feat: add update channel selection for alpha/beta/stable releases

- Add generateUpdatesFilesForAllChannels to electron-builder config
- Implement update channel selection in auto-updater (stable/beta/alpha)
- Add IPC handlers for getting/setting update channel preference
- Add Update Channel card in Settings > General with dropdown selector
- Default to stable channel, users can opt-in to beta/alpha
- Bump version to 1.0.0-alpha for first alpha release

Author: kasvith

electron-builder.yml

@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ linux:
 appImage:
   artifactName: ${name}-${version}.${ext}
 npmRebuild: false
+generateUpdatesFilesForAllChannels: true
 publish:
   provider: github

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "op-notes",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "1.0.0-alpha",
   "description": "Op Notes",
   "main": "./out/main/index.js",
   "author": "Kasun Vithanage",

src/main/updater.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import { BrowserWindow, ipcMain } from 'electron'
 import electronUpdater, { type AppUpdater, type UpdateInfo } from 'electron-updater'
 import { createBackup } from './backup'
+import { getAllSettings, updateSetting } from './repository/app-settings'
+
+export type UpdateChannel = 'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha'
 
 export type UpdateStatus =
   | 'idle'
@@ -25,6 +28,34 @@ export interface UpdateStatusPayload {
 
 let autoUpdater: AppUpdater | null = null
 
+async function getUpdateChannelFromSettings(): Promise<UpdateChannel> {
+  try {
+    const settings = await getAllSettings()
+    const channelSetting = settings.find((s) => s.key === 'update_channel')
+    const channel = channelSetting?.value as UpdateChannel
+    if (channel && ['stable', 'beta', 'alpha'].includes(channel)) {
+      return channel
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error('Failed to get update channel from settings:', e)
+  }
+  return 'stable' // default to stable
+}
+
+async function applyUpdateChannel(): Promise<void> {
+  if (!autoUpdater) return
+  const channel = await getUpdateChannelFromSettings()
+  // For stable, we use 'latest' which is the default
+  // For beta/alpha, we set allowPrerelease and the channel
+  if (channel === 'stable') {
+    autoUpdater.channel = 'latest'
+    autoUpdater.allowPrerelease = false
+  } else {
+    autoUpdater.channel = channel
+    autoUpdater.allowPrerelease = true
+  }
+}
+
 function getMainWindow(): BrowserWindow | null {
   const windows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows()
   return windows.length > 0 ? windows[0] : null
@@ -88,9 +119,24 @@ export function registerUpdaterIpcHandlers(): void {
     if (!autoUpdater) {
       throw new Error('Auto updater not initialized')
     }
+    // Apply channel settings before checking
+    await applyUpdateChannel()
     return await autoUpdater.checkForUpdates()
   })
 
+  ipcMain.handle('getUpdateChannel', async () => {
+    return await getUpdateChannelFromSettings()
+  })
+
+  ipcMain.handle('setUpdateChannel', async (_event, channel: UpdateChannel) => {
+    if (!['stable', 'beta', 'alpha'].includes(channel)) {
+      throw new Error('Invalid update channel')
+    }
+    await updateSetting('update_channel', channel)
+    await applyUpdateChannel()
+    return channel
+  })
+
   ipcMain.handle('downloadUpdate', async () => {
     if (!autoUpdater) {
       throw new Error('Auto updater not initialized')

src/preload/index.d.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ type ElectronApi = ElectronAPI & {
   downloadUpdate: () => Promise<void>
   quitAndInstall: () => Promise<void>
   onUpdateStatus: (callback: (payload: UpdateStatusPayload) => void) => () => void
+  getUpdateChannel: () => Promise<'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha'>
+  setUpdateChannel: (channel: 'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha') => Promise<string>
   selectBackupFolder: () => Promise<string | null>
   selectBackupFile: () => Promise<string | null>
   saveBackupAs: (

src/preload/index.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ const quitAndInstall = () => {
   return ipcRenderer.invoke('quitAndInstall')
 }
 
+const getUpdateChannel = async (): Promise<'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha'> => {
+  return await ipcRenderer.invoke('getUpdateChannel')
+}
+
+const setUpdateChannel = async (channel: 'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha'): Promise<string> => {
+  return await ipcRenderer.invoke('setUpdateChannel', channel)
+}
+
 const onUpdateStatus = (callback: (payload: UpdateStatusPayload) => void) => {
   const handler = (_: Electron.IpcRendererEvent, payload: UpdateStatusPayload) => callback(payload)
   ipcRenderer.on('update-status', handler)
@@ -84,6 +92,8 @@ const electronApi = {
   downloadUpdate,
   quitAndInstall,
   onUpdateStatus,
+  getUpdateChannel,
+  setUpdateChannel,
   selectBackupFolder,
   selectBackupFile,
   saveBackupAs,

src/renderer/src/components/settings/GeneralSettings.tsx

@@ -10,15 +10,24 @@ import {
 import { Input } from '@renderer/components/ui/input'
 import { Button } from '@renderer/components/ui/button'
 import { Card, CardContent, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@renderer/components/ui/card'
-import { Save, RotateCcw, Building2, Phone, Building, Wand2 } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Save, RotateCcw, Building2, Phone, Building, Wand2, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
 import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form'
 import { z } from 'zod'
 import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod'
-import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { useSettings } from '@renderer/contexts/SettingsContext'
 import { queries } from '@renderer/lib/queries'
 import { useEffect } from 'react'
 import { toast } from '@renderer/components/ui/sonner'
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue
+} from '@renderer/components/ui/select'
+
+type UpdateChannel = 'stable' | 'beta' | 'alpha'
 
 const formSchema = z.object({
   hospital: z.string(),
@@ -40,6 +49,22 @@ export const GeneralSettings = () => {
     }
   })
 
+  const { data: updateChannel = 'stable' } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['updateChannel'],
+    queryFn: () => window.electronApi.getUpdateChannel()
+  })
+
+  const updateChannelMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (channel: UpdateChannel) => window.electronApi.setUpdateChannel(channel),
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['updateChannel'] })
+      toast.success('Update channel changed')
+    },
+    onError: (error: Error) => {
+      toast.error(error.message)
+    }
+  })
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (settings) {
       form.reset({
@@ -193,10 +218,78 @@ export const GeneralSettings = () => {
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
+      {/* Update Channel Card */}
+      <Card
+        className="bg-gradient-to-br from-card to-card/80 animate-fade-in-up overflow-hidden"
+        style={{ animationDelay: '75ms' }}
+      >
+        <CardHeader className="pb-4 pt-5 relative">
+          <div className="absolute top-0 right-0 w-32 h-32 bg-green-500/5 rounded-full -translate-y-1/2 translate-x-1/2 blur-2xl" />
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 relative">
+            <div className="h-10 w-10 rounded-xl bg-gradient-to-br from-green-500/20 to-green-600/20 flex items-center justify-center border border-green-500/20">
+              <RefreshCw className="h-5 w-5 text-green-500" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <CardTitle className="text-base font-semibold">Update Channel</CardTitle>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
+                Choose which updates you receive
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </CardHeader>
+
+        <CardContent className="pt-0">
+          <div className="space-y-4">
+            <div>
+              <label className="text-sm font-medium mb-2 block">Release Channel</label>
+              <Select
+                value={updateChannel}
+                onValueChange={(value: UpdateChannel) => updateChannelMutation.mutate(value)}
+                disabled={updateChannelMutation.isPending}
+              >
+                <SelectTrigger className="w-full md:w-64 h-11">
+                  <SelectValue placeholder="Select channel" />
+                </SelectTrigger>
+                <SelectContent>
+                  <SelectItem value="stable">
+                    <div className="flex flex-col items-start">
+                      <span className="font-medium">Stable</span>
+                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                        Recommended for most users
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                  </SelectItem>
+                  <SelectItem value="beta">
+                    <div className="flex flex-col items-start">
+                      <span className="font-medium">Beta</span>
+                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                        Preview upcoming features
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                  </SelectItem>
+                  <SelectItem value="alpha">
+                    <div className="flex flex-col items-start">
+                      <span className="font-medium">Alpha</span>
+                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                        Bleeding edge, may be unstable
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                  </SelectItem>
+                </SelectContent>
+              </Select>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-2">
+                Stable releases are thoroughly tested. Beta and alpha channels receive updates
+                earlier but may contain bugs.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </CardContent>
+      </Card>
+
       {/* Setup Wizard Card */}
       <Card
         className="bg-gradient-to-br from-amber-500/5 to-amber-600/5 border-amber-500/20 animate-fade-in-up"
-        style={{ animationDelay: '75ms' }}
+        style={{ animationDelay: '150ms' }}
       >
         <CardHeader className="pb-3 pt-4">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">