open-design-v0.4.1

🎉 **`19 PRs` · startup hotfix · same-day recovery** — Open Design 0.4.1 gets desktop users unstuck after the broken 0.4.0 packages: macOS and Windows launch again, release candidates now get real packaged-runtime smoke coverage before promotion, and the hotfix also brings manual edits, faster file switching, sharper agent recovery, and better docs / craft support. 🚀

## 🔥 Highlights

- 🧯 **0.4.0 startup blocker fixed.** The packaged app no longer crashes before the window appears: `@open-design/contracts` now ships compiled JS, exports `dist/*.mjs`, and builds before every packaged lane packs workspace tarballs. (#577) Thanks @iuliandita.
- 🛡️ **Release candidates now prove they can boot.** Beta validation installs the packaged app, starts it, inspects `/api/health`, captures logs, stops it, and uninstalls cleanly before we promote another build. (#637) Thanks @PerishCode.
- ✍️ **Manual edit mode lands.** When the agent gets close but you want the final say, you can now directly edit artifacts instead of starting another round trip. (#620) Thanks @alchemistklk.
- ⚡ **Cmd/Ctrl+P quick file switching.** Jump across project files without hunting through the sidebar — faster reviews, faster fixes, less context loss. (#556) Thanks @whatiskadudoing.
- 🧱 **Resizable chat panel.** Give the conversation or the preview more room depending on what you are doing right now. (#563) Thanks @ferasbusiness666.
- 🤖 **Agent recovery got less brittle.** ACP / MCP server shapes, workspace focus mode, and `session/set_model` error recovery are tighter, so agent sessions survive more real-world provider quirks. (#604, #612, #627) Thanks @Sid-Qin, @Embracex1998, and @goemonwanwan.
- 🌍 **Artifacts behave better across languages.** New accessibility and RTL/Bidi craft modules help dashboards and onboarding flows stay usable for Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and assistive-tech-heavy contexts. (#587, #595) Thanks @MohamedAbdallah-14.

> 📥 **Download:** final asset URLs are below. Tag: `open-design-v0.4.1`.
>
> | Platform | Architecture | Asset |
> |---|---|---|
> | macOS | Apple Silicon (arm64) | [open-design-0.4.1-mac-arm64.dmg](https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design/releases/download/open-design-v0.4.1/open-design-0.4.1-mac-arm64.dmg) |
> | macOS (auto-update feed) | Apple Silicon (arm64) | [open-design-0.4.1-mac-arm64.zip](https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design/releases/download/open-design-v0.4.1/open-design-0.4.1-mac-arm64.zip) |
> | Windows | x64 (unsigned) | [open-design-0.4.1-win-x64-setup.exe](https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design/releases/download/open-design-v0.4.1/open-design-0.4.1-win-x64-setup.exe) |

## ✨ What's New

### ✍️ Editing & navigation

- ✍️ **Manual edit mode.** Make direct artifact changes when you want precise control after generation. (#620) Thanks @alchemistklk.
- ⚡ **Quick file switcher.** Cmd/Ctrl+P gets you to the right project file without breaking flow. (#556) Thanks @whatiskadudoing.
- 🧱 **Resizable chat panel.** Tune the workspace for writing, reviewing, or previewing. (#563) Thanks @ferasbusiness666.

### 🤖 Agents & daemon

- 🧭 **Agent CLI config + workspace focus mode fixes.** Fewer dead ends when agents need the right tool and the right project context. (#604) Thanks @Sid-Qin.
- 🔧 **Kimi / Hermes ACP MCP-server normalization.** Provider-specific config now lands in the shape the runtime expects. (#612) Thanks @Embracex1998.
- 🛠️ **MCP stdio env + `session/set_model` recovery.** The daemon is more forgiving when providers return strict `-32602` errors. (#627) Thanks @goemonwanwan.
- 📡 **PI initial status includes model name and cancel aborts RPC.** Better feedback and cleaner cancellation for active runs. (#618) Thanks @monotykamary.

### 🎨 Craft, i18n & docs

- ♿ **Accessibility baseline craft module.** Dashboard, HR onboarding, and mobile onboarding artifacts get stronger accessibility defaults. (#587) Thanks @MohamedAbdallah-14.
- 🔤 **RTL and Bidi craft module.** Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian content is much less likely to break layout or reading order. (#595) Thanks @MohamedAbdallah-14.
- 🧪 **i18n structure checks.** Locale drift gets caught earlier instead of leaking into release prep. (#608) Thanks @nettee.
- 📚 **Data-dir migration docs.** `OD_DATA_DIR` and `.od/` to Desktop app migration are now documented for users moving between source and packaged runs. (#570) Thanks @StotheC90.
- 🌏 **Chinese QUICKSTART + zh-TW / Korean README sync.** More onboarding docs are complete and current across locales. (#578, #586, #619) Thanks @YUHAO-corn, @laihenyi, and @Charlesswoo.
- 🤝 **Better contributor entry links.** First-time contributors now see `help-wanted` issues alongside `good-first-issue`. (#605) Thanks @lefarcen.

## 🛡️ Stability & Reliability

- 🧯 **Packaged startup no longer dies on raw TypeScript exports.** The 0.4.0 `ERR_UNSUPPORTED_NODE_MODULES_TYPE_STRIPPING` crash is fixed at the package boundary. (#577) Thanks @iuliandita.
- 🧪 **Packaged runtime smoke coverage protects the release lane.** A build that cannot start the desktop and answer `/api/health` should fail before users see it. (#637) Thanks @PerishCode.
- 💬 **Conversation errors stay recoverable.** Loading failures preserve useful error messages instead of leaving the chat in a confusing state. (#623) Thanks @nhancdt2602.
- 🍎 **Native macOS quit is respected.** Packaged desktop shutdown now matches platform expectations. (#637) Thanks @PerishCode.

## 🐛 Bug Fixes

- 📦 **Contracts package exports point at built JS.** Internal package tarballs no longer ask packaged Node to execute `.ts` files from `node_modules`. (#577) Thanks @iuliandita.
- 🧰 **Build order now matches packaged runtime needs.** Contracts build before macOS / Windows / Linux packaging lanes assemble internal package tarballs. (#577) Thanks @iuliandita.
- 🧭 **Agent workspace focus is less surprising.** CLI config and focused workspace behavior are aligned for agent startup. (#604) Thanks @Sid-Qin.
- 🔌 **ACP server config is normalized.** Kimi / Hermes MCP server definitions now use the stdio contract shape. (#612) Thanks @Embracex1998.
- 🧠 **Model switching recovers from strict provider validation.** `session/set_model` handles `-32602` more gracefully. (#627) Thanks @goemonwanwan.

## 📚 Documentation

- 📁 **`OD_DATA_DIR` migration path is documented.** Users can move between source and Desktop app data layouts with less guesswork. (#570) Thanks @StotheC90.
- 🇨🇳 **Chinese (Simplified) QUICKSTART.** Faster first run for Simplified Chinese readers. (#578) Thanks @YUHAO-corn.
- 🇹🇼 **Traditional Chinese README catches up.** Missing English H2 sections were backported. (#586) Thanks @laihenyi.
- 🇰🇷 **Korean README refresh.** The Korean landing docs are synced and improved. (#619) Thanks @Charlesswoo.
- 🤝 **Contributor links show more starter work.** The first-PR path now surfaces `help-wanted` issues too. (#605) Thanks @lefarcen.

## 🔨 For Developers

<details>
<summary>Click to expand</summary>

- 🧪 **Beta packaged runtime gate.** `release-beta` now has a mac packaged smoke path that installs, starts, inspects, logs, stops, and uninstalls. (#637)
- 🧹 **E2E lanes are cleaner.** UI Playwright files, Vitest integration tests, resources, libs, and scripts are split into clearer lanes. (#637)
- 📊 **Generated GitHub metrics refreshed.** Contributor/activity visuals are up to date for the release window. (#592)
- 📦 **All workspace package versions are aligned to `0.4.1`.** `apps/packaged` was bumped in #637; #659 aligned the remaining root/apps/packages/tools/e2e manifests.

</details>

## ✅ System Requirements

- 🍎 **macOS** — Apple Silicon (arm64) only, macOS 11 Big Sur or newer. Intel macs are not supported.
- 🪟 **Windows** — x64, Windows 10 / 11. Installer is **unsigned** (SmartScreen will warn on first launch — choose "More info → Run anyway").
- 🐧 **Linux** — no stable desktop artifact in 0.4.1; run from source while the Linux release lane is hardened.
- 🧑‍💻 **From source** — Node.js 24.x and pnpm 10.33.2+ (per `engines` in `package.json`).

## ⚠️ Known Issues

- 🚫 **Do not install v0.4.0.** It has a confirmed startup blocker; 0.4.1 is the replacement release.
- 🪟 **Windows installer is unsigned.** SmartScreen / antivirus warnings are expected on first launch. Code signing remains follow-up work.
- 🍎 **No macOS Intel (x64) build.** Apple Silicon only.
- 🐧 **No Linux desktop package in 0.4.1 stable.** AppImage packaging exists in tooling, but the stable artifact is still deferred while release packaging is hardened.
- 🐚 **`od` CLI shadows POSIX `od`** when installed globally. Use `/usr/bin/od` or `command od` for the system tool.

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**Full Changelog:** https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design/compare/open-design-v0.4.0...open-design-v0.4.1