feat: Upgrade to Electron 42/Node 24, Session Token Counter, and UI/UX Enhancements

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
-      - name: Package Linux AppImage
+      - name: Package Linux AppImage and deb
         run: pnpm --filter @pi-gui/desktop run package:linux
 
       - name: Verify packaged runtime dependencies

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -143,11 +143,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Typecheck
         run: pnpm typecheck
 
-      - name: Package Linux AppImage
+      - name: Package Linux AppImage and deb
         run: |
           cd apps/desktop
           pnpm run build
-          pnpm exec electron-builder --linux AppImage \
+          pnpm exec electron-builder --linux AppImage deb \
             --publish never \
             "-c.extraMetadata.version=${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
 
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           files: |
             apps/desktop/release/*.AppImage
+            apps/desktop/release/*.deb
             apps/desktop/release/latest-linux*.yml
           prerelease: ${{ contains(github.ref_name, 'beta') || contains(github.ref_name, 'alpha') || contains(github.ref_name, 'rc') }}
           generate_release_notes: true

AGENTS.md

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ These rules apply for the full session.
 - Do not create or switch to new branches to start work unless the user explicitly asks; respect the current branch or worktree as intentional.
 - Commit in small focused checkpoints; don’t batch unrelated changes.
 - Run `simplify` before closing non-trivial implementation work.
+- Avoid broad `grep` searches; keep them focused on specific directories or patterns to maintain performance.
 
 ## Product
 - This repo is building a Codex-style desktop app for `pi`; preserve that product direction.

apps/desktop/electron-builder.yml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 appId: com.pi-gui.desktop
 productName: pi-gui
 copyright: Copyright 2026 Matthew Lam
-electronVersion: 34.5.8
+electronVersion: 42.2.0
 
 directories:
   output: release
@@ -44,8 +44,19 @@ mac:
 linux:
   category: Development
   executableName: pi-gui
+  maintainer: Matthew Lam <lochois@gmail.com>
   target:
     - target: AppImage
+    - target: deb
+
+deb:
+  depends:
+    - libgtk-3-0
+    - libgbm1
+    - libnss3
+    - libxss1
+    - libasound2
+    - libatspi2.0-0
 
 toolsets:
   appimage: "1.0.2"

apps/desktop/electron/app-store-timeline.ts

@@ -68,6 +68,40 @@ export function appendQueuedUserMessage(
   transcriptCache.set(key, transcript);
 }
 
+export function appendAssistantThinkingDelta(
+  transcriptCache: Map<string, TranscriptMessage[]>,
+  activeAssistantMessageBySession: Map<string, string>,
+  sessionRef: SessionRef,
+  text: string,
+): void {
+  const key = sessionKey(sessionRef);
+  const transcript = [...(transcriptCache.get(key) ?? [])];
+  const activeId = activeAssistantMessageBySession.get(key);
+
+  if (activeId) {
+    const index = transcript.findIndex((message) => message.id === activeId);
+    const current = index >= 0 ? transcript[index] : undefined;
+    if (current?.kind === "message") {
+      transcript[index] = {
+        ...(current as any),
+        reasoning: `${(current as any).reasoning ?? ""}${text}`,
+      };
+    } else {
+      const message = makeTranscriptMessage("assistant", "");
+      (message as any).reasoning = text;
+      transcript.push(message);
+      activeAssistantMessageBySession.set(key, message.id);
+    }
+  } else {
+    const message = makeTranscriptMessage("assistant", "");
+    (message as any).reasoning = text;
+    transcript.push(message);
+    activeAssistantMessageBySession.set(key, message.id);
+  }
+
+  transcriptCache.set(key, transcript);
+}
+
 export function appendAssistantDelta(
   transcriptCache: Map<string, TranscriptMessage[]>,
   activeAssistantMessageBySession: Map<string, string>,

apps/desktop/electron/app-store.ts

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ import {
 import {
   applyTimelineEvent,
   appendAssistantDelta,
+  appendAssistantThinkingDelta,
   clearActiveAssistantMessage,
 } from "./app-store-timeline";
 import { applySessionEventState, updateSessionRecord } from "./app-store-session-state";
@@ -243,6 +244,18 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     };
   }
 
+  async getSessionContextUsage(sessionRef: SessionRef): Promise<import("../src/desktop-state").ContextUsage | undefined> {
+    const session = await this.driver.getSession(sessionRef);
+    const usage = session.getContextUsage();
+    const stats = session.getSessionStats();
+    return {
+      ...usage,
+      input: stats.tokens.input,
+      output: stats.tokens.output,
+      cacheRead: stats.tokens.cacheRead,
+    };
+  }
+
   /* ── Workspace methods (delegated) ─────────────────────── */
 
   async addWorkspace(path: string): Promise<DesktopAppState> {
@@ -493,7 +506,6 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     await this.persistUiState();
     return this.emit();
   }
-
   async setEnableTransparency(enabled: boolean): Promise<DesktopAppState> {
     await this.initialize();
     if (this.state.enableTransparency === enabled) {
@@ -509,11 +521,23 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     return this.emit();
   }
 
-  async setModelSettingsScopeMode(modelSettingsScopeMode: ModelSettingsScopeMode): Promise<DesktopAppState> {
+  async setAllowMultiple(allowMultiple: boolean): Promise<DesktopAppState> {
     await this.initialize();
-    if (this.state.modelSettingsScopeMode === modelSettingsScopeMode) {
+    if (this.state.allowMultiple === allowMultiple) {
       return this.emit();
     }
+    this.state = {
+      ...this.state,
+      allowMultiple,
+      lastError: undefined,
+      revision: this.state.revision + 1,
+    };
+    await this.persistUiState();
+    return this.emit();
+  }
+
+  async setModelSettingsScopeMode(modelSettingsScopeMode: ModelSettingsScopeMode): Promise<DesktopAppState> {
+    await this.initialize();
     if (modelSettingsScopeMode === "app-global") {
       await this.restoreGlobalModelSettings(this.state.globalModelSettings);
     }
@@ -762,6 +786,7 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
         lastViewedAtBySession: persisted.lastViewedAtBySession ?? {},
         workspaceOrder: persisted.workspaceOrder ?? [],
         sidebarCollapsed: persisted.sidebarCollapsed ?? this.state.sidebarCollapsed,
+        allowMultiple: persisted.allowMultiple ?? this.state.allowMultiple,
         enableTransparency: persisted.enableTransparency ?? this.state.enableTransparency,
       };
       await this.migrateLegacyPersistence(persisted);
@@ -978,6 +1003,7 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
         composerAttachments: this.resolveComposerAttachments(selectedWorkspaceId, selectedSessionId),
         queuedComposerMessages: this.resolveQueuedComposerMessages(selectedWorkspaceId, selectedSessionId),
         editingQueuedMessageId: this.resolveEditingQueuedMessageId(selectedWorkspaceId, selectedSessionId),
+        selectedSessionContextUsage: (selectedWorkspaceId && selectedSessionId) ? await this.getSessionContextUsage({ workspaceId: selectedWorkspaceId, sessionId: selectedSessionId }).catch(() => undefined) : undefined,
         lastError: this.resolveSelectedSessionError(selectedWorkspaceId, selectedSessionId, options.clearLastError),
         revision: this.state.revision + 1,
       };
@@ -1037,13 +1063,13 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     if (this.sessionState.loadedTranscriptKeys.has(key)) {
       return;
     }
-
     const cachedTranscript = await this.readPersistedTranscript(key);
     const transcript = cachedTranscript
       ? await this.resolveLoadedTranscript(sessionRef, cachedTranscript)
       : await this.driver.getTranscript(sessionRef);
 
     if (!cachedTranscript || cachedTranscript.format === "legacy") {
+
       await this.writePersistedTranscript(key, transcript);
     }
 
@@ -1366,6 +1392,44 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     }
 
     switch (event.type) {
+      case "assistantThinkingStarted": {
+        const key = sessionKey(event.sessionRef);
+        this.sessionState.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession.set(key, null);
+        this.state = {
+          ...this.state,
+          reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession: {
+            ...this.state.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession,
+            [key]: null,
+          },
+        };
+        break;
+      }
+      case "assistantThinkingFinished": {
+        const key = sessionKey(event.sessionRef);
+        this.sessionState.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession.set(key, null);
+        this.state = {
+          ...this.state,
+          reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession: {
+            ...this.state.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession,
+            [key]: null,
+          },
+        };
+        break;
+      }
+      case "assistantThinkingDelta": {
+        const key = sessionKey(event.sessionRef);
+        appendAssistantThinkingDelta(this.sessionState.transcriptCache, this.sessionState.activeAssistantMessageBySession, event.sessionRef, event.text);
+        const activeId = this.sessionState.activeAssistantMessageBySession.get(key);
+        this.sessionState.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession.set(key, activeId ?? null);
+        this.state = {
+          ...this.state,
+          reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession: {
+            ...this.state.reasoningStreamingMessageIdBySession,
+            [key]: activeId ?? null,
+          },
+        };
+        break;
+      }
       case "assistantDelta":
         appendAssistantDelta(this.sessionState.transcriptCache, this.sessionState.activeAssistantMessageBySession, event.sessionRef, event.text);
         break;
@@ -1438,6 +1502,18 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
     );
     this.markSessionViewedIfActivelyViewed(event.sessionRef);
     this.state = this.syncDerivedSessionState(this.state, event.sessionRef);
+
+    // Update context usage for real-time counter
+    if (
+      (event.type === "assistantDelta" ||
+       event.type === "assistantThinkingDelta" ||
+       event.type === "toolFinished" ||
+        (event.type as string) === "sessionCompact")
+    ) {
+      const usage = await this.getSessionContextUsage(event.sessionRef);
+      this.state = { ...this.state, selectedSessionContextUsage: usage };
+    }
+
     if (shouldFollowSessionMutation && event.type !== "sessionClosed") {
       this.applyFastSessionSelection(event.sessionRef);
       if (!refreshedFollowedSession) {
@@ -1908,6 +1984,7 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
       composerDraftSyncSource: "selection",
       composerDraftSyncNonce: this.state.composerDraftSyncNonce + 1,
       composerAttachments: this.resolveComposerAttachments(sessionRef.workspaceId, sessionRef.sessionId),
+      selectedSessionContextUsage: undefined,
       lastError: undefined,
       revision: this.state.revision + 1,
     };
@@ -1936,13 +2013,19 @@ export class DesktopAppStore implements AppStoreInternals {
       return;
     }
 
-    const runtimeByWorkspace = runtimeMissing ? await this.serializeRuntimeStateForCurrentWorkspaces() : undefined;
+    const [runtimeByWorkspace, selectedSessionContextUsage] = await Promise.all([
+      runtimeMissing ? this.serializeRuntimeStateForCurrentWorkspaces() : Promise.resolve(undefined),
+      this.getSessionContextUsage(sessionRef).catch(() => undefined),
+    ]);
     if (!this.isCurrentSelectionEpoch(sessionRef, selectionEpoch)) {
       return;
     }
 
     this.clearSessionError(sessionRef);
-    this.state = this.syncSelectedSessionHydrationState(this.state, sessionRef, snapshot, runtimeByWorkspace);
+    this.state = {
+      ...this.syncSelectedSessionHydrationState(this.state, sessionRef, snapshot, runtimeByWorkspace),
+      selectedSessionContextUsage,
+    };
     if (options.markViewed ?? true) {
       this.markSessionViewed(sessionRef);
     }