v4.0.0 - Row-Bot Rebrand, Skills Hub, Voice, Providers & Installer Reliability

v4.0.0 - Row-Bot Rebrand, Skills Hub, Voice, Providers & Installer Reliability

This is the public Row-Bot rebrand release. It moves the app from Thoth to
Row-Bot across product identity, repository metadata, installers, runtime paths,
release artifacts, documentation, launcher behavior, updater contracts, and
user-data locations. Existing 3.x data is preserved through a copy-first
migration path, so users can upgrade without losing rollback access to their old
Thoth data. Beyond the rebrand, v4.0.0 ships major upgrades to Smart Skills,
Skills Hub, realtime voice, provider discovery, approval modes, thread
organization, packaging, startup reliability, and release validation.

Row-Bot Rebrand

• Product identity - app copy, bundled skills, tool guides, docs, release
  workflows, installer scripts, updater metadata, icons, and public repository
  links now use Row-Bot naming.
• Repository rename support - canonical public repository references now
  target github.com/siddsachar/row-bot.
• Website contract - public site configuration now supports row-bot.ai
  and the Row-Bot repository identity.
• Brand assets - adds Row-Bot glyphs, favicon, installer icon, docs imagery,
  runtime brand helpers, and brand-constant tests.
• Release asset names - v4 artifacts use Row-Bot-X.Y.Z-Windows-x64.exe,
  Row-Bot-X.Y.Z-macOS-{arm64|x86_64}.dmg, and
  Row-Bot-X.Y.Z-Linux-ARCH.tar.gz.
• Linux command rename - Linux installs expose row-bot as the user command
  and use the Row-Bot XDG data tree.
• macOS app rename - macOS packaging now builds Row-Bot.app instead of the
  legacy Thoth app bundle.
• Windows launcher rename - Windows launcher scripts, installer scripts, and
  shortcut entry points now use Row-Bot names.
• Documentation refresh - README, release docs, architecture docs, installer
  docs, issue templates, contributing docs, and release workflows now reflect
  the Row-Bot identity.

Migration From Thoth 3.x

• Copy-first migration - Row-Bot reads legacy Thoth data, copies it into the
  new Row-Bot locations, and leaves the old data intact for rollback or manual
  recovery.
• One-shot migration guard - migration records completion state so normal
  launches do not repeatedly repair already-migrated data.
• Legacy data coverage - provider settings, channels, skills, MCP servers,
  plugins, Buddy assets, Designer workspaces, conversations, memories, tasks,
  media, updater state, and runtime config are covered by migration logic.
• Plugin manifest repair - legacy plugin manifests are repaired during
  migration so old minimum-version metadata does not block migrated plugins.
• Post-migration notice - adds UI and tests for showing users that migration
  completed and where their legacy data remains.
• Compatibility fixtures - migration tests cover copied data, guarded
  reruns, plugin metadata repair, runtime data paths, and Row-Bot brand/runtime
  assets.
• Manual recovery path - interrupted migrations can be retried after backing
  up both old and new data directories.

Source Layout & Runtime Packaging

• Package source layout - runtime code now lives under src/row_bot, with
  compatibility cleanup for the old root-level layout.
• Version module relocation - version metadata now lives under the Row-Bot
  package and release scripts read it from the source-layout path.
• Payload manifest - adds app payload manifest generation and packaging
  compatibility checks.
• Source layout docs - adds docs/SOURCE_LAYOUT.md to document the package
  layout and compatibility expectations.
• Smoke script updates - app smoke and release helper scripts now understand
  the source-layout package.
• Import compatibility coverage - tests cover runtime imports, package
  metadata, installer payloads, and compatibility shims.

Provider Runtime & Model Discovery

• OpenCode providers - adds first-class OpenCode provider support with
  runtime, selection, auth, catalog, and regression coverage.
• MiniMax live discovery - MiniMax models are discovered from the provider
  API instead of requiring hard-coded updates for every new model.
• MiniMax capability mapping - discovered MiniMax models are mapped into the
  model catalog with provider capabilities where available.
• MiniMax stale cleanup - stale MiniMax models can be removed automatically
  when they are no longer returned by the provider API.
• Custom endpoint cleanup - stale custom endpoint model references are
  cleaned up so old provider selections do not linger incorrectly.
• Custom reasoning fixes - custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints handle
  reasoning fields more reliably.
• Custom vision fixes - custom endpoint vision references and capability
  handling are repaired.
• OpenAI-compatible transport coverage - tests expand coverage around custom
  endpoint request shaping, provider refs, model catalog behavior, and
  live-provider discovery.
• Provider settings updates - provider UI and runtime settings now better
  reflect Row-Bot naming and newer provider catalog behavior.

Chat, Attachments & Channels

• Chat attachment bridge - fixes the filesystem bridge used by chat
  attachments so local file references survive the intended handoff path.
• Custom provider channel routing - channel workflows now route
  custom-provider turns through the correct provider/runtime path.
• Channel command support - channel command handling moves into the Row-Bot
  package layout and gains focused coverage.
• Workflow delivery defaults - workflow/channel routing preserves approval
  and provider context across resumed turns.
• Runtime status updates - Row-Bot status tools and channel/runtime
  diagnostics now report Row-Bot naming and effective runtime state more
  consistently.

Smart Skills & Skills Hub

• Smart Skills activation - adds skill activation logic for suggesting,
  enabling, disabling, and applying manual skills in chat context.
• Slash command support - adds slash-command infrastructure and tests for
  skill-aware chat commands.
• Command palette skills - command palette integration can surface skills and
  skill actions more directly.
• Composer skill parity - Designer and Developer chat composers gain access
  to shared skill and slash-command behavior.
• Skills Hub marketplace - adds a Skills Hub for browsing, detecting,
  importing, searching, and installing skills from supported sources.
• Marketplace sources - adds source adapters for GitHub, pasted Markdown, URL
  inputs, well-known skill indexes, and marketplace-style catalogs.
• Import detection - pasted or linked skill content can be detected and
  normalized before installation.
• Search index - Skills Hub includes local search/index helpers for browsing
  available skills.
• Bundled skill updates - bundled skills and tool guides are updated for
  Row-Bot naming and newer runtime behavior.
• Skills tests - adds broad tests for skills activation, Skills Hub sources,
  import detection, search, UI contracts, and slash commands.

Realtime Voice

• Realtime voice overhaul - adds a new realtime voice runtime with provider
  interfaces, coordinator, client contracts, presenter state, and lifecycle
  helpers.
• OpenAI realtime support - adds OpenAI realtime provider/client pieces and
  tests.
• Voice actions - adds structured voice action handling so realtime voice can
  interact with Row-Bot behavior more safely.
• Agent bridge - realtime voice can bridge into agent/runtime behavior
  through a dedicated layer.
• Cue policy - adds conversational cue policy, speech policy, output
  coordination, and realtime event handling.
• Local voice provider support - adds local provider scaffolding for voice
  runtime selection.
• Browser dispatch coverage - tests cover realtime browser dispatch and
  voice event surfaces.
• Voice UI lifecycle - adds UI helpers for voice lifecycle and realtime event
  presentation.

Approval Modes, Threads & Developer UX

• Unified approval modes - approval behavior is consolidated so chat,
  Developer, tools, and workflows can use clearer shared approval semantics.
• Approval gate tooling - adds approval-gate helpers for tool execution.
• Thread rename - conversations can be renamed and thread rename behavior is
  covered by tests.
• Thread actions - adds shared thread-action helpers and tests.
• Developer grouping - Developer/code threads are grouped and restored more
  cleanly from the sidebar.
• Developer workspace state - Developer UI, storage, thread context, and
  workspace contracts are updated for the new package layout and grouping
  behavior.
• Sidebar refinements - sidebar filtering and Developer grouping behavior are
  covered by focused tests.
• Buddy avatar behavior - default assistant avatar handling now respects
  selected Buddy identity more consistently.

Windows Launch, Update & Startup Reliability

• Launcher diagnostics - launcher events now write timing and failure details
  to launcher.log.
• Splash hardening - Tk splash failures are logged, and visible Windows
  console splash fallback is opt-in instead of appearing unexpectedly.
• Window picker hardening - first-run picker behavior is hardened to avoid
  blank-console launch paths.
• Packaged Windows Tk validation - installer build logic now validates
  bundled Tk support in embedded Python.
• Native dependency bundling - Windows Tk smoke checks account for required
  native DLLs, explicit DLL directories, and bundled zlib.
• Ollama startup gating - batch-level Ollama auto-start is gated behind an
  explicit environment variable.
• Update handoff helper - Windows updates now use a detached handoff helper
  so Row-Bot can quit before the installer replaces files.
• Startup hardening tests - launcher, splash, update handoff, and startup
  hardening tests are expanded.
• Packaged launch validation - Windows installer fixes were verified through
  test-machine install and launch flows.

Installers, Builds & Release Automation

• Windows installer rename - Inno Setup scripts now build Row-Bot branded
  Windows artifacts.
• Windows embedded runtime fixes - embedded Python packaging now copies and
  validates required native pieces for Tk and startup smoke checks.
• macOS packaging fixes - macOS build scripts understand Row-Bot app naming,
  source layout, and package payload paths.
• Linux packaging fixes - Linux build scripts create required package payload
  parent directories and install into the Row-Bot command/data layout.
• Release workflow updates - GitHub Actions release workflow now reads
  version metadata from the package layout and builds Row-Bot artifacts.
• Notarization workflow updates - notarization submit/check workflows are
  updated for Row-Bot artifact names.
• Manifest updates - release manifest helpers and SHA manifest scripts are
  updated for the new artifact contract.
• Installer docs - installer README and release docs now document Row-Bot
  artifact names and install behavior.
• Public site bridge - public download links temporarily point at the
  published v3.23.1 Thoth artifacts until v4 artifacts are published.

Tests & Release Validation

• Full rebrand audit - tracked references were audited so remaining legacy
  names are limited to historical release notes, deferred public website
  handoff, and intentional migration compatibility.
• Compile validation - source, scripts, and tests were compile-checked after
  rebrand/source-layout work.
• Full pytest pass - full test suite passed for release validation, with only
  known warnings/skips and one non-fatal Windows notification thread
  exception after summary.
• App smoke pass - scripts/smoke_app.py passed against the Row-Bot package
  layout.
• Focused regression suites - provider, skills, migration, startup,
  packaging, voice, channel routing, and source-layout tests were added or
  expanded.
• Live provider validation - MiniMax live discovery was tested through
  Row-Bot's actual provider system against the real API.
• Installer validation - Windows, Linux, and macOS installer build issues
  found during prerelease testing were fixed before final release readiness.

Breaking Changes And Caveats

• Manual major-version upgrade - existing 3.x users should manually install
  Row-Bot v4 for the major rebrand jump. Pre-v4 updater clients expect the old
  Thoth artifact and manifest contract.
• New data locations - Row-Bot uses new Row-Bot data paths. Legacy Thoth data
  is copied, not moved.
• Legacy plugin metadata - plugins should declare min_row_bot_version.
  Legacy plugin manifests are repaired where possible during migration.
• Artifact names changed - release assets now use Row-Bot names. Do not
  publish duplicate legacy-named v4 artifacts.
• Provider discovery depends on APIs - live model discovery can only reflect
  what providers return through their current APIs.
• First launch may migrate data - first v4 launch over a 3.x install can take
  longer while Row-Bot copies and repairs legacy data.

Files Changed

File	Change
src/row_bot/brand.py, src/row_bot/runtime_paths.py, src/row_bot/version.py, static/, docs/row_bot_*, row-bot.ico	Row-Bot brand constants, runtime path helpers, version metadata, icons, glyphs, favicon, and docs imagery
src/row_bot/migration/row_bot_legacy_rebrand.py, src/row_bot/ui/post_migration.py, tests/test_row_bot_legacy_rebrand.py, tests/test_post_migration_notice.py, tests/test_plugin_manifest_rebrand.py	Copy-first legacy migration, migration notices, plugin manifest repair, and rebrand compatibility coverage
app.py, launcher.py, src/row_bot/app.py, src/row_bot/launcher.py, src/row_bot/__init__.py, docs/SOURCE_LAYOUT.md	Source-layout migration into the row_bot package, launcher/app package entry points, and source-layout documentation
src/row_bot/providers/opencode.py, src/row_bot/providers/catalog.py, src/row_bot/providers/custom.py, src/row_bot/providers/model_catalog.py, src/row_bot/providers/selection.py, src/row_bot/providers/transports/openai_compatible.py	OpenCode providers, MiniMax live discovery, stale model cleanup, custom endpoint reasoning/vision fixes, and catalog/provider selection updates
src/row_bot/skills_activation.py, src/row_bot/slash_commands.py, src/row_bot/skills_hub/, src/row_bot/ui/chat_composer_extras.py, src/row_bot/ui/chat_components.py	Smart Skills activation, slash commands, Skills Hub marketplace/import/search support, and shared composer skill controls
src/row_bot/voice/, src/row_bot/ui/voice_lifecycle.py, src/row_bot/ui/voice_realtime_events.py	Realtime voice runtime, providers, coordinator, agent bridge, action handling, cue/speech policy, and UI event lifecycle
src/row_bot/approval_policy.py, src/row_bot/tools/approval_gate.py, src/row_bot/threads.py, src/row_bot/ui/thread_actions.py, src/row_bot/developer/, src/row_bot/ui/sidebar.py	Unified approval modes, approval gates, thread rename/actions, Developer grouping, workspace state, and sidebar refinements
src/row_bot/channels/, src/row_bot/tools/row_bot_status_tool.py, src/row_bot/ui/status_bar.py	Channel workflow custom-provider routing, channel commands, Row-Bot status reporting, and Buddy avatar fallback behavior
src/row_bot/update_handoff.py, src/row_bot/startup_diagnostics.py, installer/launch_row_bot.bat, installer/launch_row_bot.vbs, installer/build_installer.ps1	Windows update handoff, startup diagnostics, renamed launch scripts, splash/picker hardening, embedded Tk validation, and native DLL bundling
installer/row_bot_setup.iss, installer/build_linux_app.sh, installer/build_mac_app.sh, installer/build_mac_release.sh, installer/install-linux.sh, installer/README.md	Row-Bot Windows, Linux, and macOS packaging, install command naming, source-layout payload handling, and installer documentation
.github/workflows/release.yml, .github/workflows/notarize-submit.yml, .github/workflows/notarize-check.yml, .github/workflows/update-manifest.yml, scripts/app_payload_manifest.py, scripts/append_sha_manifest.py, scripts/cut_release.py	Release workflow, notarization, update manifest, payload manifest, SHA manifest, and release helper updates
README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, docs/RELEASING.md, docs/ARCHITECTURE.md, docs/CNAME, docs/index.html	Public docs, release docs, architecture docs, Pages domain, and website updates
tests/, pytest.ini, scripts/smoke_app.py, scripts/skills_hub_live_import_matrix.py	Expanded regression coverage for rebrand, migration, providers, skills, voice, packaging, startup hardening, source layout, and app smoke validation

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