desktop: make backend port deterministic (fixed + pre-launch cleanup) and reorder footer menu

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -128,13 +128,11 @@ jobs:
             unset WIN_CSC_LINK WIN_CSC_KEY_PASSWORD
           fi
 
-          # Publish to the GitHub Release on tag pushes; otherwise build only.
+          # Never let electron-builder publish: our publish target is a generic
-          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "push" ]; then
+          # (read-only) feed served from R2/D1, which it can't upload to. We mirror
-            PUBLISH=always
+          # installers to R2 and register them in D1 ourselves (publish-r2 job).
-          else
+          # `--publish never` still emits the latest*.yml files we parse for sha512.
-            PUBLISH=never
+          npx electron-builder ${{ matrix.eb_flags }} --publish never
-          fi
-          npx electron-builder ${{ matrix.eb_flags }} --publish "$PUBLISH"
 
       - name: Upload artifacts
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -201,10 +199,11 @@ jobs:
         id: stage
         run: |
           mkdir -p dist
-          # Flatten installers from every per-platform artifact dir; only the
+          # Flatten installers + their .blockmap (used by electron-updater for
-          # user-facing installers go to R2 (updater .yml/.blockmap stay on the
+          # differential downloads) from every per-platform artifact dir. The
-          # GitHub Release, which electron-updater reads directly).
+          # .yml feed is generated dynamically by the /update Function from D1,
-          find artifacts -type f \( -name '*.dmg' -o -name '*.exe' \) -exec cp {} dist/ \;
+          # so the yml files themselves don't need to go to R2.
+          find artifacts -type f \( -name '*.dmg' -o -name '*.exe' -o -name '*.blockmap' \) -exec cp {} dist/ \;
           echo "Staged files:"; ls -la dist
           # When the whole matrix failed there's nothing to publish; flag it so
           # the R2/D1 steps skip instead of writing an empty/partial release.
@@ -253,6 +252,37 @@ jobs:
             *)   is_latest=1; echo "==> $VER is a stable release; marking latest." ;;
           esac
 
+          # The updater yml files (in the per-platform artifacts) carry the
+          # sha512 electron-updater validates against; read it from there so the
+          # /update feed serves the exact same hash. Build a name->sha512 map.
+          python3 - "$VER" <<'PY' > sha_map.txt
+          import os, re, sys, glob
+          # Parse electron-builder's latest*.yml file lists: pairs of
+          #   - url: <name>
+          #     sha512: <b64>
+          out = {}
+          for yml in glob.glob('artifacts/**/*.yml', recursive=True):
+              try:
+                  text = open(yml, encoding='utf-8').read()
+              except Exception:
+                  continue
+              cur = None
+              for line in text.splitlines():
+                  m = re.match(r'\s*-?\s*url:\s*(\S+)', line)
+                  if m:
+                      cur = m.group(1).strip()
+                      continue
+                  m = re.match(r'\s*sha512:\s*(\S+)', line)
+                  if m and cur:
+                      out[os.path.basename(cur)] = m.group(1).strip()
+                      cur = None
+          for name, sha in out.items():
+              print(f"{name}\t{sha}")
+          PY
+          echo "==> sha512 map:"; cat sha_map.txt || true
+
+          sha_for() { awk -F'\t' -v n="$1" '$1==n{print $2; exit}' sha_map.txt; }
+
           for f in dist/*; do
             base="$(basename "$f")"
             size="$(stat -c%s "$f")"
@@ -263,12 +293,15 @@ jobs:
               *) echo "Skipping unrecognized artifact: $base"; continue ;;
             esac
             key="v${VER}/${base}"
+            sha="$(sha_for "$base")"
+            # SQL-escape single quotes defensively (base64 has none, but be safe).
+            sha="${sha//\'/\'\'}"
             # Stable only: clear the previous latest for THIS platform first, so
             # a partial backfill never wipes other platforms' latest flag.
             if [ "$is_latest" = "1" ]; then
               echo "UPDATE releases SET is_latest = 0 WHERE platform = '${platform}';" >> "$sql_file"
             fi
-            echo "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO releases (version, platform, filename, size, is_latest) VALUES ('${VER}', '${platform}', '${key}', ${size}, ${is_latest});" >> "$sql_file"
+            echo "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO releases (version, platform, filename, size, sha512, is_latest) VALUES ('${VER}', '${platform}', '${key}', ${size}, '${sha}', ${is_latest});" >> "$sql_file"
           done
           echo "==> D1 statements:"; cat "$sql_file"
           npx --yes wrangler@latest d1 execute cow-desktop --remote --file "$sql_file"

desktop/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "cowagent-desktop",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "2.1.3",
   "description": "CowAgent Desktop Client - AI Agent on your desktop",
   "main": "dist/main/index.js",
   "author": "CowAgent",
@@ -95,9 +95,8 @@
       "createStartMenuShortcut": true
     },
     "publish": {
-      "provider": "github",
+      "provider": "generic",
-      "owner": "zhayujie",
+      "url": "https://cowagent.ai/update/"
-      "repo": "chatgpt-on-wechat"
     }
   }
 }

desktop/src/main/index.ts

@@ -125,6 +125,16 @@ function createWindow() {
     mainWindow.loadFile(rendererHtml)
   }
 
+  // Surface renderer-side console output and load failures to the main-process
+  // stdout. Without this, "stuck on initializing" hangs are invisible from the
+  // terminal because all renderer logs stay in the (closed) devtools.
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('console-message', (_e, level, message, line, sourceId) => {
+    console.log(`[renderer:${level}] ${message} (${sourceId}:${line})`)
+  })
+  mainWindow.webContents.on('did-fail-load', (_e, code, desc, url) => {
+    console.error(`[renderer] did-fail-load ${code} ${desc} ${url}`)
+  })
+
   mainWindow.once('ready-to-show', () => {
     mainWindow?.show()
   })
@@ -160,14 +170,20 @@ async function startBackend() {
   pythonBackend = new PythonBackend(backendPath)
 
   pythonBackend.on('ready', (port: number) => {
+    console.log(`[backend] ready on port ${port}`)
     mainWindow?.webContents.send('backend-status', { status: 'ready', port })
   })
 
   pythonBackend.on('error', (error: string) => {
+    // Mirror to the main-process stdout too: otherwise backend startup errors
+    // are only visible in the renderer devtools, making `npm run dev` hangs
+    // impossible to diagnose from the terminal.
+    console.error(`[backend] error: ${error}`)
     mainWindow?.webContents.send('backend-status', { status: 'error', error })
   })
 
   pythonBackend.on('log', (line: string) => {
+    console.log(`[backend] ${line}`)
     mainWindow?.webContents.send('backend-log', line)
   })
 
@@ -214,6 +230,9 @@ function setupIPC() {
   ipcMain.handle('window-close', () => mainWindow?.close())
   ipcMain.handle('window-is-maximized', () => mainWindow?.isMaximized() ?? false)
 
+  // Current app version, shown in the NavRail footer.
+  ipcMain.handle('get-app-version', () => app.getVersion())
+
   // Auto-update controls (renderer-driven: check, then opt-in download/install)
   ipcMain.handle('update-check', () => checkForUpdates())
   ipcMain.handle('update-download', () => startDownload())
@@ -279,10 +298,14 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
   }
   await startBackend()
 
-  // Wire auto-update and do a first silent check a few seconds after launch so
+  // Wire auto-update: a first silent check a few seconds after launch (so it
-  // it doesn't compete with backend startup for resources.
+  // doesn't compete with backend startup), then poll every 4 hours so a
+  // long-running window still surfaces new releases. autoDownload is off, so a
+  // found update only lights the badge + opens the panel for the user to opt in.
   initUpdater(() => mainWindow)
   setTimeout(() => checkForUpdates(), 5000)
+  const UPDATE_POLL_MS = 4 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+  setInterval(() => checkForUpdates(), UPDATE_POLL_MS)
 
   app.on('activate', () => {
     if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {

desktop/src/main/preload.ts

@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electronAPI', {
     return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('menu-action', handler)
   },
 
+  // Current app version (e.g. "0.0.5"), shown in the NavRail footer.
+  getAppVersion: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-app-version'),
+
   // Auto-update: trigger checks/download/install and subscribe to status.
   checkForUpdate: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('update-check'),
   downloadUpdate: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('update-download'),

desktop/src/main/python-manager.ts

@@ -11,16 +11,19 @@ import net from 'net'
 // the read-only app bundle. Source/dev runs keep using the repo CWD instead.
 const COW_DATA_DIR = path.join(os.homedir(), '.cow')
 
-// Preferred port for the desktop backend. Deliberately not 9899 (the web
+// Fixed port for the desktop backend. Deliberately not 9899 (the web console's
-// console's default) so a source-run `python app.py` never collides with the
+// default) so a source-run `python app.py` never collides with the packaged
-// packaged app. It's only a *preference*: if it's taken we bind a free port
+// app. This is a SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH shared with the renderer (see
-// chosen by the OS, so we never hard-depend on any single port being free.
+// useBackend.ts BACKEND_PORT): the backend is always told to bind exactly here
-const PREFERRED_PORT = 9876
+// via COW_WEB_PORT, and the renderer always talks to exactly here. We do NOT
+// fall back to an OS-random port, because the renderer could never guess it —
+// instead we proactively free this port before launch (see freePort()).
+export const DESKTOP_BACKEND_PORT = 9876
 
 export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
   private process: ChildProcess | null = null
   private backendPath: string
-  private port: number = PREFERRED_PORT
+  private port: number = DESKTOP_BACKEND_PORT
   private status: 'stopped' | 'starting' | 'ready' | 'error' = 'stopped'
 
   constructor(backendPath: string) {
@@ -95,21 +98,16 @@ export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Resolve a usable port without hard-depending on any specific one:
+   * Resolve the port to bind. The whole point is determinism: the renderer must
-   *   1. A user-pinned web_port is honored as-is (their explicit choice).
+   * be able to reach the backend WITHOUT guessing, so we use exactly one fixed
-   *   2. Otherwise try PREFERRED_PORT; if free, use it.
+   * port (DESKTOP_BACKEND_PORT) unless the user explicitly pinned a web_port.
-   *   3. If taken, let the OS hand us a guaranteed-free ephemeral port.
+   * We never auto-roll to a random port — instead start() proactively frees the
-   * This never throws on a busy port — it just moves on to a free one.
+   * fixed port. The returned value is the single source of truth handed to both
+   * the backend (COW_WEB_PORT) and the renderer (getBackendPort IPC).
    */
-  private async resolvePort(dataDir: string): Promise<number> {
+  private resolvePort(dataDir: string): number {
     const pinned = this.readConfiguredPort(dataDir)
-    if (pinned !== null) {
+    return pinned !== null ? pinned : DESKTOP_BACKEND_PORT
-      return pinned
-    }
-    if (await this.isPortFree(PREFERRED_PORT)) {
-      return PREFERRED_PORT
-    }
-    return this.findFreePort()
   }
 
   /** True if we can bind 127.0.0.1:port right now (i.e. it's free). */
@@ -125,16 +123,77 @@ export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
     })
   }
 
-  /** Ask the OS for a free ephemeral port (listen on 0, read the assigned one). */
+  /**
-  private findFreePort(): Promise<number> {
+   * Make sure our fixed port is usable before launch by killing whatever is
-    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+   * holding it (almost always a stale backend from a previous run that didn't
-      const srv = net.createServer()
+   * shut down cleanly). We only ever target a process actually listening on
-      srv.once('error', reject)
+   * 127.0.0.1:<port>, so we won't touch unrelated apps. Best-effort: if we
-      srv.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', () => {
+   * can't free it we still try to bind and let the backend surface EADDRINUSE.
-        const addr = srv.address()
+   */
-        const port = typeof addr === 'object' && addr ? addr.port : PREFERRED_PORT
+  private async freePort(port: number): Promise<void> {
-        srv.close(() => resolve(port))
+    if (await this.isPortFree(port)) {
-      })
+      return
+    }
+    this.emit('log', `Port ${port} is busy — clearing stale process before launch`)
+    const pids = await this.findListenerPids(port)
+    for (const pid of pids) {
+      // Never signal ourselves (Electron could, in theory, be the listener).
+      if (pid === process.pid) continue
+      try {
+        process.kill(pid, 'SIGTERM')
+      } catch {
+        // already gone / no permission — ignore
+      }
+    }
+    // Give the OS a beat to release the socket, then force-kill leftovers.
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 600))
+    if (!(await this.isPortFree(port))) {
+      for (const pid of await this.findListenerPids(port)) {
+        if (pid === process.pid) continue
+        try {
+          process.kill(pid, 'SIGKILL')
+        } catch {
+          // ignore
+        }
+      }
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 400))
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** PIDs listening on 127.0.0.1:<port>, via lsof (POSIX) / netstat (Windows). */
+  private findListenerPids(port: number): Promise<number[]> {
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const isWin = process.platform === 'win32'
+      const cmd = isWin ? 'netstat' : 'lsof'
+      const args = isWin
+        ? ['-ano', '-p', 'tcp']
+        : ['-nP', `-iTCP:${port}`, '-sTCP:LISTEN', '-t']
+      let out = ''
+      try {
+        const child = spawn(cmd, args)
+        child.stdout?.on('data', (d: Buffer) => (out += d.toString()))
+        child.on('error', () => resolve([]))
+        child.on('close', () => {
+          const pids = new Set<number>()
+          if (isWin) {
+            // Match lines like: TCP 127.0.0.1:9876 ... LISTENING  12345
+            for (const line of out.split('\n')) {
+              if (!/LISTENING/i.test(line)) continue
+              if (!new RegExp(`[:.]${port}\\b`).test(line)) continue
+              const pid = Number(line.trim().split(/\s+/).pop())
+              if (Number.isInteger(pid) && pid > 0) pids.add(pid)
+            }
+          } else {
+            for (const tok of out.split(/\s+/)) {
+              const pid = Number(tok)
+              if (Number.isInteger(pid) && pid > 0) pids.add(pid)
+            }
+          }
+          resolve([...pids])
+        })
+      } catch {
+        resolve([])
+      }
     })
   }
 
@@ -151,17 +210,15 @@ export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
     // Packaged app stores writable data in ~/.cow; dev keeps it in the repo.
     const dataDir = bundled ? COW_DATA_DIR : this.backendPath
 
-    // Always launch our OWN backend (re-entrancy is guarded above by the
+    // Always launch our OWN backend (re-entrancy is guarded above by the status
-    // status check, so we never double-spawn for this instance). We don't reuse
+    // check, so we never double-spawn for this instance). We don't reuse
-    // whatever happens to be on the port: that's how the app previously
+    // whatever happens to be on the port: that's how the app previously attached
-    // attached to a source-run web console and read the wrong config. Pick a
+    // to a source-run web console and read the wrong config. The port is fixed
-    // usable port instead — honoring a user-pinned web_port, else PREFERRED_PORT
+    // (or the user's pinned web_port) — never random — so the renderer always
-    // when free, else an OS-assigned free port. This never depends on a probe.
+    // knows it. We then proactively free that port (kill stale listeners)
-    try {
+    // before spawning, so a leftover process from a previous run can't block us.
-      this.port = await this.resolvePort(dataDir)
+    this.port = this.resolvePort(dataDir)
-    } catch {
+    await this.freePort(this.port)
-      this.port = PREFERRED_PORT
-    }
 
     let command: string
     let args: string[]
@@ -229,10 +286,15 @@ export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
     })
 
     this.process.on('exit', (code) => {
+      // If the backend dies before it ever became ready, surface an error now
+      // instead of letting waitForReady spin for the full timeout. A clean exit
+      // (code 0/null, e.g. our own stop()) just marks stopped.
+      const wasReady = this.status === 'ready'
       this.status = 'stopped'
       this.emit('log', `Python process exited with code ${code}`)
-      if (code !== 0 && code !== null) {
+      if (!wasReady && code !== 0 && code !== null) {
-        this.emit('error', `Python process exited with code ${code}`)
+        this.status = 'error'
+        this.emit('error', `Backend exited during startup (code ${code})`)
       }
     })
 
@@ -272,7 +334,9 @@ export class PythonBackend extends EventEmitter {
       }
 
       const retry = () => {
-        if (this.status === 'stopped' || this.status === 'ready') {
+        // Backend already settled: ready (done), or stopped/errored by the exit
+        // handler (don't keep polling a dead process — the error was emitted).
+        if (this.status === 'ready' || this.status === 'stopped' || this.status === 'error') {
           resolve()
           return
         }

desktop/src/main/updater.ts

@@ -51,9 +51,14 @@ export function initUpdater(windowGetter: () => BrowserWindow | null): void {
   )
 }
 
-// Silent check shortly after launch; safe to call when not packaged (no-op).
+// Silent check shortly after launch. When not packaged there's no update feed,
+// but a manual click should still get visible feedback instead of looking dead:
+// reply "not-available" so the menu can show "up to date".
 export function checkForUpdates(): void {
-  if (!app.isPackaged) return
+  if (!app.isPackaged) {
+    send({ state: 'not-available' })
+    return
+  }
   autoUpdater.checkForUpdates().catch((err) => {
     send({ state: 'error', message: err?.message || String(err) })
   })

desktop/src/renderer/src/hooks/useBackend.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useRef } from 'react'
 
+// Fixed default port — MUST match DESKTOP_BACKEND_PORT in main/python-manager.ts.
+// The backend is launched on exactly this port (the main process frees it first
+// and passes it via COW_WEB_PORT), so probing it works even before the
+// getBackendPort IPC resolves. Keeping both sides on one constant means the
+// renderer can never end up talking to the wrong port.
+const BACKEND_PORT = 9876
+
 interface BackendState {
   status: 'connecting' | 'ready' | 'error'
   port: number
@@ -9,7 +16,7 @@ interface BackendState {
 export function useBackend() {
   const [state, setState] = useState<BackendState>({
     status: 'connecting',
-    port: 9876,
+    port: BACKEND_PORT,
   })
   const pollingRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null)
 
@@ -31,7 +38,7 @@ export function useBackend() {
   const readyRef = useRef(false)
   // Holds the latest resolved port so the visibility handler (registered once)
   // always probes the correct port without re-running the effect.
-  const portRef = useRef(9876)
+  const portRef = useRef(BACKEND_PORT)
 
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false
@@ -74,12 +81,21 @@ export function useBackend() {
     }
 
     if (api) {
-      api.getBackendPort().then((port) => {
+      // Always start polling, even if getBackendPort rejects or the ready event
-        const p = port || 9876
+      // was already emitted before we subscribed: polling /config is the
-        portRef.current = p
+      // self-sufficient path to "ready" and must never depend on the IPC round
-        setState((prev) => ({ ...prev, port: p }))
+      // trip succeeding (otherwise the app can hang forever on "connecting").
-        startPolling(p)
+      api
-      })
+        .getBackendPort()
+        .then((port) => {
+          const p = port || BACKEND_PORT
+          portRef.current = p
+          setState((prev) => ({ ...prev, port: p }))
+          startPolling(p)
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+          startPolling(BACKEND_PORT)
+        })
 
       offStatus = api.onBackendStatus((data) => {
         if (data.status === 'ready' && data.port) {
@@ -98,7 +114,7 @@ export function useBackend() {
         }
       })
     } else {
-      startPolling(9876)
+      startPolling(BACKEND_PORT)
     }
 
     // When the window comes back to the foreground, re-probe immediately so a

desktop/src/renderer/src/hooks/useTheme.ts

@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ function getSystemTheme(): ResolvedTheme {
 function readStored(): ThemePref {
   const saved = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY)
   if (saved === 'dark' || saved === 'light' || saved === 'system') return saved
-  // Default to dark to match the app's flagship look
+  // First run: follow the OS appearance rather than forcing a fixed theme.
-  return 'dark'
+  return 'system'
 }
 
 function applyTheme(resolved: ResolvedTheme) {

desktop/src/renderer/src/i18n.ts

@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@ const translations: Record<string, Record<string, string>> = {
     update_restart: '重启以更新',
     update_later: '稍后',
     update_latest: '已是最新版本',
+    update_check: '检查更新',
+    update_checking: '正在检查…',
+    menu_more: '更多',
+    menu_theme_light: '浅色模式',
+    menu_theme_dark: '深色模式',
+    menu_language: '语言',
+    menu_website: '官网',
+    menu_docs: '文档中心',
+    menu_skill_hub: '技能广场',
     // onboarding
     onboarding_welcome_title: '欢迎使用 CowAgent',
     onboarding_welcome_desc: '你的私人超级 AI 助手。几步设置，即可开始对话。',
@@ -435,6 +444,15 @@ const translations: Record<string, Record<string, string>> = {
     update_restart: 'Restart to update',
     update_later: 'Later',
     update_latest: 'You are up to date',
+    update_check: 'Check for updates',
+    update_checking: 'Checking…',
+    menu_more: 'More',
+    menu_theme_light: 'Light mode',
+    menu_theme_dark: 'Dark mode',
+    menu_language: 'Language',
+    menu_website: 'Website',
+    menu_docs: 'Documentation',
+    menu_skill_hub: 'Skill Hub',
     // onboarding
     onboarding_welcome_title: 'Welcome to CowAgent',
     onboarding_welcome_desc: 'Your personal super AI assistant. A few quick steps and you are ready to chat.',

desktop/src/renderer/src/layout/NavRail.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React from 'react'
+import React, { useState, useRef, useEffect } from 'react'
 import { useLocation, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 import {
   MessageSquare,
@@ -13,13 +13,39 @@ import {
   Sun,
   Moon,
   ScrollText,
+  MoreHorizontal,
+  Languages,
+  Download,
+  Loader2,
+  Globe,
+  FileText,
+  Store,
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import type { LucideIcon } from 'lucide-react'
 import { t, getLang, setLang, Lang } from '../i18n'
 import { useUIStore } from '../store/uiStore'
 import { useTheme } from '../hooks/useTheme'
+import { useUpdateStore, hasPendingUpdate } from '../store/updateStore'
 import UpdateBanner from '../components/UpdateBanner'
 
+// Fallback shown when app.getVersion() is unavailable (dev/web preview). Keep
+// in sync with desktop/package.json "version"; the packaged app overrides this
+// with the real value via IPC, so it only matters outside a packaged build.
+const FALLBACK_VERSION = '2.1.3'
+
+// External links opened in the user's default browser. The window-open handler
+// in the main process routes window.open() through shell.openExternal.
+// English is the default (no suffix); Chinese gets a /zh suffix. Skill hub is
+// language-agnostic.
+const SKILL_HUB_URL = 'https://skills.cowagent.ai/'
+
+const websiteUrl = () => (getLang() === 'zh' ? 'https://cowagent.ai/zh' : 'https://cowagent.ai')
+const docsUrl = () => (getLang() === 'zh' ? 'https://docs.cowagent.ai/zh' : 'https://docs.cowagent.ai')
+
+const openExternal = (url: string) => {
+  window.open(url, '_blank', 'noopener,noreferrer')
+}
+
 interface NavItem {
   path: string
   labelKey: string
@@ -49,12 +75,75 @@ const NavRail: React.FC<NavRailProps> = ({ onLangChange }) => {
   const collapsed = navCollapsed
   const width = collapsed ? 'w-[56px]' : 'w-[208px]'
 
+  const updateState = useUpdateStore()
+  const pendingUpdate = hasPendingUpdate(updateState)
+  const checking = updateState.status?.state === 'checking'
+
+  const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(false)
+  // Local fallback so a version always shows even if the main-process IPC is
+  // unavailable (e.g. dev/web preview). The real value comes from
+  // app.getVersion() (packaged package.json), never from a remote service.
+  const [version, setVersion] = useState(FALLBACK_VERSION)
+  const menuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    window.electronAPI
+      ?.getAppVersion?.()
+      .then((v) => v && setVersion(v))
+      .catch(() => {})
+  }, [])
+
+  // Close the popover on any outside click / Escape.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!menuOpen) return
+    const onDown = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (menuRef.current && !menuRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) setMenuOpen(false)
+    }
+    const onKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') setMenuOpen(false)
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', onDown)
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', onKey)
+    return () => {
+      document.removeEventListener('mousedown', onDown)
+      document.removeEventListener('keydown', onKey)
+    }
+  }, [menuOpen])
+
   const toggleLanguage = () => {
     const next: Lang = getLang() === 'zh' ? 'en' : 'zh'
     setLang(next)
     onLangChange()
   }
 
+  // Track a user-initiated check so we can show "up to date" feedback in the
+  // menu when the result comes back as not-available (the auto poll stays
+  // silent). Cleared shortly after, and whenever the menu closes.
+  const [checkedManually, setCheckedManually] = useState(false)
+  const updateStatusState = updateState.status?.state
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!checkedManually) return
+    if (updateStatusState === 'not-available') {
+      const id = setTimeout(() => setCheckedManually(false), 4000)
+      return () => clearTimeout(id)
+    }
+    // A pending update opens its own panel; no need for the inline hint.
+    if (updateStatusState === 'available' || updateStatusState === 'downloaded') {
+      setCheckedManually(false)
+    }
+    return
+  }, [checkedManually, updateStatusState])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!menuOpen) setCheckedManually(false)
+  }, [menuOpen])
+
+  const checkUpdate = () => {
+    setCheckedManually(true)
+    window.electronAPI?.checkForUpdate?.()
+  }
+
   return (
     <aside className={`${width} flex flex-col flex-shrink-0 h-full bg-base transition-[width] duration-200`}>
       {/* Top: full-width drag strip; bottom border continues the header divider
@@ -93,26 +182,56 @@ const NavRail: React.FC<NavRailProps> = ({ onLangChange }) => {
         {!collapsed && <UpdateBanner />}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Footer actions */}
+      {/* Footer actions: a single "more" entry (with version + update dot) that
-      <div className={`flex-shrink-0 px-2 py-2 border-t border-subtle ${collapsed ? 'space-y-0.5' : 'flex items-center gap-1'}`}>
+          opens an upward popover, plus the always-visible collapse toggle. */}
-        <FooterBtn
+      <div className="flex-shrink-0 px-2 py-2 border-t border-subtle relative" ref={menuRef}>
-          collapsed={collapsed}
+        {menuOpen && (
-          onClick={() => navigate('/logs')}
+          <FooterMenu
-          title={t('menu_logs')}
+            theme={theme}
-          active={location.pathname === '/logs'}
+            checking={checking}
-        >
+            pendingUpdate={pendingUpdate}
-          <ScrollText size={17} />
+            upToDate={checkedManually && updateStatusState === 'not-available'}
-        </FooterBtn>
+            onLogs={() => {
-        <FooterBtn collapsed={collapsed} onClick={toggleTheme} title={theme === 'dark' ? 'Light' : 'Dark'}>
+              setMenuOpen(false)
-          {theme === 'dark' ? <Sun size={17} /> : <Moon size={17} />}
+              navigate('/logs')
-        </FooterBtn>
+            }}
-        <FooterBtn collapsed={collapsed} onClick={toggleLanguage} title="Language">
+            onTheme={toggleTheme}
-          <span className="text-[13px] font-medium w-[18px] text-center">{getLang() === 'zh' ? 'EN' : '中'}</span>
+            onLanguage={toggleLanguage}
-        </FooterBtn>
+            onCheckUpdate={checkUpdate}
-        <div className={collapsed ? '' : 'flex-1'} />
+            onOpenLink={(url) => {
-        <FooterBtn collapsed={collapsed} onClick={toggleNav} title={collapsed ? t('nav_expand') : t('nav_collapse')}>
+              setMenuOpen(false)
-          {collapsed ? <PanelLeftOpen size={17} /> : <PanelLeftClose size={17} />}
+              openExternal(url)
-        </FooterBtn>
+            }}
+          />
+        )}
+
+        <div className={collapsed ? 'space-y-0.5' : 'flex items-center gap-1'}>
+          {/* Single clickable entry: version label (left) + the three dots
+              (right) form one button; the whole block opens the popover. The
+              version is the packaged app version, also what auto-update
+              compares against. Collapsed: dots only, version hidden. */}
+          <button
+            onClick={() => setMenuOpen((o) => !o)}
+            title={t('menu_more')}
+            className={`relative inline-flex items-center rounded-btn cursor-pointer transition-colors ${
+              menuOpen ? 'bg-surface-2 text-content' : 'text-content-tertiary hover:text-content hover:bg-surface-2'
+            } ${collapsed ? 'w-full h-9 justify-center' : 'h-8 px-2 gap-1.5'}`}
+          >
+            {!collapsed && version && (
+              <span className="text-[12px] truncate">{`v${version}`}</span>
+            )}
+            <MoreHorizontal size={17} className="flex-shrink-0" />
+            {pendingUpdate && (
+              <span className="absolute top-1 right-1 h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-danger" />
+            )}
+          </button>
+
+          {!collapsed && <div className="flex-1" />}
+
+          <FooterBtn collapsed={collapsed} onClick={toggleNav} title={collapsed ? t('nav_expand') : t('nav_collapse')}>
+            {collapsed ? <PanelLeftOpen size={17} /> : <PanelLeftClose size={17} />}
+          </FooterBtn>
+        </div>
       </div>
       </div>
     </aside>
@@ -139,4 +258,78 @@ const FooterBtn: React.FC<{
   </button>
 )
 
+// Upward popover holding the secondary actions previously crammed into the
+// footer (theme, language, logs, update check). Keeps the footer to a single
+// entry so new items can be added here without cluttering the rail.
+const FooterMenu: React.FC<{
+  theme: string
+  checking: boolean
+  pendingUpdate: boolean
+  upToDate: boolean
+  onLogs: () => void
+  onTheme: () => void
+  onLanguage: () => void
+  onCheckUpdate: () => void
+  onOpenLink: (url: string) => void
+}> = ({ theme, checking, pendingUpdate, upToDate, onLogs, onTheme, onLanguage, onCheckUpdate, onOpenLink }) => {
+  const updateLabel = checking
+    ? t('update_checking')
+    : upToDate
+      ? t('update_latest')
+      : t('update_check')
+  return (
+  <div className="absolute bottom-full left-2 right-2 mb-2 z-50 rounded-lg border border-default bg-elevated shadow-lg py-1">
+    {/* External destinations first (skill hub, docs, website) */}
+    <MenuItem icon={<Store size={16} />} label={t('menu_skill_hub')} onClick={() => onOpenLink(SKILL_HUB_URL)} />
+    <MenuItem icon={<FileText size={16} />} label={t('menu_docs')} onClick={() => onOpenLink(docsUrl())} />
+    <MenuItem icon={<Globe size={16} />} label={t('menu_website')} onClick={() => onOpenLink(websiteUrl())} />
+
+    <div className="my-1 border-t border-subtle" />
+
+    {/* App actions below: update, theme, language, logs */}
+    <MenuItem
+      icon={checking ? <Loader2 size={16} className="animate-spin" /> : <Download size={16} />}
+      label={updateLabel}
+      onClick={onCheckUpdate}
+      dot={pendingUpdate}
+      disabled={checking || upToDate}
+    />
+    <MenuItem
+      icon={theme === 'dark' ? <Sun size={16} /> : <Moon size={16} />}
+      label={theme === 'dark' ? t('menu_theme_light') : t('menu_theme_dark')}
+      onClick={onTheme}
+    />
+    <MenuItem
+      icon={<Languages size={16} />}
+      label={t('menu_language')}
+      trailing={getLang() === 'zh' ? 'EN' : '中'}
+      onClick={onLanguage}
+    />
+    <MenuItem icon={<ScrollText size={16} />} label={t('menu_logs')} onClick={onLogs} />
+  </div>
+  )
+}
+
+const MenuItem: React.FC<{
+  icon: React.ReactNode
+  label: string
+  trailing?: string
+  dot?: boolean
+  disabled?: boolean
+  onClick: () => void
+}> = ({ icon, label, trailing, dot, disabled, onClick }) => (
+  <button
+    disabled={disabled}
+    onClick={onClick}
+    className="w-full flex items-center gap-2.5 px-3 h-9 text-[13px] text-content-secondary hover:bg-surface-2 hover:text-content cursor-pointer transition-colors disabled:cursor-default disabled:hover:bg-transparent disabled:hover:text-content-secondary"
+  >
+    <span className="flex-shrink-0 text-content-tertiary relative">
+      {icon}
+      {dot && <span className="absolute -top-0.5 -right-0.5 h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full bg-danger" />}
+    </span>
+    <span className="flex-1 text-left truncate">{label}</span>
+    {trailing && <span className="text-[11px] font-medium text-content-tertiary">{trailing}</span>}
+  </button>
+)
+
 export default NavRail

desktop/src/renderer/src/types.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export interface ElectronAPI {
   windowIsMaximized: () => Promise<boolean>
   onMaximizeChange: (callback: (maximized: boolean) => void) => () => void
   onMenuAction?: (callback: (action: string) => void) => () => void
+  // Current app version string (e.g. "0.0.5").
+  getAppVersion?: () => Promise<string>
   // Auto-update
   checkForUpdate?: () => Promise<void>
   downloadUpdate?: () => Promise<void>