Point desktop updates at the Gitea release feed

The updater now resolves the newest non-draft desktop-v* release through the
Gitea API at check time (J621_UPDATE_REPO, lowercase because the API path is
case-sensitive), picks the platform's latest*.yml asset and uses that release
as a generic electron-updater feed; J621_UPDATE_URL still overrides
everything. Verified against the live API: release picked, yml fetched,
artifact HEAD 200.

electron-builder's publish.url is now metadata only (still needed so the
build emits latest*.yml). Docs updated: CD release assets are the feed, the
website /desktop/ feed only matters for installs before 0.1.2.

.gitea/workflows/cd.yml

@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@
 #   * builds the desktop packages and attaches them (plus the update
 #     metadata) to the Gitea release tagged `desktop-v<package.json version>`.
 #
-# The live update feed (deploy/data/desktop, served by the frontend nginx at
-# /desktop/) is not touched here: it is runtime state on the deploy host and
-# is still published with `deploy/push_desktop.sh --no-build` from a machine
-# that can reach it.
+# The desktop build also attaches the update metadata (latest*.yml) to the
+# release; that is the desktop updater's feed, resolved through the Gitea API
+# at check time (see desktop/README.md). The older website feed
+# (deploy/data/desktop, served at /desktop/) is runtime state on the deploy
+# host and only needed for installs before 0.1.2; it is refreshed with
+# `deploy/push_desktop.sh` from a machine that can reach the deploy host.
 #
 # Registry login uses a repo PAT with the minimal write:package scope (the
 # Gitea registry rejects the automatic job token, go-gitea/gitea#23642);

AGENTS.md

@@ -56,9 +56,10 @@ Project constraints (do not regress):
   `desktop-v<version>`). Jobs run on the user-scoped runners: `ubuntu-latest`
   on nitro-ci, `desktop` on msi-mortar-ci. Do not add actions/cache
   (`cache: pip`/`npm`) to these workflows: Gitea's cache service hangs the job
-  on restore/save. The live desktop update feed (deploy/data/desktop) is still
-  published with `deploy/push_desktop.sh --no-build` from a machine with SSH
-  to the deploy host — CI has no key for that.
+  on restore/save. Desktop updates read the release assets (latest*.yml) from
+  the Gitea API at check time; the older website feed (deploy/data/desktop)
+  only matters for installs before 0.1.2 and is refreshed with
+  `deploy/push_desktop.sh` from a machine with SSH to the deploy host.
 - Security/permission tests live in backend/apps/core/tests and need a
   one-time grant: GRANT ALL ON `test_j621`.* TO 'j621'@'%';
 

backend/apps/library/serializers.py

@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ class TempUploadSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     iqdb_checked = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     processing = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
     similar_count = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    visual_matches = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
 
     class Meta:
         model = TempUpload
@@ -242,6 +243,57 @@ class TempUploadSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     def get_similar_count(self, obj):
         return len(obj.iqdb_data or []) + len(obj.visual_matches or [])
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _visual_item_id(entry):
+        if not isinstance(entry, dict):
+            return None
+        item_id = entry.get("item_id")
+        if item_id is None:
+            j_id = str(entry.get("j_id") or "")
+            if j_id.upper().startswith("J-"):
+                j_id = j_id[2:]
+            item_id = j_id if j_id.isdigit() else None
+        try:
+            return int(item_id)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            return None
+
+    def get_visual_matches(self, obj):
+        """Rebuild match rows with fresh signed thumbnail URLs.
+
+        Storing the signed URL meant it aged out (or came from an older
+        signing scheme) and the "Already in your library" grid showed broken
+        tiles. The stored rows only carry the item reference now.
+        """
+        entries = obj.visual_matches or []
+        if not entries:
+            return entries
+        wanted = {}
+        for entry in entries:
+            item_id = self._visual_item_id(entry)
+            if item_id is not None:
+                wanted[item_id] = None
+        items = MediaItem.objects.in_bulk(list(wanted))
+        user = self._request_user()
+        request = self.context.get("request")
+        matches = []
+        for entry in entries:
+            item_id = self._visual_item_id(entry)
+            item = items.get(item_id) if item_id is not None else None
+            if item is None:
+                continue
+            matches.append(
+                {
+                    "j_id": f"J-{item.id}",
+                    "filename": entry.get("filename") or item.md5,
+                    "similarity": entry.get("similarity"),
+                    "thumbnail_url": signed_media_url(
+                        item, user, "thumbnail", request=request
+                    ),
+                }
+            )
+        return matches
+
 
 class TempUploadListSerializer(TempUploadSerializer):
     """Compact staged-upload row for the board and the status polling.

backend/apps/library/services.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
+import uuid
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
@@ -481,15 +482,38 @@ def sanitize_iqdb_results(results):
     return cleaned
 
 
+def _thumbnail_is_fresh(target, path):
+    """True when the cached thumbnail exists and is at least as new as source."""
+    try:
+        stat = target.stat()
+        if stat.st_size <= 0:
+            return False
+        return stat.st_mtime >= os.path.getmtime(path)
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+
+
+def _thumbs_dir():
+    thumbs_dir = Path(settings.MEDIA_ROOT) / "thumbs"
+    thumbs_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    return thumbs_dir
+
+
 def generate_video_thumbnail(md5, path):
     """Extract a JPEG thumbnail from a video, cached under MEDIA_ROOT/thumbs."""
     if not shutil.which("ffmpeg"):
         return None
-    thumbs_dir = Path(settings.MEDIA_ROOT) / "thumbs"
-    thumbs_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    try:
+        thumbs_dir = _thumbs_dir()
+    except OSError:
+        logger.exception("Could not create the thumbnail folder")
+        return None
     target = thumbs_dir / f"{md5}.jpg"
-    if target.exists() and target.stat().st_mtime >= os.path.getmtime(path):
+    if _thumbnail_is_fresh(target, path):
         return target
+    # Write beside the target and move it into place, so a concurrent request
+    # can never read a half-written JPEG.
+    temp = thumbs_dir / f".{md5}.{uuid.uuid4().hex}.part.jpg"
     command = [
         "ffmpeg",
         "-y",
@@ -503,11 +527,14 @@ def generate_video_thumbnail(md5, path):
         "scale=480:-2",
         "-loglevel",
         "error",
-        str(target),
+        str(temp),
     ]
     try:
         subprocess.run(command, check=True, capture_output=True, timeout=60)
+        os.replace(temp, target)
     except (subprocess.SubprocessError, OSError):
+        logger.exception("Could not build a video thumbnail for %s", path)
+        temp.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         return None
     return target if target.exists() else None
 
@@ -517,14 +544,18 @@ def generate_image_thumbnail(md5, path):
 
     The thumbnail action used to serve full-size originals for images; a
     cached 480px JPEG keeps the library grid light without touching the
-    original file. Returns ``None`` when Pillow cannot decode the format, so
-    callers can fall back to the original.
+    original file. Returns ``None`` when the source is missing or Pillow
+    cannot decode it, so callers can fall back to the original.
     """
-    thumbs_dir = Path(settings.MEDIA_ROOT) / "thumbs"
-    thumbs_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    try:
+        thumbs_dir = _thumbs_dir()
+    except OSError:
+        logger.exception("Could not create the thumbnail folder")
+        return None
     target = thumbs_dir / f"{md5}.jpg"
-    if target.exists() and target.stat().st_mtime >= os.path.getmtime(path):
+    if _thumbnail_is_fresh(target, path):
         return target
+    temp = thumbs_dir / f".{md5}.{uuid.uuid4().hex}.part.jpg"
     try:
         with Image.open(path) as image:
             # Animated formats: the first frame is the preview.
@@ -532,9 +563,27 @@ def generate_image_thumbnail(md5, path):
             frame = ImageOps.exif_transpose(image) or image
             frame = frame.convert("RGB")
             frame.thumbnail((480, 480))
-            frame.save(target, "JPEG", quality=82, optimize=True)
+            frame.save(temp, "JPEG", quality=82, optimize=True)
+        os.replace(temp, target)
     except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - previews must never break serving
         logger.exception("Could not build an image thumbnail for %s", path)
-        target.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+        temp.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         return None
     return target if target.exists() else None
+
+
+def ensure_thumbnail(item):
+    """Generate an item's cached thumbnail if it is missing or stale.
+
+    Warming thumbnails when a file is indexed keeps image decoding out of the
+    request path, where the upload pipeline's hashing used to starve it.
+    """
+    location = item.locations.first()
+    if location is None:
+        return None
+    path = Path(location.path)
+    if not path.is_file():
+        return None
+    if path.suffix.lower() in VIDEO_EXTENSIONS:
+        return generate_video_thumbnail(item.md5, path)
+    return generate_image_thumbnail(item.md5, path)

backend/apps/library/signing_urls.py

@@ -36,17 +36,24 @@ def sign_payload(payload, salt, now=None):
 def load_payload(signature, salt, legacy_max_age=86400):
     """Verify a signed payload; ``None`` when missing, tampered with or expired.
 
-    Signatures minted before the stable scheme (``TimestampSigner``) are still
-    accepted for one release so pages open across the deploy keep working.
+    Legacy ``TimestampSigner`` values are still accepted for one release.
+    Detect them by their extra separator (``payload:timestamp:signature``):
+    a plain ``Signer`` accepts the HMAC a ``TimestampSigner`` computed over
+    ``payload:timestamp`` and then chokes on the embedded timestamp while
+    decoding the JSON payload, which used to surface as a 500.
     """
-    try:
-        data = signing.Signer(salt=salt).unsign_object(signature)
-    except signing.BadSignature:
+    if not signature:
+        return None
+    if signature.count(":") >= 2:
         try:
             return signing.TimestampSigner(salt=salt).unsign_object(
                 signature, max_age=legacy_max_age
             )
-        except signing.BadSignature:
+        except (signing.BadSignature, ValueError):
+            return None
+    try:
+        data = signing.Signer(salt=salt).unsign_object(signature)
+    except (signing.BadSignature, ValueError):
         return None
     if not isinstance(data, dict):
         return None

backend/apps/library/tests/test_media_cache.py

@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ import shutil
 import tempfile
 import time
 from pathlib import Path
+from unittest import mock
 
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
+from django.core import signing
 from django.core.files.uploadedfile import SimpleUploadedFile
 from django.test import Client, TestCase, override_settings
 
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ from rest_framework.authtoken.models import Token
 
 from apps.library import services
 from apps.library.models import MediaItem, MediaLocation, TempUpload
-from apps.library.signing_urls import sign_payload
+from apps.library.signing_urls import load_payload, sign_payload
 
 User = get_user_model()
 
@@ -118,6 +120,27 @@ class MediaCacheTests(TestCase):
         self.client.get(url, self.signed("thumbnail"))
         self.assertEqual(thumb.stat().st_mtime_ns, before)
 
+    def test_ensure_thumbnail_reuses_the_cache(self):
+        first = services.ensure_thumbnail(self.item)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(first)
+        self.assertTrue(first.exists())
+        mtime = first.stat().st_mtime_ns
+        second = services.ensure_thumbnail(self.item)
+        self.assertEqual(second, first)
+        self.assertEqual(second.stat().st_mtime_ns, mtime)
+
+    def test_thumbnail_of_a_missing_source_does_not_error(self):
+        """Regression: getmtime() on a vanished source used to raise a 500."""
+        thumbs = self._media / "thumbs"
+        thumbs.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        (thumbs / f"{self.item.md5}.jpg").write_bytes(b"stale")
+        Path(self.item.locations.first().path).unlink()
+        self.assertIsNone(services.ensure_thumbnail(self.item))
+        response = self.client.get(
+            f"/api/files/J-{self.item.id}/thumbnail/", self.signed("thumbnail")
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
+
     def test_staged_files_cache_briefly(self):
         temp = TempUpload.objects.create(
             user=self.user,
@@ -137,3 +160,29 @@ class MediaCacheTests(TestCase):
             f"max-age={services.TEMP_CACHE_SECONDS}", response["Cache-Control"]
         )
         self.assertNotIn("immutable", response["Cache-Control"])
+
+    def test_legacy_timestamp_signatures_are_accepted(self):
+        """URLs minted before the stable scheme must not 500.
+
+        A TimestampSigner HMAC also passes a plain Signer's check, so the
+        embedded timestamp used to reach the JSON decoder and blow up.
+        """
+        payload = {"item": self.item.id, "user": self.user.id, "action": "raw"}
+        legacy = signing.dumps(payload, salt=services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            load_payload(legacy, services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT)["item"], self.item.id
+        )
+        response = self.client.get(
+            f"/api/files/J-{self.item.id}/raw/", {"sig": legacy}
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+    def test_expired_and_malformed_signatures_return_none(self):
+        payload = {"item": self.item.id, "user": self.user.id, "action": "raw"}
+        with mock.patch.object(signing, "time") as clock:
+            clock.time.return_value = time.time() - 3 * 86400
+            expired = signing.dumps(payload, salt=services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT)
+        self.assertIsNone(load_payload(expired, services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT))
+        self.assertIsNone(load_payload("bogus", services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT))
+        self.assertIsNone(load_payload("a:b", services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT))
+        self.assertIsNone(load_payload("", services.MEDIA_FILE_SALT))

backend/apps/library/tests/test_uploads.py

@@ -287,6 +287,37 @@ class StagedUploadWorkflowTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(body["visual_matches"], [])
         self.assertEqual(body["status"], TempUpload.STATUS_PENDING)
 
+    def test_detail_resigns_stored_visual_match_urls(self):
+        """Stored matches carry only the item reference; URLs are re-minted.
+
+        Embedding the signed URL meant it expired (or used an older signing
+        scheme) and the modal showed alt text instead of thumbnails.
+        """
+        client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
+        self.seed_library_item(client, "seed-resign")
+        item = MediaItem.objects.get()
+        temp = self.make_temp(self.uploader, "resign")
+        TempUpload.objects.filter(pk=temp.pk).update(
+            visual_matches=[
+                {
+                    "item_id": item.id,
+                    "j_id": f"J-{item.id}",
+                    "filename": "seed-resign.png",
+                    "similarity": 96.5,
+                    "thumbnail_url": "/api/files/J-x/thumbnail/?sig=stale",
+                },
+                {"item_id": 999999, "j_id": "J-999999", "filename": "gone.png"},
+            ]
+        )
+        body = client.get(f"/api/uploads/{temp.id}/").json()
+        self.assertEqual(len(body["visual_matches"]), 1)
+        match = body["visual_matches"][0]
+        self.assertEqual(match["j_id"], f"J-{item.id}")
+        self.assertEqual(match["similarity"], 96.5)
+        self.assertNotIn("stale", match["thumbnail_url"])
+        self.assertIn("/thumbnail/", match["thumbnail_url"])
+        self.assertIn(f"v={item.md5}", match["thumbnail_url"])
+
     def test_visual_match_phase_rejects_completed_uploads(self):
         client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
         temp = self.make_temp(

backend/apps/library/uploads.py

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def match_hashes(hashes, index, limit=10, user=None, request=None):
         location = item.locations.first()
         matches.append(
             {
+                "item_id": item.id,
                 "j_id": f"J-{item.id}",
                 "filename": Path(location.rel_path).name if location else item.md5,
                 "similarity": round(similarity * 100, 1),
@@ -127,6 +128,12 @@ def complete_temp_upload(temp, download_url=None):
         services.ensure_visual_hashes(item)
         temp.file.delete(save=False)
 
+    # Warm the preview while the import is still off the request path.
+    try:
+        services.ensure_thumbnail(item)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - a preview must not fail the import
+        logger.exception("Could not warm the thumbnail for J-%s", item.id)
+
     temp.library_item = item
     temp.status = TempUpload.STATUS_COMPLETED
 

deploy/README.md

@@ -145,9 +145,12 @@ Build the desktop installers without publishing anything:
 ```
 
 Hand the files out or attach them to a Gitea release manually — the script
-prints sizes and SHA-256 sums for the release notes.
+prints sizes and SHA-256 sums for the release notes. The release assets are
+also the desktop update feed; the app resolves the newest `desktop-v*`
+release on Gitea at check time (see `desktop/README.md`).
 
-Push the desktop builds and their update metadata to the frontend's feed:
+The frontend's `/desktop/` feed is optional now — kept for manual downloads
+and for installs older than 0.1.2. To publish it:
 
 ```bash
 ./push_desktop.sh            # build Linux packages + copy the feed to jakerasp
@@ -160,19 +163,13 @@ The remote copy defaults to `jakerasp:/home/jake/servers/J621`, or
 `$J621_DESKTOP_FEED_HOST` when set. Artifacts land in `deploy/data/desktop/`,
 which the frontend nginx mounts read-only and serves at `/desktop/`. The
 remote copy uses rsync when both ends have it, tar over ssh when the server
-does not. The desktop app's "Check for updates…" menu item reads
-`latest-linux.yml` / `latest.yml` from there (see `desktop/README.md`).
-Backend-only composes have no frontend, so no feed.
+does not. Backend-only composes have no frontend, so no website feed.
 
 The manual **CD** workflow (Actions tab) builds the desktop packages on the
 runner and attaches them plus the update metadata to the Gitea release
-`desktop-v<version>`; it does not touch the live feed, because that is
-runtime state on the deploy host and CI has no SSH key for it. After a CD run,
-publish the feed from a machine that can reach the deploy checkout:
-
-```bash
-./push_desktop.sh --no-build --local   # or without --local to also copy it
-```
+`desktop-v<version>`; that is what the desktop updater reads. The website feed
+is not touched by CI (runtime state on the deploy host, no SSH key there); use
+`push_desktop.sh` when it needs refreshing for old installs.
 
 ## Scheduled jobs
 

deploy/push_desktop.sh

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Build the J621 desktop packages and publish them to the update feed.
+# Build the J621 desktop packages, optionally publish them to the website
+# feed.
 #
-# Locally the feed is deploy/data/desktop, which the frontend nginx mounts
-# read-only and serves at /desktop/. With --host the same directory is also
-# copied to a remote deploy checkout (rsync, or tar over ssh when the server
-# has no rsync). electron-updater reads latest-linux.yml / latest.yml from
-# there; the feed URL comes from desktop/electron-builder.yml.
+# Desktop updates no longer depend on this: the app resolves the newest
+# `desktop-v*` release on Gitea at check time (see desktop/README.md). This
+# script builds the packages and can copy them to deploy/data/desktop, which
+# the frontend nginx mounts read-only and serves at /desktop/ for manual
+# downloads and for pre-0.1.2 installs.
 #
 # Usage: ./push_desktop.sh [--win] [--no-build] [--local] [--host user@server:/path]
 #   --win       also cross-build the Windows NSIS installer (needs wine)

desktop/README.md

@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ npm run dist:all
 
 `deploy/build_desktop.sh` wraps the same commands, installs dependencies on
 first run and prints sizes plus SHA-256 sums for release notes. Nothing is
-published by it; `deploy/push_desktop.sh` is the one that feeds auto-updates.
+published by it; the CD workflow attaches the artifacts to the Gitea release,
+which is also the update feed.
 
 The Arch package can be installed and removed with pacman:
 
@@ -68,19 +69,29 @@ will warn, and it has not been smoke-tested on real Windows.
 
 The app checks only when asked (**J621 → Check for updates…** in the menu):
 Linux packages install through pacman/dpkg, which needs administrator rights,
-and the Windows build is unsigned, so nothing installs silently. The check
-reads `latest-linux.yml` / `latest.yml` from the feed configured in
-`electron-builder.yml` (`publish.url`, baked into `app-update.yml`); set
-`J621_UPDATE_URL` to point a build at another feed (the smoke test uses this).
+and the Windows build is unsigned, so nothing installs silently.
+
+The check resolves the feed itself: it asks the Gitea API for the newest
+non-draft `desktop-v*` release (`J621_UPDATE_REPO`, default
+`https://gitea.rainbow-herring.ts.net/jakebreath/j621` — lowercase on purpose,
+the API path is case-sensitive), picks the `latest-linux.yml` / `latest.yml`
+asset for the platform and uses that release as an electron-updater generic
+feed. The baked `publish.url` in `electron-builder.yml` is metadata only.
+`J621_UPDATE_URL` overrides the whole lookup (the smoke test uses this).
 
 Publishing a release:
 
 1. Bump `version` in `desktop/package.json` — that is what the updater compares.
-2. `./deploy/push_desktop.sh --win` builds deb/pacman/NSIS and copies the
-   artifacts plus both channel files into `deploy/data/desktop/`, which the
-   frontend nginx serves read-only at `/desktop/`.
+2. Run the manual CD workflow, which builds the packages and attaches them
+   plus both channel files to the Gitea release `desktop-v<version>`.
+   `./deploy/push_desktop.sh --win` does the same build locally (and can also
+   copy the files to the website feed, which is optional now).
 3. Existing installs find the new version on their next manual check.
 
+Note for the 0.1.1 → 0.1.2 step: 0.1.1 only knows the old `/desktop/` feed, so
+publish 0.1.2 there once (`./deploy/push_desktop.sh --no-build`, or install it
+manually). From 0.1.2 on, updates come from Gitea.
+
 `package-type` in the app resources tells electron-updater whether to run
 `pacman -U` or `dpkg -i` (both via pkexec/sudo); the per-user NSIS install
 updates without elevation.

desktop/electron-builder.yml

@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ appId: io.j621.desktop
 productName: J621
 copyright: Copyright (c) 2026 JakeBreath — Jake Labs Non-Commercial Software Licence
 
-# Update feed served by the frontend nginx (deploy/data/desktop, published
-# with deploy/push_desktop.sh). Baked into resources/app-update.yml; override
-# at runtime with J621_UPDATE_URL for a fork or a test feed.
+# Update feed: desktop/src/main.ts resolves the newest desktop-v* release on
+# Gitea at check time (J621_UPDATE_REPO). This block only tells electron-builder
+# to emit latest.yml/latest-linux.yml next to the installers; J621_UPDATE_URL
+# overrides the feed for a fork or a test.
 publish:
   provider: generic
-  url: https://j621.rainbow-herring.ts.net/desktop
+  url: https://gitea.rainbow-herring.ts.net/JakeBreath/J621/releases
 
 directories:
   output: release

desktop/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "j621-desktop",
-  "version": "0.1.1",
+  "version": "0.1.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "j621-desktop",
-      "version": "0.1.1",
+      "version": "0.1.2",
       "license": "LicenseRef-Jake-Labs-Non-Commercial",
       "dependencies": {
         "electron-updater": "^6.8.9"

desktop/package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "j621-desktop",
   "productName": "J621",
-  "version": "0.1.1",
+  "version": "0.1.2",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Desktop shell for the J621 self-hosted media archive",
   "author": {

desktop/src/main.ts

@@ -238,8 +238,9 @@ function isDownloadNavigation(url: URL): boolean {
 /**
  * Updates are manual by design: Linux packages install through pacman/dpkg
  * (pkexec/sudo) and the Windows build is unsigned, so the app asks before
- * downloading and again before installing. The feed comes from `publish` in
- * electron-builder.yml and can be overridden with J621_UPDATE_URL.
+ * downloading and again before installing. The feed is resolved at check time
+ * from the newest `desktop-v*` release on Gitea (`J621_UPDATE_REPO`);
+ * `J621_UPDATE_URL` overrides it for forks and the smoke test.
  */
 type UpdateEvent =
   | { state: "available"; version: string }
@@ -250,9 +251,84 @@ type UpdateEvent =
 let updateReporter: ((event: UpdateEvent) => void) | null = null;
 let updateCheckRunning = false;
 
-function setUpUpdates(win: BrowserWindow): void {
+const UPDATE_REPO =
+  process.env.J621_UPDATE_REPO?.trim() ||
+  "https://gitea.rainbow-herring.ts.net/jakebreath/j621";
+
+interface ReleaseAsset {
+  name: string;
+  browser_download_url: string;
+}
+
+interface Release {
+  tag_name: string;
+  draft: boolean;
+  prerelease: boolean;
+  assets?: ReleaseAsset[];
+}
+
+function releaseVersion(tag: string): [number, number, number] | null {
+  const match = /^desktop-v(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)$/.exec(tag);
+  if (!match) return null;
+  return [Number(match[1]), Number(match[2]), Number(match[3])];
+}
+
+function compareVersions(
+  a: [number, number, number],
+  b: [number, number, number],
+): number {
+  for (let index = 0; index < 3; index += 1) {
+    if (a[index] !== b[index]) return a[index] - b[index];
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolve the generic feed base electron-updater should use.
+ *
+ * Gitea's API path is case-sensitive (owner/repo must match the login), while
+ * the asset URLs it returns are canonical, so the base is derived from the
+ * platform's metadata asset (`latest-linux.yml` / `latest.yml`).
+ */
+async function resolveReleaseFeed(): Promise<string> {
   const override = process.env.J621_UPDATE_URL?.trim();
-  if (override) autoUpdater.setFeedURL({ provider: "generic", url: override });
+  if (override) return override;
+  const match = /^(https?:\/\/[^/]+)\/([^/]+)\/([^/]+?)\/?$/.exec(UPDATE_REPO);
+  if (!match) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `J621_UPDATE_REPO must be <origin>/<owner>/<repo> (got ${UPDATE_REPO}).`,
+    );
+  }
+  const [, origin, owner, repo] = match;
+  const response = await fetch(
+    `${origin}/api/v1/repos/${owner}/${repo}/releases?limit=50`,
+    { headers: { Accept: "application/json" } },
+  );
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`Release lookup on Gitea failed (HTTP ${response.status}).`);
+  }
+  const releases = (await response.json()) as Release[];
+  const assetName =
+    process.platform === "win32" ? "latest.yml" : "latest-linux.yml";
+  let best: { version: [number, number, number]; asset: ReleaseAsset } | null =
+    null;
+  for (const release of releases) {
+    if (release.draft || release.prerelease) continue;
+    const version = releaseVersion(release.tag_name);
+    if (!version) continue;
+    const asset = release.assets?.find((entry) => entry.name === assetName);
+    if (!asset) continue;
+    if (!best || compareVersions(version, best.version) > 0) {
+      best = { version, asset };
+    }
+  }
+  if (!best) {
+    throw new Error(`No ${assetName} asset found in ${UPDATE_REPO} releases.`);
+  }
+  return best.asset.browser_download_url.replace(/\/[^/]*$/, "");
+}
+
+function setUpUpdates(win: BrowserWindow): void {
   if (!app.isPackaged) autoUpdater.forceDevUpdateConfig = true;
   autoUpdater.autoDownload = false;
   autoUpdater.autoInstallOnAppQuit = false;
@@ -336,6 +412,8 @@ async function checkForUpdates(win: BrowserWindow): Promise<void> {
   if (updateCheckRunning) return;
   updateCheckRunning = true;
   try {
+    const feed = await resolveReleaseFeed();
+    autoUpdater.setFeedURL({ provider: "generic", url: feed });
     await autoUpdater.checkForUpdates();
   } catch (error) {
     const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);

frontend/src/components/AppShell.tsx

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-screen flex-col">
       <header className="sticky top-0 z-40 border-b border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-crust/95 backdrop-blur">
-        <div className="mx-auto flex h-14 w-full max-w-[1600px] items-center gap-4 px-4">
+        <div className="flex h-14 w-full items-center gap-4 px-3 sm:px-4">
           <Link to="/" className="flex shrink-0 items-center">
             <span className="rounded bg-ctp-mauve px-2 py-1 font-mono text-xs font-bold tracking-wide text-ctp-crust">
               J621

frontend/src/features/follows/FollowedPage.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { Eye, StarOff } from "lucide-react";
+import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight, Eye, StarOff } from "lucide-react";
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { Link } from "react-router-dom";
 
@@ -148,28 +148,43 @@ function BlacklistCloudPanel() {
       q.state.data?.status === "building" ? 2000 : false,
   });
   const cloud = query.data;
+  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false);
 
   return (
     <section className="rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-base p-4">
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-2">
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        onClick={() => setExpanded((value) => !value)}
+        title={expanded ? "Hide the tags" : "Show the tags"}
+        className="flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-2 text-left"
+      >
         <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-ctp-subtext1">
           Blacklisted tags
         </h2>
-        <p className="text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+        <span className="flex items-center gap-1.5 font-mono text-[11px] text-ctp-overlay0">
+          {cloud ? `${cloud.blacklist_count} entries` : "…"}
+          {cloud?.status === "building" ? (
+            <Spinner className="h-3 w-3" />
+          ) : null}
+          {expanded ? (
+            <ChevronDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          ) : (
+            <ChevronRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          )}
+        </span>
+      </button>
+
+      {expanded ? (
+        <>
+          <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
             {cloud?.source === "user"
               ? "From your e621 blacklist"
               : "From e621's anonymous default blacklist"}
-          {cloud ? ` · ${cloud.blacklist_count} entries` : ""}
             {cloud ? ` · ${cloud.posts} feed post(s) scanned` : ""}
-          {cloud?.computed_at ? ` · computed ${formatDate(cloud.computed_at)}` : ""}
-          {cloud?.status === "building" ? (
-            <span className="ml-2 inline-flex items-center gap-1.5">
-              <Spinner className="h-3 w-3" /> building…
-            </span>
-          ) : null}
+            {cloud?.computed_at
+              ? ` · computed ${formatDate(cloud.computed_at)}`
+              : ""}
           </p>
-      </div>
-
           {query.isPending ? (
             <div className="mt-3 flex justify-center py-4">
               <Spinner className="h-4 w-4" />
@@ -190,6 +205,8 @@ function BlacklistCloudPanel() {
               No blacklisted tags in your feeds.
             </p>
           )}
+        </>
+      ) : null}
     </section>
   );
 }

frontend/src/features/online/OnlinePage.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { keepPreviousData, useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { X } from "lucide-react";
+import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight, X } from "lucide-react";
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Link, useLocation, useSearchParams } from "react-router-dom";
 
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export default function OnlinePage() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [blacklistDraft, setBlacklistDraft] = useState("");
+  const [showBlacklist, setShowBlacklist] = useState(false);
   const tagInput = draft ?? tags;
   const zoom = useUi((state) => state.zoom);
   const perPage = useUi((state) => state.e621PerPage);
@@ -271,10 +272,27 @@ export default function OnlinePage() {
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => setShowBlacklist((value) => !value)}
+            title={showBlacklist ? "Hide the blacklist" : "Show the blacklist"}
+            className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 text-left"
+          >
             <span className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-ctp-overlay1">
               Your blacklist
             </span>
-          {credentials?.configured ? (
+            <span className="flex items-center gap-1 font-mono text-[11px] text-ctp-overlay0">
+              {blacklistEntries.length} tag
+              {blacklistEntries.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}
+              {showBlacklist ? (
+                <ChevronDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              ) : (
+                <ChevronRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              )}
+            </span>
+          </button>
+          {showBlacklist ? (
+            credentials?.configured ? (
               <>
                 {blacklistEntries.length > 0 ? (
                   <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
@@ -337,7 +355,8 @@ export default function OnlinePage() {
                 </Link>{" "}
                 to manage your blacklist.
               </p>
-          )}
+            )
+          ) : null}
         </div>
 
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">

frontend/src/features/upload/UploadPage.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import {
   CheckCircle2,
+  ImageOff,
   ListChecks,
   Trash2,
   UploadCloud,
@@ -310,6 +311,54 @@ function TempCard({
   );
 }
 
+/** Image with a spinner/broken-image placeholder instead of alt-text fallback. */
+function ThumbImage({
+  src,
+  className,
+}: {
+  src: string;
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  const [loadedSrc, setLoadedSrc] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [failedSrc, setFailedSrc] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  // Derived from the current src: no effect needed when it changes.
+  const ready = Boolean(src) && loadedSrc === src;
+  const failed = !src || failedSrc === src;
+
+  return (
+    <span
+      className={cn(
+        "relative block overflow-hidden bg-ctp-surface0/60",
+        className,
+      )}
+    >
+      {src ? (
+        <img
+          src={src}
+          alt=""
+          loading="lazy"
+          onLoad={() => setLoadedSrc(src)}
+          onError={() => setFailedSrc(src)}
+          className={cn(
+            "h-full w-full object-cover transition-opacity duration-200",
+            ready ? "opacity-100" : "opacity-0",
+          )}
+        />
+      ) : null}
+      {!ready && !failed ? (
+        <span className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
+          <Spinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-ctp-overlay0" />
+        </span>
+      ) : null}
+      {failed ? (
+        <span className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center text-ctp-overlay0">
+          <ImageOff className="h-4 w-4" />
+        </span>
+      ) : null}
+    </span>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * A "J-x uploaded" notification.
  *
@@ -378,7 +427,6 @@ function MetadataForm({
 }) {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const credentials = useE621((state) => state.credentials);
-  const [tab, setTab] = useState<"link" | "custom">("link");
   const [postId, setPostId] = useState("");
   const [selected, setSelected] = useState<E621IqdbCandidate | null>(null);
   const [rating, setRating] = useState<Rating>(temp.custom_rating);
@@ -485,8 +533,8 @@ function MetadataForm({
   }
 
   return (
-    <>
-      <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
+    <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
+      <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-3 border-b border-ctp-surface0 px-5 py-3">
         <div className="min-w-0">
           <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-ctp-subtext1">
             Set metadata
@@ -495,6 +543,12 @@ function MetadataForm({
             {temp.original_filename}
           </p>
         </div>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          {temp.processing ? (
+            <span className="flex items-center gap-1.5 font-mono text-[10px] text-ctp-overlay0">
+              <Spinner className="h-3 w-3" /> working
+            </span>
+          ) : null}
           <button
             type="button"
             onClick={onClose}
@@ -504,22 +558,24 @@ function MetadataForm({
             <X className="h-4 w-4" />
           </button>
         </div>
+      </div>
 
-      <div className="mt-4 grid gap-4 sm:grid-cols-[minmax(0,320px)_minmax(0,1fr)]">
-        <div className="w-fit max-w-full overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-mantle">
+      <div className="grid min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto lg:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_minmax(0,34rem)] lg:overflow-hidden">
+        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-5 p-5 lg:overflow-y-auto">
+          <div className="w-fit max-w-full self-start overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-mantle">
             {mediaUrl ? (
               isVideo ? (
                 <video
                   src={mediaUrl}
                   controls
                   muted
-                className="block h-auto max-h-[55vh] w-auto max-w-full"
+                  className="block h-auto max-h-[70vh] w-auto max-w-full"
                 />
               ) : (
                 <img
                   src={mediaUrl}
                   alt={temp.original_filename}
-                className="block h-auto max-h-[55vh] w-auto max-w-full"
+                  className="block h-auto max-h-[70vh] w-auto max-w-full"
                 />
               )
             ) : (
@@ -529,57 +585,32 @@ function MetadataForm({
             )}
           </div>
 
-        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-3">
-          <div className="flex gap-1.5">
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              onClick={() => setTab("link")}
-              className={cn(
-                "rounded-md px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium transition",
-                tab === "link"
-                  ? "bg-ctp-surface0 text-ctp-text"
-                  : "text-ctp-subtext0 hover:bg-ctp-surface0/60 hover:text-ctp-text",
-              )}
-            >
-              Link to e621 post
-            </button>
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              onClick={() => setTab("custom")}
-              className={cn(
-                "rounded-md px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium transition",
-                tab === "custom"
-                  ? "bg-ctp-surface0 text-ctp-text"
-                  : "text-ctp-subtext0 hover:bg-ctp-surface0/60 hover:text-ctp-text",
-              )}
-            >
-              Custom metadata
-            </button>
-          </div>
-
-          {tab === "link" ? (
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
           {visualMatches.length > 0 ? (
             <div>
               <p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-ctp-overlay1">
                 Already in your library
               </p>
-                  <div className="mt-2 flex flex-col gap-2">
+              <div className="mt-2 grid grid-cols-2 gap-3 sm:grid-cols-3 2xl:grid-cols-4">
                 {visualMatches.map((match) => (
                   <div
                     key={match.j_id}
-                        className="flex items-center gap-3 rounded-md border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-surface0/40 p-2"
+                    className="overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-surface0/30"
                   >
-                        <img
+                    <Link
+                      to={`/detail/${match.j_id}`}
+                      className="block"
+                      title={match.filename}
+                    >
+                      <ThumbImage
                         src={apiUrl(
                           match.thumbnail_url ??
                             `/api/files/${match.j_id}/thumbnail/`,
                         )}
-                          alt={match.j_id}
-                          loading="lazy"
-                          className="h-12 w-12 shrink-0 rounded object-cover"
+                        className="aspect-square w-full"
                       />
-                        <span className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                    </Link>
+                    <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 px-2 py-1.5">
+                      <span className="min-w-0">
                         <Link
                           to={`/detail/${match.j_id}`}
                           className="font-mono text-[11px] text-ctp-blue hover:underline"
@@ -587,7 +618,7 @@ function MetadataForm({
                           {match.j_id}
                         </Link>
                         <span
-                            className="block truncate font-mono text-[11px] text-ctp-subtext0"
+                          className="block truncate font-mono text-[10px] text-ctp-overlay0"
                           title={match.filename}
                         >
                           {match.filename}
@@ -597,11 +628,12 @@ function MetadataForm({
                         {match.similarity}%
                       </span>
                     </div>
+                  </div>
                 ))}
               </div>
               <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-ctp-overlay0">
-                    This upload looks like it is already in the library — you
-                    can discard it below.
+                This upload looks like it is already in the library — you can
+                discard it below.
               </p>
               <button
                 type="button"
@@ -612,11 +644,13 @@ function MetadataForm({
               </button>
             </div>
           ) : null}
+        </div>
 
+        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-5 border-t border-ctp-surface0 p-5 lg:overflow-y-auto lg:border-l lg:border-t-0">
           <div>
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
               <p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-ctp-overlay1">
-                    IQDB candidates
+                e621 IQDB candidates
               </p>
               {isVideo ? null : (
                 <button
@@ -645,7 +679,7 @@ function MetadataForm({
               </p>
             ) : iqdbData && iqdbData.length > 0 ? (
               <>
-                    <div className="mt-2 grid grid-cols-3 gap-2">
+                <div className="mt-2 grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 sm:grid-cols-3">
                   {iqdbData.map((candidate) => (
                     <button
                       key={`${candidate.post_id}-${candidate.md5}`}
@@ -661,11 +695,9 @@ function MetadataForm({
                     >
                       <span className="relative block aspect-square overflow-hidden">
                         {candidate.preview_url ? (
-                              <img
+                          <ThumbImage
                             src={candidate.preview_url}
-                                alt={`Post #${candidate.post_id}`}
-                                loading="lazy"
-                                className="h-full w-full object-cover"
+                            className="h-full w-full"
                           />
                         ) : (
                           <span className="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center text-[10px] text-ctp-overlay0">
@@ -695,14 +727,13 @@ function MetadataForm({
                 </div>
 
                 {selected ? (
-                      <div className="mt-2 rounded-md border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-surface0/40 p-3">
+                  <div className="mt-3 rounded-md border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-surface0/40 p-3">
                     <p className="font-mono text-xs text-ctp-subtext1">
                       Post #{selected.post_id}
                     </p>
                     <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
                       {selected.rating
-                            ? (RATING_LABELS[selected.rating] ??
-                              selected.rating)
+                        ? (RATING_LABELS[selected.rating] ?? selected.rating)
                         : "Unknown rating"}
                       {selected.score_total !== null &&
                       selected.score_total !== undefined
@@ -744,10 +775,6 @@ function MetadataForm({
                         View post
                       </Link>
                     </div>
-                        <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-ctp-overlay0">
-                          Linking downloads the post's file into the library
-                          and drops this staged upload.
-                        </p>
                   </div>
                 ) : null}
               </>
@@ -763,7 +790,11 @@ function MetadataForm({
             )}
           </div>
 
-              <div className="flex gap-2">
+          <div>
+            <p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-ctp-overlay1">
+              Link to an e621 post
+            </p>
+            <div className="mt-2 flex gap-2">
               <input
                 className={cn(inputClass, "font-mono")}
                 placeholder="e621 post ID"
@@ -774,9 +805,17 @@ function MetadataForm({
                 Link
               </Button>
             </div>
+            <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-ctp-overlay0">
+              Linking downloads the post's file into the library and drops this
+              staged upload.
+            </p>
           </div>
-          ) : (
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
+
+          <div>
+            <p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-ctp-overlay1">
+              Custom metadata
+            </p>
+            <div className="mt-2 flex flex-col gap-3">
               <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
                 {ratingChoices.map((choice) => (
                   <button
@@ -810,7 +849,7 @@ function MetadataForm({
                 Save custom metadata
               </Button>
             </div>
-          )}
+          </div>
 
           {error ? <p className="text-xs text-ctp-red">{error}</p> : null}
           {temp.pipeline_error ? (
@@ -825,7 +864,7 @@ function MetadataForm({
           ) : null}
         </div>
       </div>
-    </>
+    </div>
   );
 }
 
@@ -845,11 +884,11 @@ function MetadataModal({
 
   return (
     <div
-      className="fixed inset-0 z-[70] flex items-start justify-center overflow-y-auto bg-ctp-crust/70 px-4 py-10 backdrop-blur-sm"
+      className="fixed inset-0 z-[70] flex items-start justify-center overflow-y-auto bg-ctp-crust/70 px-3 py-6 backdrop-blur-sm"
       onClick={onClose}
     >
       <div
-        className="w-full max-w-2xl rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface1 bg-ctp-base p-5"
+        className="flex max-h-[92vh] w-full max-w-[min(1400px,96vw)] flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-ctp-surface1 bg-ctp-base"
         onClick={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
       >
         {detailQuery.data ? (
@@ -859,11 +898,11 @@ function MetadataModal({
             onClose={onClose}
           />
         ) : detailQuery.isError ? (
-          <p className="text-sm text-ctp-red">
+          <p className="p-5 text-sm text-ctp-red">
             Could not load this upload's details.
           </p>
         ) : (
-          <p className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-ctp-overlay0">
+          <p className="flex items-center gap-2 p-5 text-sm text-ctp-overlay0">
             <Spinner className="h-4 w-4" /> Loading…
           </p>
         )}