Starcat Changelog

All notable changes to Starcat are summarized here for release notes.

1.1.0

Starcat 1.1.0 turns saved repositories into a local-first, explainable RAG knowledge base, with broad performance, reliability, and macOS interface improvements.

New

• Added a full knowledge-base RAG workspace with multi-repository context, streaming answers, citations, conversation groups, pinning, history, and draft recovery.
• Added hybrid retrieval across vector and bilingual keyword search, repository metadata, Wiki, RepoContext, optional reranking, live GitHub context, and external search.
• Added knowledge-base browsing and index management with batch Star imports, README completion, chunk editing and exclusion, targeted rebuilds, and index health checks.
• Added explainable RAG controls for query plans, execution timelines, retrieval funnels, context budgets, historical replay, retrieval settings, and debug export.
• Added a local AI usage dashboard for requests, tokens, latency, and failures without storing prompts or response content.
• Added global Star-status filters and AI-summary indicators for faster repository triage.

Improvements

• Improved large-library and long-conversation performance with bounded indexing, batched vector work, incremental persistence, limited prefetching, and caching.
• Improved the RAG workspace with resizable columns, loading skeletons, richer citation panels, code and table copying, stable scrolling, and responsive typography.
• Improved AI settings and background jobs with clearer model capabilities, safer tag suggestions, actionable diagnostics, progress reporting, and cancel or skip controls.
• Improved Explore, Trending, and Weekly with shared snapshots, session caches, cancellation-safe switching, source filters, timelines, and stable loading states.
• Improved native macOS consistency across settings, pickers, segmented controls, sidebar icons, semantic colors, and compact window layouts.
• Improved browser Companion workflows with configurable local ports, recommendation pagination, Star-state synchronization, and clearer availability feedback.
• Improved Direct Pro Pass activation, device management, seat-limit feedback, subscription cancellation, and channel-specific update controls.

Fixes

• Fixed RAG scope isolation across repository or account switches, concurrent tasks, cancellations, and stale callbacks.
• Fixed retrieval and citation correctness for explicit repository scopes, private notes, bilingual keywords, Wiki content, excluded chunks, false citation markers, and no-evidence refusal.
• Fixed conversation stability for title generation, pin ordering, draft and history restoration, long-session compression, streaming timers, and scroll-to-bottom behavior.
• Fixed knowledge-base refresh and indexing issues, including unnecessary reloads, stale vectors overwriting new chunks, inaccurate source updates, and background Wiki refresh failures.
• Fixed browser-based GitHub sign-in, localized AI and RAG error feedback, and several settings, layout, and accessibility issues.

1.0.0

Initial Starcat public release.

Highlights

• Manage GitHub stars in a native macOS three-column app.
• Sign in with GitHub and sync starred repositories with progress, refresh, and rate-limit handling.
• Browse repositories by all stars, tags, languages, smart collections, status, archived state, forks, and search.
• Read repository details with metadata, README rendering, GitHub shortcuts, clone links, and unstar actions.
• Organize repositories with tags, batch tagging, private notes, and reading or usage status.
• Search locally across repository names, owners, descriptions, notes, and related metadata.
• Explore GitHub Trending, weekly sources, recommendations, and repository activity.
• Track releases, subscribe to repositories, review assets, and mark updates as read.
• Use AI features with your own provider settings, including repository summaries, tag suggestions, chat, semantic search, README translation, and sharing support.
• Review repository health signals, OpenSSF Scorecard information, Wiki context, and related insights.
• Create and export share cards and repository collections for external sharing.
• Manage app settings, storage, diagnostics, open-source credits, themes, language, and interface preferences.
• Use English and Simplified Chinese throughout the app.
• Run as a native macOS app with sandboxing, hardened runtime, window management, and App Store readiness work in place.

New

• Added Getting Started onboarding system covering sync, RAG/Agent trials, project homepage, and knowledge base setup, with back navigation and debug-mode toggle.
• Added overlay state protection to prevent onboarding lockout after unexpected exits, unified manual replay guard, and share guidance bubble positioning.
• Added Agent and RAG workbenches as independent system windows with floating pin control, collapsible sidebars, and inherited interface scale.
• Added Agent plan and tool output display, expanded event model, and completed runtime event feedback loop.
• Added landing page hero loading animation with multi-stage transitions, macOS-native download modal with refreshed pricing grid, and a download version section.
• Added similar repository recommendations, with saved results, clearer recommendation cards, starred-repo indicators, and the option to open recommended repositories in a separate Starcat window.
• Added more GitHub sign-in choices, including browser-based sign-in, token sign-in, a clearer login chooser, and a visible authorization countdown.
• Added repository code intelligence as a Pro feature, giving each repository its own analysis workspace, cached results, and a dedicated settings entry.
• Added an in-detail AI assistant entry, README AI summaries, summary caching, and smoother summary generation from both Starcat and browser-based entry points.
• Added a Browser Plugin workflow for GitHub pages, including local pairing, repository context, notes, tags, health data, Wiki context, recommendations, and Safari WebExtension support.
• Added a getting started checklist to guide first-time setup and key actions.
• Added Explore and discovery surfaces for trending, discovery, GitHub search, and ranked repository lists.
• Added README background fetching and health score prefetching so repository details can feel ready sooner.
• Added health score sorting, health color states, and OpenSSF Scorecard warmup for easier repository evaluation.
• Added menu bar and macOS menu controls for quicker access to common actions.
• Added Direct distribution support alongside the App Store channel, including a separate Direct build target, channel-aware configuration, and Direct-only Sparkle update integration.
• Added Sparkle update support for Direct builds, including an appcast feed, EdDSA key configuration, update menu integration, and documentation for key backup and multi-Mac signing workflows.
• Added Direct license infrastructure with a License API service, local license storage, and a channel-neutral entitlement layer for App Store and Direct builds.
• Added a provider-neutral direct payment abstraction so future payment gateways such as Creem can be integrated without binding the app to one vendor.
• Added service status badges, service health checks, and local operations tools for easier setup and troubleshooting.
• Added interface size controls, release timeline paging, and release subscription counts in the sidebar.

• Includes an Agent workbench with audit trail visibility, refined reply styling, recognizable toolbar entry points, and title bar controls.
• Includes a polished DMG background, clear app-drop-link placement, and readable Direct distribution file names.
• Includes a refined landing page presentation, macOS-native download flow, pricing layout, and product texture.
• Includes first-sync and weekly page loading states with shared loading indicators.
• Includes recommendation cards, recommendation caching, clear placement, starred-repository indicators, and Pro gating.
• Includes README rendering with GitHub image handling, system-style scrollbars, and clear loading states.
• Includes global search with keyboard shortcut, history, reliable focus behavior, and GitHub result pagination.
• Includes GitHub Stars list handling, sidebar counts, language icons, and empty states.
• Includes Activity and Weekly browsing with filters, fast counts, and detail loading states.
• Includes sharing cards with multiple layouts, color options, profile details, and Pro-aware availability.
• Includes Settings copy, storage actions, service configuration, and diagnostic log feedback.
• Includes dark mode support across AI, health, search, sharing, and plugin-related screens.
• Includes release readiness materials, open-source credits, distribution planning, and in-app release notes loading.
• Includes Direct release tooling with separate App Store and Direct packaging scripts, Direct run targets, Sparkle appcast generation, and release orchestration for appcast and DMG upload.
• Includes Starcat website nginx rules for Sparkle appcast freshness and Direct download paths.
• Includes shared action icon patterns across toolbars, dangerous actions, common actions, tags, sidebars, and batch operations.
• Includes internal diagnostics, telemetry safety, and developer-only controls without exposing unfinished features as product features.
• Includes stable Agent default artifact selection on load.
• Includes stable RAG and workbench input handling for first-keystroke text entry.
• Includes RAG middle column message alignment and workbench title bar icon visibility.
• Includes correct landing page macOS version labeling.
• Includes Dock and menu bar reopening behavior after the main window is closed.
• Includes correct cursor behavior when overlays sit above README content or other interactive views.
• Includes AI summary generation for repositories whose GitHub names differ only by letter case.
• Includes browser plugin handling for unavailable or Pro-only actions.
• Includes automatic visible-content refresh after notes or tags are changed from external entry points.
• Includes stable recommended repository windows and README loading behavior.
• Includes CodebaseMemory launch, storage, cache, and repository-switching support.
• Includes README image support for subdirectories and GitHub raw image paths.
• Includes global search focus timing and refined search result interactions.
• Includes storage reset completion states, unsigned-in storage scrolling, and settings layout edge cases.
• Includes language aggregation sorting for repositories with missing language data.
• Includes release-build-safe debug-only menu controls.
• Includes Direct build signing and entitlement checks so non-App Store builds run without the App Sandbox entitlement while App Store builds keep their sandbox configuration.
• Includes Direct update test packaging with temporary marketing/build version overrides and appcast generation that only uses the intended DMG files.