QuickView v3.0.5 - The Quantum Flow Update

The Quantum Flow Update
Release Date: 2026-01-16
Version: 3.0.5
Fixes: Window Position, WebP Association, Reset Hang, Reset Feedback.

Version: 3.0.4

⚡ Core Architecture: "Quantum Flow"

• Unified Scheduling & Decoding (Quantum Flow): Introduced a "Fast/Slow Dual-Channel" architecture (FastLane + HeavyLanePool) that isolates instant interactions from heavy decoding tasks.
• N+1 Hot-Spare Architecture: Implemented a "Capped N+1" threading model where standby threads are kept warm for immediate response, maximizing CPU throughput without over-subscription.
• Deep Cancellation: Granular "On-Demand" cancellation logic allowed for heavy formats (JXL/RAW/WebP), ensuring stale tasks (e.g., during rapid scrolling) are instantly terminated to save power.
• Direct D2D Passthrough: Established a "Zero-Copy" pipeline where decoded RawImageFrame buffers are uploaded directly to GPU memory, bypassing GDI/GDI+ entirely.

🎨 Visual & Rendering Refactor

• DirectComposition (Game-Grade Rendering): Completely abandoned the legacy SwapChain/GDI model in favor of a DirectComposition Visual tree.
  • Visual Ping-Pong: Implemented a double-buffered Visual architecture for tear-free, artifact-free crossfades.
  • IDCompositionScaleTransform: Hardware-accelerated high-precision zooming and panning.
• Native SVG Engine: Replaced nanosvg with Direct2D Native SVG rendering.
  • Capabilities: Supports complex SVG filters, gradients, and CSS transparency.
  • 2-Stage Lossless Scaling: Vector-based re-rasterization during deep zoom for infinite sharpness.
  • (Requirement: Windows 10 Creators Update 1703 or later).

💾 Memory & Resource Management

• Arena Dynamic Allocation: Switched to a TripleArena strategy using Polymorphic Memory Resources (PMR). Memory is pre-allocated and recycled (Bucket Strategy) to eliminate heap fragmentation.
• Smart Directional Prefetch:
  • Auto-Tuning: Automatically selects Eco, Balanced, or Performance prefetch strategies based on detected system RAM.
  • Manual Override: Full user control over cache behavior.
  • Smart Skip: Prevents "OOM" in Eco mode by intelligently skipping tasks that exceed the cache budget.

🧩 Infrastructure & Metadata

• Metadata Architecture Refactor: Decoupled "Fast Header Peeking" (for instant layout) from "Async Rich Metadata" parsing (Exif/IPTC/XMP), solving UI blocking issues.
• Debug HUD: Added a real-time "Matrix" overlay (F12) visualizing the topology of the cache, worker lane status, and frame timings.

QuickView v3.0.4 - The Quantum Flow Update

Release Date: 2026-01-16

⚡ Core Architecture: "Quantum Flow"

• Unified Scheduling & Decoding (Quantum Flow): Introduced a "Fast/Slow Dual-Channel" architecture (FastLane + HeavyLanePool) that isolates instant interactions from heavy decoding tasks.
• N+1 Hot-Spare Architecture: Implemented a "Capped N+1" threading model where standby threads are kept warm for immediate response, maximizing CPU throughput without over-subscription.
• Deep Cancellation: Granular "On-Demand" cancellation logic allowed for heavy formats (JXL/RAW/WebP), ensuring stale tasks (e.g., during rapid scrolling) are instantly terminated to save power.
• Direct D2D Passthrough: Established a "Zero-Copy" pipeline where decoded RawImageFrame buffers are uploaded directly to GPU memory, bypassing GDI/GDI+ entirely.

🎨 Visual & Rendering Refactor

• DirectComposition (Game-Grade Rendering): Completely abandoned the legacy SwapChain/GDI model in favor of a DirectComposition Visual tree.
  • Visual Ping-Pong: Implemented a double-buffered Visual architecture for tear-free, artifact-free crossfades.
  • IDCompositionScaleTransform: Hardware-accelerated high-precision zooming and panning.
• Native SVG Engine: Replaced nanosvg with Direct2D Native SVG rendering.
  • Capabilities: Supports complex SVG filters, gradients, and CSS transparency.
  • 2-Stage Lossless Scaling: Vector-based re-rasterization during deep zoom for infinite sharpness.
  • (Requirement: Windows 10 Creators Update 1703 or later).

💾 Memory & Resource Management

• Arena Dynamic Allocation: Switched to a TripleArena strategy using Polymorphic Memory Resources (PMR). Memory is pre-allocated and recycled (Bucket Strategy) to eliminate heap fragmentation.
• Smart Directional Prefetch:
  • Auto-Tuning: Automatically selects Eco, Balanced, or Performance prefetch strategies based on detected system RAM.
  • Manual Override: Full user control over cache behavior.
  • Smart Skip: Prevents "OOM" in Eco mode by intelligently skipping tasks that exceed the cache budget.

🧩 Infrastructure & Metadata

• Metadata Architecture Refactor: Decoupled "Fast Header Peeking" (for instant layout) from "Async Rich Metadata" parsing (Exif/IPTC/XMP), solving UI blocking issues.
• Debug HUD: Added a real-time "Matrix" overlay (F12) visualizing the topology of the cache, worker lane status, and frame timings.

QuickView v2.1.0 - Total Control

[v2.1.0] - Total Control

Power is nothing without control.
If v2.0.1 was about the visual experience, v2.1.0 is about ownership. We have completed the QuickView ecosystem with a comprehensive Configuration System, allowing you to tailor the engine's behavior to your exact workflow. Combined with the debut of our Native Auto-Update System, this is a milestone release.

✨ Major Features

🎛️ The Configuration Overhaul

We didn't just add a settings window; we unlocked the engine. You can now define exactly how QuickView interacts with your mouse, your screen, and your files.

• 🖱️ Input Mapping (New):

• Mouse Customization: You decide what the Middle Click, Wheel, and Side Buttons do.

• Drag Behaviors: Split "Window Drag" and "Image Pan" logic between Left and Middle buttons.

• 👁️ Viewport Personalization:

• Professional Backgrounds: Switch between Black, White, Grid Overlay (for transparency checking), or Custom colors.

• Smart Layouts: Toggle "Always on Top," "Auto-Hide Title Bar," and configure the behavior of the new EXIF Panel.

• ⚙️ Core Logic:

• Portable Mode: Choose where your config.ini lives. Toggle between the global User Directory or the Local Program Folder to make QuickView truly portable.

• Startup Habits: Customize "Single Instance" logic and loop navigation rules.

• 🖼️ Image Pipeline Control:

• Force RAW Decode: Toggle between embedded previews (speed) and full sensor data decoding (quality).

• Transparency Tuner: Granular alpha sliders for the HUD, Toolbar, and Settings window.

📡 Native Auto-Update System (Debut)

The last manual update you'll ever perform.
We have deployed a sophisticated Over-The-Air (OTA) pipeline directly into the viewer.

• Zero-Interruption: Updates are detected and downloaded silently in the background while you work.
• Install on Exit: No waiting bars. The update applies instantly when you close the app, ensuring you are always on the bleeding edge next time you launch.

🚀 Performance: Multi-Threaded JXL

90MP? Instant.
We rewrote the JPEG XL (JXL) implementation to utilize Parallel Runners.

• The Change: Shifted from single-threaded to multi-core decoding.
• The Impact: Decoding high-resolution JXL files is now 5x-10x faster, eliminating the "rendering lag" on large assets.

🛠️ Refinements

💳 System Dashboard ("About" Tab)

More than just credits. The new About tab serves as a hardware audit tool, displaying real-time AVX2 SIMD status, OS Build version, and the active render pipeline state.

🐛 Bug Fixes

• Stability: Fixed a potential race condition when switching rapidly between large images.
• Layout: Resolved an issue where the sidebar could be clipped on small windows; the window now intelligently adapts its constraints.

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QuickView v2.0.1 Release - The Dynamic Update

[v2.0.1] - The Dynamic Update
The gap between "Engine" and "Daily Driver" is closed. Following the rewrite of our core rendering engine, v2.0.1 introduces the long-awaited user interface elements, making QuickView not just the fastest, but also the most interactive viewer on your desktop.

✨ What's New in v2.0.1
🏝️ Dynamic Island Toolbar
The missing piece of the immersive UI is here.

Hover-Reactive: A sleek, floating control bar that mimics the "Dynamic Island" aesthetic. It remains invisible to maximize your viewing area and elegantly expands when your mouse approaches the bottom edge.

Geek Controls: Instant access to high-value tools without menu diving:

Format Fix: One-click repair for extension mismatches (e.g., PNGs masked as JPGs).

RAW Toggle: Switch between Instant Preview and Full Decode modes for RAW files.

Transform: Rotate and Mirror (Flip) controls.

Pin Window: Toggle layout locking.

📌 Always on Top (Pinning)
For the multitaskers.

Title Bar Integration: Added a discrete "Pin" icon next to the window controls.

Shortcut: Press Ctrl + T to instantly toggle the window's "Always on Top" state. Perfect for keeping reference images visible while working in other apps.

⌨️ Complete Shortcut System
Navigate at the speed of thought. We have implemented a full keyboard command system:

Navigation: Left/Right (Prev/Next), T (Photo Wall).

View: 1 or Z (100% View), 0 or F (Fit Window), Enter (Fullscreen).

Info: Tab (Lite OSD), I (Full Geek Panel).

Edit: R (Rotate), H/V (Flip), F2 (Rename), Del (Delete).

🚀 Core 2.0 Architecture (Recap)
🏎️ Extreme Performance Engine
Direct2D Rendering: GPU-accelerated panning and zooming at 60fps+ on 4K displays.

TurboJPEG (v3 + ASM): 5-10x faster thumbnail generation with Scale-on-load technology.

Google Wuffs (SIMD): Secure, SIMD-accelerated decoding for PNG and GIF.

Instant Preview: Zero-latency opening for 200MB+ RAW/HEIC/PSD files via embedded stream extraction.

Dual-Lane Scheduling: Background tasks never block the UI thread.

🖼️ Immersive HUD Photo Wall
"T" Key Access: Instant Heads-Up Display gallery overlay.

Virtualization: Effortlessly handles folders with 10,000+ images.

Dual-Layer Cache: Smart RAM (L1) + VRAM (L2) caching with strict memory limits.

📊 Geek Visualization Panel
Real-time RGB Histogram: Translucent waveform overlay.

Deep Encoding Insights: Instantly identify 4:4:4 vs 4:2:0 chroma subsampling.

Reverse Q-Factor: Algorithmically estimates the true JPEG quality (e.g., Q~98).

⚠️ Known Limitations
Settings UI: The visual settings panel is still under active development. (Config via .ini is coming).

Resolution Limit: Images > 16384x16384 are currently skipped.

QuickView 2.0 Preview - The Rebirth

[2.0 Preview] - The Rebirth

💥 Core Architecture Overhaul

Breaking free from legacy constraints, QuickView 2.0 is a complete rewrite using modern C++ standards, engineered to be the fastest, most robust image viewer on Windows.

• Direct2D Rendering Pipeline: Fully embracing GPU acceleration. Panning, zooming, and rendering on 4K displays now run at a silky smooth 60fps+.
• Modern C++: Built with RAII resource management and smart pointers to eliminate memory leaks, achieving the perfect balance between extreme performance and system stability.

🏎️ Extreme Performance Engine

We didn't just use APIs; we squeezed every ounce of performance out of the CPU.

• TurboJPEG (v3 + ASM): Integrated the industry-leading JPEG library with Assembly (ASM) optimization. Features Scale-on-load technology, boosting thumbnail generation speed by 5-10x.
• Google Wuffs (SIMD): Introducing the next-gen decoder, Wuffs. Utilizing SIMD instructions for secure, lightning-fast PNG and GIF decoding.
• Dual-Lane Scheduling: A revolutionary "Fast/Slow" thread pool system. Background tasks for massive files will never block the UI thread.
• Instant Preview Technology: Zero-latency opening for 200MB+ assets (RAW, HEIC, PSD) by directly extracting embedded preview streams.

🖼️ Immersive HUD Photo Wall

Evolution from a simple gallery to a visual feast.

• 'T' Key Instant Access: Press T to float the Photo Wall over your current image in a Heads-Up Display (HUD) style. No window resizing, just a seamless overlay.
• List Virtualization: Scroll through folders with 10,000+ images effortlessly. We only render what you currently see.
• Dual-Layer Smart Caching: RAM (L1) + VRAM (L2) caching architecture with a strict LRU eviction policy. Ensures instant replay while keeping VRAM usage safe.

📊 Geek Visualization Panel

Don't just view the image; understand the data.

• Real-time RGB Histogram: Analyze exposure and color distribution with a professional translucent waveform overlay.
• Deep Encoding Insights:
• Chroma Subsampling: Instantly distinguish between 4:4:4 (Lossless/Design) and 4:2:0 (Compressed/Photo).
• Reverse Q-Factor Estimation: Exclusive algorithm that reverse-engineers the actual JPEG quality (e.g., Q~98), seeing through the "Quality 100" lies.
• Precise Color Space: Full support for opRGB / sRGB profile identification and CMS management.

🛠️ Smart Features

• Magic Format Repair: Detects the file's true format via Magic Bytes. Found a PNG saved as .jpg? One-click auto-repair for extensions.
• Intuitive Interaction: Double-click for fullscreen, scroll to zoom, middle-click to exit—pure muscle memory.

⚠️ Known Limitations (Preview)

• Settings & Toolbar: Currently missing (Under active development).
• Resolution Limit: Images larger than 16384x16384 (268 MP) are currently skipped to prevent OOM.
• Memory Policy: Cache is hard-capped at 200MB / 500 items.

QuickView v1.2.1 Release

QuickView v1.2.1 Release Notes

Visual Feedback & Polish
This update focuses on improving user feedback and code quality. We've introduced a unified On-Screen Display (OSD) system that provides clear visual confirmation for "Always on Top" and other states.

🚀 New Features & Improvements

🖥️ Always on Top OSD

• Visual Confirmation: Toggling "Always on Top" (Shift + F12) now displays a clear "ON" or "OFF" message in the center of the screen.
• Modern Design: Using a sleek, semi-transparent dark background with white Segoe UI text.

⚡ Unified OSD System (Technical)

• Refactored Core: All OSD messages (Zoom, System Status) now run on a unified "OSD Manager".
• Zero Latency: Zoom percentage display is now instant (bypassing the previous 200ms optimization delay for purely visual feedback).
• Consistent Look: Zoom and System messages share the same visual style.

QuickView v1.2.0

QuickView v1.2.0 Release Notes

The Smart Update
QuickView v1.2.0 brings intelligence to your viewing experience with background updates, smart zooming, and instant gallery browsing.

🚀 New Features

🔄 Seamless Auto-Update

• Silent Background Download: Updates download while you utilize the app. No waiting bars.
• One-Click Install: When ready, a simple dialog lets you update instantly.
• Smart Cleanup: Temporary files are automatically removed.

🔍 Smart Double-Click Zoom

• One-Two Punch: Double-click to inspect details at 100% pixel-perfect zoom. Double-click again to fit to window.
• Zero Latency: Optimized for instant response.

🖼️ Instant Gallery Mode

• Toggle with 'T': Press 'T' to instantly show/hide the thumbnail bar.
• Overlay Design: Modern overlay that doesn't resize your window content unnecessarily.

✨ Improvements

• Markdown Support: Release notes in the update dialog now look cleaner with automatic Markdown formatting.
• Localization: Full support for interface translation.
• Bug Fixes: Fixed issues with ZIP download handling and version string display (ANSI/Unicode).

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QuickView_v1.1.6 Narrow Border Mode Restored

Narrow Border Mode Restored
This update restores the "Narrow Border Mode" feature, allowing a configurable border to be drawn in borderless window mode for better visibility.

🚀 New Features

• Narrow Border Mode: Restored the ability to draw a colored border around the window when in borderless mode.
  • Configuration: Add the following to your QuickView.ini under [QuickView]:

    ; Width of the border in pixels (0 = disabled)
    NarrowBorderWidth=2 
    ; Color of the border (R G B)
    NarrowBorderColor=128 128 128

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Window Resizing Fix Release

• Fix: Correctly accounts for thumbnail bar height when resizing window to fit image.
• Fix: Automatically resizes window when toggling thumbnail bar (T key) to prevent cropping.

Bug Fixes v1.1.5

Fix Window Resizing: Update AdjustWindowToImage to account for thumbnail bar height, preventing cropping in "Fit Window to Image" mode.

QuickView v1.1.0 Release

QuickView v1.1.0 Release Notes

This is a major release marking a significant evolution of QuickView.
Building upon the solid foundation of JPEGView, this version introduces original features that transform the user experience, making QuickView not just a viewer, but a modern, borderless image consumption tool.

🚀 Major New Features (Original)

1. Thumbnail Gallery Navigation

• What it is: A completely new way to browse your folder. Instead of just next/prev, see a filmstrip of your images at the bottom.
• New in v1.1.0: Added dedicated left/right navigation arrows for independent scrolling, allowing you to peek at upcoming images without changing the main view.
• Design: Modern, transparent "chevron" arrows that blend seamlessly with the UI.

2. True Borderless Experience

• What it is: We've removed the clutter. No title bars, no ugly borders. Just your image, edge-to-edge.
• Chrome-style Floating Controls: To maintain usability without borders, we've added a sleek, auto-hiding button bar (Minimize, Maximize, Close) that appears only when you need it (hover at the top).

3. Startup Optimization

• Optimization: Eliminated the "white screen flash" on startup. QuickView now respects your dark theme from the very first millisecond.

🐛 Critical Bug Fixes

• Zoom Text: Fixed a glitch where zoom percentage text would overlap with the thumbnail bar.
• Fullscreen Interaction: Resolved issues where dragging the window was possible in fullscreen mode.
• UI Stability: Fixed various button visibility and interaction bugs.

📦 Installation

1. Download QuickView_v1.1.0.zip.
2. Extract the contents to a folder of your choice.
3. Run QuickView.exe.

Note: This is a portable release. All settings are stored in QuickView.ini.