]; then
+  echo "click capture selftest SKIPPED: no display server (set DISPLAY or run under xvfb-run)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 TMP_ROOT="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap 'rm -rf "$TMP_ROOT"' EXIT
 
@@ -30,11 +38,17 @@ STEPFORGE_DATA_DIR="$TMP_ROOT/data" STEPFORGE_CLICK_SELFTEST=1 \
   timeout 120s npm start >"$LOG_FILE" 2>&1
 set -e
 
-# The self-test always prints this first line once it begins; without it the
-# app never reached the scenarios (couldn't launch / no capture environment).
+# The self-test always prints this line once the app is up (the frame source
+# is printed as a diagnostic even when no capture backend is available).
+# Its absence means the app never started — that is a failure, not a skip.
 if ! grep -q 'CLICK-SELFTEST source:' "$LOG_FILE"; then
-  echo "click capture selftest SKIPPED (no capture environment on this host)"
-  exit 0
+  echo "click capture selftest FAILED: the app never reached the self-test scenarios" >&2
+  if grep -Eq 'error while loading shared libraries' "$LOG_FILE"; then
+    echo "cause: Electron is missing system shared libraries on this host" >&2
+  fi
+  echo "----- startup output (last 40 lines) -----" >&2
+  tail -n 40 "$LOG_FILE" >&2
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 fail() {

tests/checks/test_startup_smoke.sh

@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ set -euo pipefail
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
 cd "$ROOT_DIR"
 
+# The only allowed skip is the upfront absence of a display server. Any
+# failure after launch (missing shared library, crash) must fail the check.
+if [[ "$(uname -s)" == "Linux" && -z "${DISPLAY:-}" && -z "${WAYLAND_DISPLAY:-}" ]]; then
+  echo "startup smoke SKIPPED: no display server (set DISPLAY or run under xvfb-run)"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 TMP_ROOT="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap 'rm -rf "$TMP_ROOT"' EXIT
 

tests/unit/capture-worker.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const vm = require('node:vm');
+
+test('capture worker requests the selected desktop source, not a plain camera stream', async () => {
+  const scriptPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../app/renderer/capture-worker.js');
+  const script = fs.readFileSync(scriptPath, 'utf8');
+
+  const mediaCalls = [];
+  const messages = [];
+  let onCommand = null;
+  let resolveStreamReady;
+  const streamReady = new Promise((resolve) => {
+    resolveStreamReady = resolve;
+  });
+
+  const context = {
+    console: {
+      error() {},
+      log() {},
+      warn() {},
+    },
+    captureWorkerBridge: {
+      onCommand(fn) {
+        onCommand = fn;
+      },
+      send(msg) {
+        messages.push(msg);
+        if (msg.type === 'stream-ready') resolveStreamReady();
+      },
+    },
+    StepForgeClickFrames: {
+      FrameRing: class {
+        constructor() {
+          this._frames = [];
+        }
+
+        push(frame) {
+          this._frames.push(frame);
+        }
+
+        frames() {
+          return [...this._frames];
+        }
+
+        latest() {
+          return this._frames[this._frames.length - 1] || null;
+        }
+
+        clear() {
+          this._frames = [];
+        }
+      },
+      selectFrameForClick() {
+        return null;
+      },
+    },
+    navigator: {
+      mediaDevices: {
+        async getUserMedia(constraints) {
+          mediaCalls.push(constraints);
+          return {
+            getTracks() {
+              return [{ stop() {} }];
+            },
+          };
+        },
+        async getDisplayMedia() {
+          throw new Error('unexpected getDisplayMedia call');
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    document: {
+      createElement(tag) {
+        assert.equal(tag, 'video');
+        return {
+          muted: false,
+          srcObject: null,
+          readyState: 2,
+          play: async () => {},
+          videoWidth: 1920,
+          videoHeight: 1080,
+        };
+      },
+    },
+    createImageBitmap: async () => ({ width: 1920, height: 1080, close() {} }),
+    setInterval: () => 1,
+    clearInterval: () => {},
+    OffscreenCanvas: class {
+      constructor(width, height) {
+        this.width = width;
+        this.height = height;
+      }
+
+      getContext() {
+        return { drawImage() {} };
+      }
+
+      async convertToBlob() {
+        return {
+          async arrayBuffer() {
+            return new ArrayBuffer(0);
+          },
+        };
+      }
+    },
+  };
+
+  vm.createContext(context);
+  vm.runInContext(script, context, { filename: scriptPath });
+
+  assert.equal(typeof onCommand, 'function', 'worker should register a command handler');
+
+  onCommand({
+    type: 'start-stream',
+    displayId: 7,
+    sourceId: 'screen:1:0',
+    display: {
+      bounds: { width: 1920, height: 1080 },
+      scaleFactor: 1,
+    },
+    sampleMs: 50,
+  });
+  await streamReady;
+
+  assert.equal(mediaCalls.length, 1);
+  const constraints = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(mediaCalls[0]));
+  assert.deepEqual(constraints, {
+    audio: false,
+    video: {
+      mandatory: {
+        chromeMediaSource: 'desktop',
+        chromeMediaSourceId: 'screen:1:0',
+        minWidth: 1920,
+        maxWidth: 1920,
+        minHeight: 1080,
+        maxHeight: 1080,
+      },
+    },
+  });
+  assert.ok(messages.some((msg) => msg.type === 'stream-ready'));
+});

tests/unit/capture.test.js

@@ -33,6 +33,22 @@ function makeService({ settings: settingsOverrides, screenApi } = {}) {
   });
 }
 
+test('XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11 wins over a stray WAYLAND_DISPLAY value', () => {
+  const prevSessionType = process.env.XDG_SESSION_TYPE;
+  const prevWaylandDisplay = process.env.WAYLAND_DISPLAY;
+  try {
+    process.env.XDG_SESSION_TYPE = 'x11';
+    process.env.WAYLAND_DISPLAY = 'wayland-0';
+    const service = makeService();
+    assert.equal(service.onWayland(), false);
+  } finally {
+    if (prevSessionType === undefined) delete process.env.XDG_SESSION_TYPE;
+    else process.env.XDG_SESSION_TYPE = prevSessionType;
+    if (prevWaylandDisplay === undefined) delete process.env.WAYLAND_DISPLAY;
+    else process.env.WAYLAND_DISPLAY = prevWaylandDisplay;
+  }
+});
+
 // The raw/regular twin window plus margin: how long a test must wait for a
 // held Linux raw press to fire when no coordinate twin arrives.
 const TWIN_FLUSH_MS = 60;
@@ -596,6 +612,7 @@ test('armRecording warms while visible, then hides and arms the session', async
     isVisible() { return this.visible; },
     isMinimized() { return false; },
     hide() { this.visible = false; },
+    minimize() { this.visible = false; },
     show() { this.visible = true; },
     focus() {}, getTitle() { return 'StepForge'; },
     getBounds() { return { x: 0, y: 0, width: 800, height: 600 }; },
@@ -637,6 +654,7 @@ test('a slow recorder start still arms within the warmup cap', async () => {
     isVisible() { return this.visible; },
     isMinimized() { return false; },
     hide() { this.visible = false; },
+    minimize() { this.visible = false; },
     show() { this.visible = true; },
     focus() {}, getTitle() { return 'StepForge'; },
     getBounds() { return { x: 0, y: 0, width: 800, height: 600 }; },
@@ -718,6 +736,27 @@ test('hook coordinates are converted physical → DIP via screenToDipPoint when
   assert.deepEqual(seen, [{ x: 640, y: 320 }]);
 });
 
+test('bogus Windows screenToDipPoint results fall back to display geometry', () => {
+  const service = makeService({
+    screenApi: {
+      screenToDipPoint: (p) => ({ x: p.x, y: p.y }), // raw physical point: wrong on scaled displays
+      getAllDisplays: () => [
+        { id: 1, scaleFactor: 2, bounds: { x: 0, y: 0, width: 1440, height: 900 } },
+      ],
+      getCursorScreenPoint: () => { throw new Error('must not fall back to a cursor read'); },
+    },
+  });
+  service.session = { guideId: 'guide-dip-fallback', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
+  const seen = [];
+  service.enqueueClickCapture = (clickPos) => {
+    seen.push(clickPos);
+  };
+
+  service.onOsClick(1770000000000, { x: 1500, y: 900 }, 'left');
+
+  assert.deepEqual(seen, [{ x: 750, y: 450 }]);
+});
+
 test('without screenToDipPoint, coordinates convert via display geometry (Linux/X11)', () => {
   const service = makeService({
     screenApi: {
@@ -746,6 +785,7 @@ test('clicks without event coordinates fall back to a live cursor read', () => {
       getAllDisplays: () => [],
     },
   });
+  service._wayland = false; // X11/Windows: the live-cursor fallback applies
   service.session = { guideId: 'guide-cursor', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
   const seen = [];
   service.enqueueClickCapture = (clickPos) => {
@@ -757,6 +797,64 @@ test('clicks without event coordinates fall back to a live cursor read', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(seen, [{ x: 11, y: 22 }]);
 });
 
+test('on Wayland an evdev click does not stamp a bogus top-left cursor position', () => {
+  // Wayland's getCursorScreenPoint returns {0,0}; a fallback read would mark
+  // every click in the corner. The click must capture with a null position
+  // (no marker) instead.
+  const service = makeService({
+    screenApi: {
+      getCursorScreenPoint: () => ({ x: 0, y: 0 }),
+      getAllDisplays: () => [],
+    },
+  });
+  service._wayland = true;
+  service.session = { guideId: 'guide-wl-click', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
+  const seen = [];
+  service.enqueueClickCapture = (clickPos) => { seen.push(clickPos); };
+
+  service.onOsClick(1770000000000, null, 'button-1');
+
+  assert.deepEqual(seen, [null], 'no position is passed, so no marker is drawn');
+});
+
+// ---- evdev decoding ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const { decodeEvdevButtonPresses } = CaptureService;
+
+// Pack a 64-bit struct input_event (24 bytes): 16-byte timeval, u16 type,
+// u16 code, s32 value.
+function evdevRecord(type, code, value) {
+  const b = Buffer.alloc(24);
+  b.writeUInt16LE(type, 16);
+  b.writeUInt16LE(code, 18);
+  b.writeInt32LE(value, 20);
+  return b;
+}
+
+test('evdev decoder extracts left/right/middle button presses, ignores the rest', () => {
+  const EV_KEY = 0x01;
+  const EV_REL = 0x02;
+  const buf = Buffer.concat([
+    evdevRecord(EV_KEY, 272, 1), // BTN_LEFT down  -> button-1
+    evdevRecord(EV_KEY, 272, 0), // BTN_LEFT up    -> ignored (release)
+    evdevRecord(EV_REL, 0, 5), // motion          -> ignored (not a key)
+    evdevRecord(EV_KEY, 273, 1), // BTN_RIGHT down -> button-3
+    evdevRecord(EV_KEY, 274, 1), // BTN_MIDDLE down-> button-2
+    evdevRecord(EV_KEY, 0x110 + 8, 1), // a non-mouse key -> ignored
+  ]);
+  const { presses, rest } = decodeEvdevButtonPresses(buf, 24);
+  assert.deepEqual(presses, ['button-1', 'button-3', 'button-2']);
+  assert.equal(rest.length, 0);
+});
+
+test('evdev decoder keeps a trailing partial record for the next chunk', () => {
+  const full = evdevRecord(0x01, 272, 1);
+  const buf = Buffer.concat([full, full.subarray(0, 10)]); // 1.4 records
+  const { presses, rest } = decodeEvdevButtonPresses(buf, 24);
+  assert.deepEqual(presses, ['button-1']);
+  assert.equal(rest.length, 10, 'the half record is returned to be completed later');
+});
+
 // ---- watcher loss -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 test('losing the click watcher mid-session falls back to interval capture', () => {
@@ -779,6 +877,49 @@ test('losing the click watcher mid-session falls back to interval capture', () =
   }
 });
 
+test('losing the click watcher mid-session can fall back to hotkey-only', () => {
+  const service = makeService();
+  service.settings.get = (key) => {
+    if (key === 'capture.fallbackTrigger') return 'hotkey';
+    if (key === 'capture.autoIntervalSec') return 3;
+    return null;
+  };
+  service.session = { guideId: 'guide-loss-hotkey', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
+  const states = [];
+  service.notify = (channel, payload) => {
+    states.push({ channel, payload });
+  };
+
+  try {
+    service.handleClickWatcherLoss('exited with code 1');
+
+    assert.equal(service.session.intervalSec, 0,
+      'hotkey fallback must not silently start the 5-second timer');
+    assert.equal(service.intervalTimer, null);
+    assert.ok(states.some((s) => s.channel === 'capture:state'));
+  } finally {
+    service.finishSession();
+  }
+});
+
+test('starting a session with hotkey fallback keeps the timer off when clicks are unavailable', () => {
+  const service = makeService();
+  service.clickCaptureAvailable = () => false;
+  service.settings.get = (key) => {
+    if (key === 'capture.fallbackTrigger') return 'hotkey';
+    if (key === 'capture.autoIntervalSec') return 7;
+    if (key === 'capture.captureOutsideClicks') return false;
+    return null;
+  };
+
+  service.startSession('guide-hotkey-fallback');
+
+  assert.equal(service.session.intervalSec, 0);
+  assert.equal(service.state().clickCaptureAvailable, false);
+  assert.equal(service.state().clickCapture, false);
+  service.finishSession();
+});
+
 // ---- strict frame selection -----------------------------------------------------
 
 test('a click is served instantly from the freshly buffered frame', async () => {
@@ -1004,6 +1145,7 @@ test('clicks during an in-flight pre-click grab wait for the frame instead of be
 
 test('click frames come from the stream backend when it is active', async () => {
   const service = makeService();
+  service._wayland = false; // X11/Windows: click frame-requests are failable
   const clickAt = Date.now();
   service.session = { guideId: 'guide-stream', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
   const requests = [];
@@ -1036,8 +1178,8 @@ test('click frames come from the stream backend when it is active', async () =>
 
   assert.equal(result.ok, true);
   assert.deepEqual(added, ['stream-frame']);
-  assert.deepEqual(requests, [{ clickPos: { x: 10, y: 10 }, clickAt, strict: true, leadMs: 0 }],
-    'the worker receives the hook-time click timestamp, strictness, and lead');
+  assert.deepEqual(requests, [{ clickPos: { x: 10, y: 10 }, clickAt, strict: true, leadMs: 0, failable: true }],
+    'the worker receives the hook-time click timestamp, strictness, lead, and failability');
 });
 
 test('a stream backend with no qualifying frame falls through to the fresh-shot path', async () => {
@@ -1080,6 +1222,9 @@ test('an unhealthy stream backend degrades to the in-process frame loop', () =>
   const service = makeService();
   service.session = { guideId: 'guide-degrade', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
   service.streamBackend = { isActive: () => true, stop: () => {} };
+  // Off Wayland the in-process loop is viable (getSources works), so an
+  // unhealthy worker must degrade to the loop rather than silently stopping.
+  service._wayland = false;
   let loopStarted = false;
   service.startFrameLoop = () => { loopStarted = true; };
   const states = [];
@@ -1092,6 +1237,24 @@ test('an unhealthy stream backend degrades to the in-process frame loop', () =>
   assert.ok(states.includes('capture:state'));
 });
 
+test('an unhealthy stream backend does NOT start the frame loop on Wayland', () => {
+  // On Wayland the 200ms getSources() frame loop is broken (throws) and pops
+  // the portal, so it's not a usable fallback — the portal stream is the only
+  // capture path and the user must re-share if it stops.
+  const service = makeService();
+  service.session = { guideId: 'guide-degrade-wl', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
+  service.streamBackend = { isActive: () => true, stop: () => {} };
+  service._wayland = true;
+  let loopStarted = false;
+  service.startFrameLoop = () => { loopStarted = true; };
+  service.notify = () => {};
+
+  service.degradeToFrameLoop();
+
+  assert.equal(service.streamBackend, null);
+  assert.equal(loopStarted, false, 'no frame loop on Wayland — getSources is unusable there');
+});
+
 test('session state reports which frame recorder is serving clicks', () => {
   const service = makeService();
   service.session = { guideId: 'guide-state', paused: false, count: 0, intervalSec: 0 };
@@ -1156,7 +1319,12 @@ test('a new session starts paused and does not hide the window until "Start reco
     isDestroyed() { return this.destroyed; },
     isVisible() { return this.visible; },
     isMinimized() { return this.minimized; },
+    // The window is "tucked away" for recording either by hide() (with a tray)
+    // or minimize() (Linux without a tray). Both make it not visible; assert on
+    // visibility so the test is independent of which mechanism the platform picks.
     hide() { this.visible = false; this.hidden += 1; },
+    minimize() { this.visible = false; this.minimized = true; },
+    restore() { this.minimized = false; this.visible = true; },
     show() { this.visible = true; this.shown += 1; },
     showInactive() { this.visible = true; this.shown += 1; },
     focus() {},
@@ -1171,15 +1339,15 @@ test('a new session starts paused and does not hide the window until "Start reco
 
     assert.equal(service.session.paused, true, 'sessions start paused');
     assert.equal(service.state().paused, true);
-    assert.equal(win.hidden, 0, 'window must stay visible until recording starts');
+    assert.equal(win.visible, true, 'window must stay visible until recording starts');
 
     // User clicks "Start recording" (the resume action).
     service.togglePause(false);
     assert.equal(service.session.paused, false);
-    assert.equal(win.hidden, 0, 'hide is deferred until the resume path runs');
+    assert.equal(win.visible, true, 'tuck-away is deferred until the resume path runs');
 
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 25));
-    assert.equal(win.hidden, 1, 'window hides once recording actually starts');
+    assert.equal(win.visible, false, 'window is tucked away once recording actually starts');
   } finally {
     service.finishSession();
   }

tests/unit/electron-launcher.test.js

@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ const path = require('node:path');
 
 const {
   buildMissingElectronError,
-  repairElectronInstall,
+  linuxSandboxLaunchArgs,
+  noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed,
   resolveElectronBinary,
 } = require('../../scripts/electron-launcher');
+const { checkNodeVersion, assertSupportedNode } = require('../../scripts/check-node-version');
 const { makeTmpDir, rmrf } = require('./helpers');
 
 test('resolves the Electron binary from path.txt when present', (t) => {
@@ -39,135 +41,119 @@ test('falls back to the platform binary when path.txt is absent', (t) => {
   );
 });
 
-test('repairs a broken Electron install before resolving the binary', (t) => {
-  const root = makeTmpDir('electron-repair');
-  t.after(() => rmrf(root));
-
-  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(root, 'dist'), { recursive: true });
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    path.join(root, 'install.js'),
-    [
-      "const fs = require('node:fs');",
-      "const path = require('node:path');",
-      "if (process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD) process.exit(2);",
-      "fs.mkdirSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist'), { recursive: true });",
-      "fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist', 'electron.exe'), 'binary');",
-      "fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'path.txt'), 'electron.exe');",
-    ].join('\n')
-  );
-
-  const originalSkip = process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD;
-  process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD = '1';
-  t.after(() => {
-    if (originalSkip === undefined) delete process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD;
-    else process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD = originalSkip;
-  });
-
-  assert.equal(
-    repairElectronInstall({ packageRoot: root }),
-    true
-  );
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
-    path.join(root, 'dist', 'electron.exe')
-  );
-});
-
-test('rebuilds Electron through npm when the binary is missing', (t) => {
-  const root = makeTmpDir('electron-rebuild');
-  t.after(() => rmrf(root));
-
-  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(root, 'dist'), { recursive: true });
-  const fakeNpmCli = path.join(root, 'fake-npm-cli.js');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    fakeNpmCli,
-    [
-      "const fs = require('node:fs');",
-      "const path = require('node:path');",
-      "if (process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD) process.exit(2);",
-      "fs.mkdirSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist'), { recursive: true });",
-      "fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist', 'electron.exe'), 'binary');",
-      "fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'path.txt'), 'electron.exe');",
-    ].join('\n')
-  );
-
-  const originalNpmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath;
-  const originalNpmNodeExecPath = process.env.npm_node_execpath;
-  const originalSkip = process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD;
-  process.env.npm_execpath = fakeNpmCli;
-  process.env.npm_node_execpath = process.execPath;
-  process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD = '1';
-  t.after(() => {
-    if (originalNpmExecPath === undefined) delete process.env.npm_execpath;
-    else process.env.npm_execpath = originalNpmExecPath;
-    if (originalNpmNodeExecPath === undefined) delete process.env.npm_node_execpath;
-    else process.env.npm_node_execpath = originalNpmNodeExecPath;
-    if (originalSkip === undefined) delete process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD;
-    else process.env.ELECTRON_SKIP_BINARY_DOWNLOAD = originalSkip;
-  });
-
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
-    path.join(root, 'dist', 'electron.exe')
-  );
-});
-
-test('falls back to npm install when rebuild does not repair the runtime', (t) => {
-  const root = makeTmpDir('electron-install-fallback');
-  t.after(() => rmrf(root));
-
-  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(root, 'dist'), { recursive: true });
-  const fakeNpmCli = path.join(root, 'fake-npm-cli.js');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    fakeNpmCli,
-    [
-      "const fs = require('node:fs');",
-      "const path = require('node:path');",
-      "const command = process.argv[2];",
-      "if (command === 'rebuild') process.exit(1);",
-      "if (command === 'install') {",
-      "  fs.mkdirSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist'), { recursive: true });",
-      "  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'dist', 'electron.exe'), 'binary');",
-      "  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'path.txt'), 'electron.exe');",
-      "  process.exit(0);",
-      "}",
-      "process.exit(1);",
-    ].join('\n')
-  );
-
-  const originalNpmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath;
-  const originalNpmNodeExecPath = process.env.npm_node_execpath;
-  process.env.npm_execpath = fakeNpmCli;
-  process.env.npm_node_execpath = process.execPath;
-  t.after(() => {
-    if (originalNpmExecPath === undefined) delete process.env.npm_execpath;
-    else process.env.npm_execpath = originalNpmExecPath;
-    if (originalNpmNodeExecPath === undefined) delete process.env.npm_node_execpath;
-    else process.env.npm_node_execpath = originalNpmNodeExecPath;
-  });
-
-  assert.equal(
-    resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: root, projectRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
-    path.join(root, 'dist', 'electron.exe')
-  );
-});
-
-test('reports a helpful error when the runtime is missing', (t) => {
+test('never runs npm when the runtime is missing: fails with npm ci diagnostics', (t) => {
   const root = makeTmpDir('electron-missing');
   t.after(() => rmrf(root));
 
   fs.mkdirSync(path.join(root, 'dist'), { recursive: true });
 
-  assert.throws(
-    () => resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
-    /npm install/
+  // Point npm_execpath at a script that would create the binary if executed.
+  // The launcher must NOT execute it: runtime self-repair is forbidden.
+  const trapNpmCli = path.join(root, 'trap-npm-cli.js');
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    trapNpmCli,
+    [
+      "const fs = require('node:fs');",
+      "const path = require('node:path');",
+      "fs.writeFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'npm-was-invoked'), '1');",
+    ].join('\n')
   );
 
+  const originalNpmExecPath = process.env.npm_execpath;
+  process.env.npm_execpath = trapNpmCli;
+  t.after(() => {
+    if (originalNpmExecPath === undefined) delete process.env.npm_execpath;
+    else process.env.npm_execpath = originalNpmExecPath;
+  });
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: root, projectRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
+    /npm ci/
+  );
+  assert.equal(fs.existsSync(path.join(root, 'npm-was-invoked')), false);
+});
+
+test('missing electron package fails with npm ci diagnostics, not an install', (t) => {
+  const root = makeTmpDir('electron-no-package');
+  t.after(() => rmrf(root));
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => resolveElectronBinary({ packageRoot: null, projectRoot: root, platform: 'win32' }),
+    /never installs dependencies at runtime[\s\S]*npm ci/
+  );
+});
+
+test('missing runtime error message explains recovery without runtime installs', (t) => {
+  const root = makeTmpDir('electron-missing-msg');
+  t.after(() => rmrf(root));
+
   const message = buildMissingElectronError({
     packageRoot: root,
     distDir: path.join(root, 'dist'),
     candidatePaths: [path.join(root, 'dist', 'electron.exe')],
   });
   assert.match(message, /Electron could not be started/);
-  assert.match(message, /Expected the binary in:/);
+  assert.match(message, /npm ci/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(message, /npm install/);
+});
+
+test('refuses an unsandboxed Linux launch unless explicitly allowed', () => {
+  assert.throws(
+    () =>
+      linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({
+        electronPath: '/tmp/stepforge/node_modules/electron/dist/electron',
+        platform: 'linux',
+        statSync: () => ({ uid: 1000, mode: 0o100755 }),
+        env: {},
+        userNamespaces: () => false,
+      }),
+    /refuses to silently launch unsandboxed[\s\S]*STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX/
+  );
+});
+
+test('allows --no-sandbox only with an explicit dev/CI opt-in', () => {
+  for (const env of [
+    { STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX: '1' },
+    { ELECTRON_DISABLE_SANDBOX: '1' },
+  ]) {
+    const args = linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({
+      electronPath: '/tmp/stepforge/node_modules/electron/dist/electron',
+      platform: 'linux',
+      statSync: () => ({ uid: 1000, mode: 0o100755 }),
+      env,
+      userNamespaces: () => false,
+    });
+    assert.deepEqual(args, ['--no-sandbox']);
+  }
+  assert.equal(noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed({ STEPFORGE_ALLOW_NO_SANDBOX: '1' }), true);
+  assert.equal(noSandboxExplicitlyAllowed({}), false);
+});
+
+test('keeps the sandbox enabled when the Linux helper is root-owned and setuid', () => {
+  const args = linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({
+    electronPath: '/tmp/stepforge/node_modules/electron/dist/electron',
+    platform: 'linux',
+    statSync: () => ({ uid: 0, mode: 0o104755 }),
+    env: {},
+  });
+  assert.deepEqual(args, []);
+});
+
+test('non-Linux platforms never receive sandbox launch flags', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({ platform: 'win32', env: {} }), []);
+  assert.deepEqual(linuxSandboxLaunchArgs({ platform: 'darwin', env: {} }), []);
+});
+
+test('node toolchain check compares against package.json engines', () => {
+  const ok = checkNodeVersion({ currentVersion: '99.0.0' });
+  assert.equal(ok.ok, true);
+
+  const tooOld = checkNodeVersion({ currentVersion: '18.19.1' });
+  assert.equal(tooOld.ok, false);
+  assert.match(tooOld.required, /^\d+\.\d+\.\d+$/);
+
+  assert.throws(
+    () => assertSupportedNode({ currentVersion: '18.19.1' }),
+    /requires Node .* or newer/
+  );
 });

tests/unit/package-windows.test.js

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ test('Windows packaging uses an assisted NSIS installer', (t) => {
   assert.equal(config.nsis.createDesktopShortcut, true);
   assert.equal(config.nsis.createStartMenuShortcut, true);
   assert.equal(config.nsis.shortcutName, 'StepForge');
+  assert.equal(config.buildVersion, '0.3.2.1');
+  assert.equal(config.nsis.artifactName, '${productName} Setup ${buildVersion}.${ext}');
+  assert.equal(config.nsis.include, 'build/installer.nsh');
   assert.equal(config.asar, true);
   assert.ok(config.files.includes('app/**/*'));
   assert.ok(config.files.includes('core/**/*'));
@@ -34,7 +37,7 @@ test('Windows packaging uses an assisted NSIS installer', (t) => {
   const tmp = makeTmpDir('windows-installer');
   t.after(() => rmrf(tmp));
   fs.mkdirSync(path.join(tmp, 'nested', 'deeper'), { recursive: true });
-  const installer = path.join(tmp, 'nested', 'deeper', 'StepForge Setup 0.2.0.exe');
+  const installer = path.join(tmp, 'nested', 'deeper', 'StepForge Setup 0.3.2.1.exe');
   fs.writeFileSync(installer, Buffer.from('fake installer'));
   assert.equal(findInstallerExe(tmp), installer);
 });

tests/unit/placeholders.test.js

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ test('settings persist, deep-merge with defaults, and store global placeholders'
   assert.equal(s2.get('capture.delayMs'), 1500);
   assert.equal(s2.get('ai.ollama.model'), 'qwen3:0.6b');
   assert.equal(s2.get('capture.clickMarker'), DEFAULT_SETTINGS.capture.clickMarker);
+  assert.equal(s2.get('capture.fallbackTrigger'), DEFAULT_SETTINGS.capture.fallbackTrigger);
   assert.deepEqual(s2.getGlobalPlaceholders(), { Company: 'Acme', Author: 'Tyler' });
 });
 

tests/unit/stamp-version.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+
+const { makeTmpDir, rmrf } = require('./helpers');
+const { stampVersion } = require('../../scripts/stamp-version');
+
+test('stampVersion splits build labels into package and build versions', () => {
+  const root = makeTmpDir('stamp-version');
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(root, 'package.json'), JSON.stringify({
+      name: 'stepforge',
+      version: '0.1.0',
+      private: true,
+      buildVersion: '0.1.0',
+    }, null, 2));
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(root, 'package-lock.json'), JSON.stringify({
+      name: 'stepforge',
+      version: '0.1.0',
+      lockfileVersion: 3,
+      requires: true,
+      packages: {
+        '': {
+          name: 'stepforge',
+          version: '0.1.0',
+        },
+      },
+    }, null, 2));
+
+    stampVersion(root, '0.3.2.1');
+
+    const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'package.json'), 'utf8'));
+    const lock = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(root, 'package-lock.json'), 'utf8'));
+
+    assert.equal(pkg.version, '0.3.2');
+    assert.equal(pkg.buildVersion, '0.3.2.1');
+    assert.equal(lock.version, '0.3.2');
+    assert.equal(lock.packages[''].version, '0.3.2');
+  } finally {
+    rmrf(root);
+  }
+});