Development Streams

Dictate has two active platform streams.

Linux Stream #

Linux desktop stream:

• GTK/Ayatana tray.
• X11 typing through xdotool.
• Wayland typing through wtype or ydotool.
• Wayland global shortcuts through desktop portals where available.
• Linux install scripts, desktop entry, icon, and autostart integration.

Use GitHub labels such as platform:linux, area:tray, area:hotkeys, and area:packaging.

Windows 11 Stream #

Windows 11 desktop stream:

• Tray and headless push-to-talk through pynput.
• Clipboard output through pyperclip.
• Windows app-data paths for config, history, and logs.
• Windows Settings/About UI.
• Windows CI smoke tests for install, update, app registration, startup, and uninstall.
• Hosted and repo-local PowerShell install paths for developer/source installs.
• Tauri .msi/NSIS installer build path for internal validation.
• Microsoft Store distribution as the target public Windows channel.
• Future signing and Store submission automation.

Use GitHub labels such as platform:windows, area:windows-tray, area:installer, and area:packaging.

Branching #

• master: release-ready integration branch for both streams.
• linux/*: Linux-specific work.
• windows/*: Windows-specific work.
• release/YYYY.M.N: release stabilization branch when a release needs final fixes.

Keep shared STT, audio, config, history, and CLI behavior on master unless the change is explicitly platform-specific.

Windows installation is intentionally implemented as a packaging edge around the shared app. The PowerShell installer should stay thin: create the environment, install .[windows], seed config, write launchers, create shortcuts, and run diagnostics. Shared behavior should stay in src/dictate.

The public Windows release target and Store API automation wiring are tracked in msstore-automation.md. The current transcription/model deployment target is tracked in TRANSCRIPTION_PLAN.md.

GitHub Project Organization #

Recommended project views:

• Current Release: issues and PRs assigned to the next CalVer release.
• Linux Stream: filter platform:linux.
• Windows 11 Stream: filter platform:windows.
• Packaging: filter area:packaging or area:installer.

Milestone names should use the public release version, for example 2026.5.18.