Study Buddy 0.2.1 Alpha

Study Buddy v0.2.1-alpha

This tested alpha fixes source-backed workflows in the packaged desktop app.
It keeps the supported downloads, security model, and update channel introduced
in v0.2.0-alpha while making Moodle and other configured sources available to
the installed workflow runtime.

Highlights

• Packaged workflows now reach the desktop source broker instead of running
  without the sources configured in the Study Buddy interface.
• Source credentials remain inside the desktop process; the packaged workflow
  client passes only bounded workflow arguments and workspace metadata to the
  loopback broker.
• Clean Windows 11 and Fedora installations completed full onboarding, source
  add/edit/disable/delete checks, browser-backed source checks, and a real
  ChatGPT subscription thread.
• In-app updates from v0.2.0-alpha to this exact candidate were verified on
  both supported platforms, including persistence and same-version rejection.
• The release bundle includes exact checksums, immutable root/UI provenance,
  and CycloneDX SBOMs.

Security and privacy

Usage analytics and conversation sharing remain separate opt-in controls that
start disabled. Saved source credentials stay on the device, while model
requests can send the user's prompt and selected context to the configured
model provider. Review private course material before sending it.

The Windows installer is intentionally unsigned. Download it only from the
official Study Buddy website or this GitHub Release, verify its SHA-256 against
SHA256SUMS, and expect Windows to display Unknown publisher or a
SmartScreen warning. Never disable SmartScreen globally.

Supported downloads

• Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x64.exe — Windows 11 x64 NSIS installer
• Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x86_64.AppImage — Linux x64 AppImage

macOS and other CPU architectures are not included in this alpha.

Verify and install

Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

Linux:

sha256sum Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x86_64.AppImage
chmod u+x Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x86_64.AppImage
./Study-Buddy-0.2.1-alpha-x86_64.AppImage

Compare the result with the matching SHA256SUMS entry before launching.

Known limitations

• Windows publisher identity is not code-signed yet.
• macOS is not supported.
• Generic Moodle and website sources are supported; CIS/calendar behavior is
  currently tailored to FH Technikum Wien.
• PDF generation and complete PDF/Office ingestion require the separately
  documented Typst, Poppler, or LibreOffice tools.
• Authenticated model and institution-source checks require the user's own
  authorized accounts and must follow the connected provider's terms.

GitHub-generated source archives omit submodule contents. Developers should
clone with --recurse-submodules.

Study Buddy v0.2.0-alpha

Study Buddy v0.2.0-alpha

This is the first coordinated public alpha under Study Buddy's current release
process. It focuses on clean-machine reliability, source management, desktop
identity, safe local credentials, and verifiable distribution. Breaking changes
remain possible while the project approaches its future 1.0.0 stable release.

Highlights

• Fresh onboarding starts with no preselected sources and a prominent
  add-source action. Users can add, edit, disable, or remove as many sources as
  needed.
• Source passwords and private links remain write-only in the interface and are
  protected through the operating-system credential facility.
• Clean Windows and Linux installations can install the official standalone
  Codex runtime without a developer checkout, system Node.js, Git Bash, or WSL.
• Browser-backed sources use an installed compatible browser and report a clear
  diagnostic when none is available.
• The desktop updater checks the same GitHub Release assets used by the download
  website and rejects same-version offers and automatic downgrades.
• The release bundle includes exact checksums, immutable root/UI provenance, and
  CycloneDX SBOMs.

Security and privacy

Usage analytics and conversation sharing are separate opt-in controls that
start disabled. Study Buddy keeps saved source credentials on the device, but
model requests can send the user's prompt and selected context to the configured
model provider. Review private course material before sending it.

The Windows installer is intentionally unsigned. Download it only from the
official Study Buddy website or this GitHub Release, verify its SHA-256 against
SHA256SUMS, and expect Windows to display Unknown publisher or a
SmartScreen warning. Never disable SmartScreen globally.

Supported downloads

• Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x64.exe — Windows 11 x64 NSIS installer
• Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x86_64.AppImage — Linux x64 AppImage

macOS and other CPU architectures are not included in this alpha.

Verify and install

Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

Linux:

sha256sum Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x86_64.AppImage
chmod u+x Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x86_64.AppImage
./Study-Buddy-0.2.0-alpha-x86_64.AppImage

Compare the result with the matching SHA256SUMS entry before launching.

Known limitations

• Windows publisher identity is not code-signed yet.
• macOS is not supported.
• Generic Moodle and website sources are supported; CIS/calendar behavior is
  currently tailored to FH Technikum Wien.
• PDF generation and complete PDF/Office ingestion require the separately
  documented Typst, Poppler, or LibreOffice tools.
• Authenticated model and institution-source checks require the user's own
  authorized accounts and must follow the connected provider's terms.

GitHub-generated source archives omit submodule contents. Developers should
clone with --recurse-submodules.

Study Buddy v0.1.0-alpha.2

Study Buddy v0.1.0-alpha.2

This corrective alpha improves source onboarding and Windows application
identity. It remains intended for technical evaluation with synthetic data and
explicitly authorized student accounts. Breaking changes remain possible.

What changed

• Fresh installations now start with no preselected sources and one prominent
  Add your first source action.
• Users can add as many Moodle, calendar, website, resource-portal, and email
  sources as they need.
• Editing a source after checking its connection no longer fails with a stale
  revision conflict.
• Saved private calendar links and configured legacy Alpha sources can be
  replaced from the source editor. Bearer paths remain outside the source
  registry.
• Untouched, unconfigured Moodle, CIS, and calendar placeholders left by
  alpha.1 are removed automatically.
• Unsigned Windows builds now retain executable resource editing, so the
  installer, executable, and shortcuts use Study Buddy's icon and metadata
  instead of Electron's defaults.
• Production desktop and web assets now use the Study Buddy application icon.

Known limitations

• This is an alpha, not a stable or supported production release.
• FH Technikum CIS/calendar integration is institution-specific. Other student
  portals are not generically supported.
• Production analytics remain disabled by default and are outside the supported
  alpha contract.
• The desktop binary matrix is Linux x64 and Windows x64. macOS binaries remain
  deferred and are not supported by this alpha.
• The Windows installer is intentionally unsigned. Windows SmartScreen or
  managed-device policy may warn about or block it. Do not disable SmartScreen
  globally or circumvent organizational policy.
• Users remain responsible for portal terms, academic-integrity rules, and the
  redistribution rights of course material and generated artifacts.

Update or install

Existing alpha.1 installations can use Study Buddy's in-app update prompt once
this release is public. A manual installation over alpha.1 preserves local app
state.

Download files only from this GitHub release and compare the selected binary's
SHA-256 value with the attached SHA256SUMS before launching it.

On Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.2-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

An Unknown publisher or Windows SmartScreen warning is expected. After
verifying the checksum and GitHub release URL, a user who elects to continue can
use the warning dialog's per-file override. Uninstall through Settings → Apps
→ Installed apps → Study Buddy.

On Linux:

sha256sum Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.2-x86_64.AppImage
chmod u+x Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.2-x86_64.AppImage
./Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.2-x86_64.AppImage

Close Study Buddy and remove the AppImage to uninstall the executable. Local
application state is retained separately so it is not deleted accidentally.

Source installation

GitHub-generated source archives omit submodule contents. Clone recursively:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/HabsaTheDog/StudyBuddy.git
cd StudyBuddy
npm ci

Read README.md, SECURITY.md, and PRIVACY.md before connecting an account.
The release bundle also contains the exact root/interface commit manifest,
checksums, updater metadata, and a production CycloneDX SBOM.

Study Buddy v0.1.0-alpha.1

Study Buddy v0.1.0-alpha.1

This is the first controlled Study Buddy alpha candidate. It is intended for
technical evaluation with synthetic data and explicitly authorized student
accounts. Breaking changes remain possible.

Highlights

• Local-first, source-grounded Moodle and FH Technikum workflows.
• Validated PDF study guides and single-file offline learning pages.
• Fast, Balanced, and Quality execution profiles in the desktop interface.
• Isolated Quick Chat workspaces and deliverables for concurrent conversations.
• Conservative quiz and assignment boundaries; final Moodle quiz submission is
  blocked.
• Cross-platform automated verification, dependency auditing, secret scanning,
  CodeQL, license policy, checksums, and CycloneDX SBOM evidence.

Known limitations

• This is an alpha, not a stable or supported production release.
• FH Technikum CIS/calendar integration is institution-specific. Other student
  portals are not generically supported.
• Production analytics remain disabled by default and are outside the supported
  alpha contract.
• The initial desktop binary matrix is Linux x64 and Windows x64. macOS binaries
  are deferred and are not supported by this alpha.
• The Windows installer is intentionally unsigned. Windows SmartScreen or
  managed-device policy may warn about or block it; a trusted Authenticode
  signature is planned only after the project qualifies for an appropriate
  signing program.
• Only platforms explicitly listed with a manually verified artifact in the
  final GitHub release are claimed as supported.
• Users remain responsible for portal terms, academic-integrity rules, and the
  redistribution rights of course material and generated artifacts.

Install and verify

Download files only from this GitHub release. Compare the selected binary's
SHA-256 value with the attached SHA256SUMS before launching it.

On Windows PowerShell:

Get-FileHash .\Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.1-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

An Unknown publisher or Windows SmartScreen warning is expected for this
unsigned Alpha. After verifying the checksum and release URL, a user who elects
to continue can use the warning dialog's per-file override. Do not disable
SmartScreen globally. If device policy blocks the installer, do not circumvent
that policy. Uninstall through Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Study
Buddy.

On Linux:

sha256sum Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.1-x86_64.AppImage
chmod u+x Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.1-x86_64.AppImage
./Study-Buddy-0.1.0-alpha.1-x86_64.AppImage

Close Study Buddy and remove the AppImage to uninstall the executable. Local
application state is retained separately so it is not deleted accidentally.

Source installation

GitHub-generated source archives omit submodule contents. Clone recursively:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/HabsaTheDog/StudyBuddy.git
cd StudyBuddy
npm ci

Read README.md, SECURITY.md, and PRIVACY.md before connecting an account.
Verify binary downloads with the attached SHA256SUMS; the release bundle also
contains the exact root/interface commit manifest and production SBOM.