This version only updates the build infrastructure (AppBundler) that creates bundled installers. It is now possible to test the builds locally by running julia --project=meta meta/build.jl, whereas the GitHub action script is now free from configurations, making it portable.

This release introduces multi-account support for the client application, allowing users to run multiple accounts simultaneously from the same demo environment. This enhancement streamlines demonstration and testing workflows that were not previously possible.

There are no breaking changes in this release - existing configurations and data remain fully compatible, making it safe to upgrade from previous versions.

Release Highlights

Automated Deployment Pipeline
We've integrated AppBundler with GitHub Actions to enable continuous deployment. This automation generates all release artifacts automatically, reducing deployment overhead and enabling more frequent updates.

Critical Bug Fix
Resolved an application launch issue that was preventing the application from starting.

What's Changed

• ✅ Implemented automated build and deployment pipeline using AppBundler + GitHub Actions
• 🐛 Fixed critical bug preventing application startup
• 📦 All release artifacts are now auto-generated from CI/CD pipeline

This marks a significant milestone in our development workflow, paving the way for faster, more reliable releases.

It has been a long journey since the client's last release, and there has been an insane amount of backend work, leaving the UI almost unchanged. Since then, errors have been handled gracefully and shown in QML, and the application no longer crashes. In addition, thanks to Julia 1.11 and the work on AppBundler, the bundles can be precompiled, significantly reducing the application's startup time.

I am thrilled to announce that the first major milestone with data persistence for the server and client has been reached. This allows us to easily push bulletin board records to GitHub and implement member termination, a crucial feature for reissuing membership in case of lost, compromised, or corrupt client devices. This, in turn, enables the system to be used in limited contexts for low-stakes elections and referenda.

As of now, future versions will focus on polishing, fixing bugs, reducing startup time and installer size, and adding missing sections/pages to the application, like the About and Tally pages.

After a long and frustrating detour in making Julia desktop application bundling a smooth experience with AppBundler.jl, I am excited to release the PeaceFounder client for all major desktop platforms - Windows, Linux and MacOS for x64 and arm64 architectures.

The MacOS bundles are now precompiled with respect to the /Applications/PeaceFounder location and feature a polished standard dmg installer, providing a smooth experience. On Linux, the application can be installed with snap install --classic --dangerous peacefounder-0.0.2-x86.snap, which runs precompilation just after installation. On Windows, the precompilation runs during the first run, which can take a minute, depending on your system's performance. This hopefully will be resolved starting with the Julia 1.11 cache relocability fix; let's wait a little.

At the moment, I am not in a position to maintain rather expensive code-signing certificates on Windows and MacOS, and those archives are self-signed. Follow these instructions for Windows on how to add a third-party code signing certificate..

🚧 Work in Progress: This is an early preview of the PeaceFounder client. I am continuously refining and enhancing its features.

What is in This Release?

I am excited to offer an enhanced demo experience. This release primarily provides a client bundle for macOS, specifically for Apple Silicon. Support for other platforms is in the pipeline and will be available shortly. This also provides a chance to pinpoint areas for optimisation, with a focus on reducing bundle sizes and enhancing both startup times and the overall user experience.

I encourage users to provide feedback, report issues and suggest improvements as we navigate through this development phase. Your insights will be invaluable in refining the PeaceFounder client.