feat(updater): nightly builds and a stable/nightly update channel (#1608)

* feat(updater): nightly builds and a stable/nightly update channel

Every master push publishes its artifacts as a prerelease of
4gray/iptvnator-nightly instead of the rolling test-master draft, with a
version of <next patch>-nightly.<commit date>.<run number> applied in
every build job. Settings → About gains an Update channel switch;
AppUpdateService re-points electron-updater per check (feed repository,
allowPrerelease, channel name, allowDowngrade reset) and reads release
notes from the repository the requested version belongs to. Channel
switches are forward-only: a nightly build stays until a newer stable
release exists.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>

* fix(updater): compute the nightly version once and keep re-runs safe

Review follow-ups: the nightly version is resolved by a leading job and
handed to every build job, and the patch is bumped only when the base
tag already exists so the release-cut window stays below the imminent
release. A re-run never deletes a published nightly; only a draft left
by a failed run is replaced. Typed update-status literals in the
remaining specs carry the new channel fields.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>

* test(packaging): expect the nightly-version prerequisite in the build workflow graph

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-about-section.component.html

@@ -63,6 +63,65 @@
                         ></progress>
                     }
                 </div>
+                @if (canSelectUpdateChannel()) {
+                    <div
+                        class="app-update-channel"
+                        [formGroup]="form()!"
+                        data-test-id="app-update-channel"
+                    >
+                        <mat-form-field appearance="outline">
+                            <mat-label>{{
+                                'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL' | translate
+                            }}</mat-label>
+                            <mat-select
+                                formControlName="updateChannel"
+                                data-test-id="select-update-channel"
+                            >
+                                @for (
+                                    option of updateChannelOptions();
+                                    track option.value
+                                ) {
+                                    <mat-option
+                                        [value]="option.value"
+                                        [attr.data-test-id]="
+                                            'update-channel-' + option.value
+                                        "
+                                    >
+                                        {{ option.labelKey | translate }}
+                                    </mat-option>
+                                }
+                            </mat-select>
+                        </mat-form-field>
+                        <small class="app-update-channel__note">
+                            {{
+                                'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL_DESCRIPTION'
+                                    | translate
+                            }}
+                        </small>
+                        @if (form()!.get('updateChannel')?.value === 'nightly') {
+                            <small
+                                class="app-update-channel__note"
+                                data-test-id="app-update-channel-nightly-warning"
+                            >
+                                {{
+                                    'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL_NIGHTLY_WARNING'
+                                        | translate
+                                }}
+                            </small>
+                        }
+                        @if (isNightlyBuildOnStableChannel()) {
+                            <small
+                                class="app-update-channel__note"
+                                data-test-id="app-update-nightly-on-stable-hint"
+                            >
+                                {{
+                                    'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_NIGHTLY_ON_STABLE_HINT'
+                                        | translate
+                                }}
+                            </small>
+                        }
+                    </div>
+                }
                 <div class="app-update-actions">
                     <button
                         mat-stroked-button

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-about-section.component.spec.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { FormControl, FormGroup } from '@angular/forms';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import {
     ELECTRON_BRIDGE_APP_UPDATE_STATUSES,
     ElectronBridgeAppUpdateStatus,
 } from '@iptvnator/shared/interfaces';
 import { SettingsAboutSectionComponent } from './settings-about-section.component';
+import { SETTINGS_UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS } from './settings-options';
 
 function getButton(fixture: ComponentFixture<SettingsAboutSectionComponent>, id: string) {
     return fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
@@ -187,3 +189,86 @@ describe('SettingsAboutSectionComponent version display', () => {
         expect(getCommitMarker()).toBeNull();
     });
 });
+
+describe('SettingsAboutSectionComponent update channel', () => {
+    let fixture: ComponentFixture<SettingsAboutSectionComponent>;
+
+    const query = (id: string) =>
+        fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+            `[data-test-id="${id}"]`
+        ) as HTMLElement | null;
+
+    const configure = (
+        status: Partial<ElectronBridgeAppUpdateStatus>,
+        form: FormGroup | null
+    ) => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', true);
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', form);
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput(
+            'updateChannelOptions',
+            SETTINGS_UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS
+        );
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('appUpdateStatus', {
+            currentVersion: '0.23.0',
+            manualDownloadUrl:
+                'https://github.com/4gray/iptvnator/releases/latest',
+            status: ELECTRON_BRIDGE_APP_UPDATE_STATUSES.Idle,
+            supportedSelfUpdate: true,
+            channel: 'stable',
+            installedChannel: 'stable',
+            ...status,
+        });
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+    };
+
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+        await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+            imports: [
+                SettingsAboutSectionComponent,
+                TranslateModule.forRoot(),
+            ],
+        }).compileComponents();
+
+        fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SettingsAboutSectionComponent);
+    });
+
+    it('binds the channel select to the shared settings form', () => {
+        const form = new FormGroup({
+            updateChannel: new FormControl('stable'),
+        });
+        configure({}, form);
+
+        expect(query('select-update-channel')).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(query('app-update-channel-nightly-warning')).toBeNull();
+
+        form.controls.updateChannel.setValue('nightly');
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(query('app-update-channel-nightly-warning')).not.toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('renders no channel control without a form to bind to', () => {
+        configure({}, null);
+
+        expect(query('select-update-channel')).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('explains that a nightly build on the stable channel waits for the next release', () => {
+        const form = new FormGroup({
+            updateChannel: new FormControl('stable'),
+        });
+        configure(
+            {
+                currentVersion: '0.23.1-nightly.20260915.7',
+                installedChannel: 'nightly',
+            },
+            form
+        );
+
+        expect(query('app-update-nightly-on-stable-hint')).not.toBeNull();
+
+        configure({ channel: 'nightly', installedChannel: 'nightly' }, form);
+
+        expect(query('app-update-nightly-on-stable-hint')).toBeNull();
+    });
+});

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-about-section.component.ts

@@ -6,17 +6,28 @@ import {
     ViewEncapsulation,
     ChangeDetectionStrategy,
 } from '@angular/core';
+import { FormGroup, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
 import { MatButtonModule } from '@angular/material/button';
+import { MatFormFieldModule } from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import { MatIconModule } from '@angular/material/icon';
+import { MatSelectModule } from '@angular/material/select';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import {
     ELECTRON_BRIDGE_APP_UPDATE_STATUSES,
     ElectronBridgeAppUpdateStatus,
 } from '@iptvnator/shared/interfaces';
+import { UpdateChannelOption } from './settings.models';
 
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-settings-about-section',
-    imports: [MatButtonModule, MatIconModule, TranslateModule],
+    imports: [
+        MatButtonModule,
+        MatFormFieldModule,
+        MatIconModule,
+        MatSelectModule,
+        ReactiveFormsModule,
+        TranslateModule,
+    ],
     templateUrl: './settings-about-section.component.html',
     encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
     // eslint-disable-next-line @angular-eslint/prefer-on-push-component-change-detection -- Preserve pre-Angular 22 eager checking during the framework upgrade.
@@ -24,6 +35,9 @@ import {
     styles: [
         ':host { display: contents; }',
         '.version-block .build-commit { opacity: 0.65; font-size: 0.85em; }',
+        '.app-update-channel { margin-top: 12px; }',
+        '.app-update-channel mat-form-field { width: 100%; max-width: 320px; }',
+        '.app-update-channel__note { display: block; margin-top: 4px; opacity: 0.75; font-size: 0.85em; }',
     ],
 })
 export class SettingsAboutSectionComponent {
@@ -34,6 +48,13 @@ export class SettingsAboutSectionComponent {
     readonly appUpdateStatus = input<ElectronBridgeAppUpdateStatus | null>(
         null
     );
+    /**
+     * The shared settings form; the channel select lives in it so a change
+     * goes through the same Save and unsaved-changes flow as every other
+     * setting. Absent in hosts that only render the version block.
+     */
+    readonly form = input<FormGroup | null>(null);
+    readonly updateChannelOptions = input<UpdateChannelOption[]>([]);
 
     readonly buildCommitShort = computed(() => {
         const commit = this.buildCommit()?.trim();
@@ -47,6 +68,23 @@ export class SettingsAboutSectionComponent {
     readonly openManualAppUpdate = output<void>();
     readonly openAppUpdateReleaseNotes = output<void>();
 
+    readonly canSelectUpdateChannel = computed(
+        () =>
+            this.isDesktop() &&
+            this.form() !== null &&
+            this.updateChannelOptions().length > 0
+    );
+
+    /** A nightly build on the stable channel waits for the next stable release. */
+    readonly isNightlyBuildOnStableChannel = computed(() => {
+        const status = this.appUpdateStatus();
+
+        return (
+            status?.installedChannel === 'nightly' &&
+            status.channel === 'stable'
+        );
+    });
+
     readonly isAppUpdateBusy = computed(() => {
         const status = this.appUpdateStatus()?.status;
 

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-form.utils.spec.ts

@@ -82,6 +82,38 @@ describe('settings form utils — startup window mode', () => {
     });
 });
 
+describe('settings form utils — update channel', () => {
+    const formBuilder = new FormBuilder();
+
+    it('defaults the form control to the stable channel', () => {
+        const form = createSettingsForm(formBuilder, true);
+
+        expect(form.getRawValue().updateChannel).toBe('stable');
+    });
+
+    it('carries the chosen channel into the settings object', () => {
+        const form = createSettingsForm(formBuilder, true);
+        form.patchValue({ updateChannel: 'nightly' });
+
+        expect(
+            createSettingsFromFormValue(form, {} as Settings).updateChannel
+        ).toBe('nightly');
+    });
+
+    it('collapses a missing or unknown channel to stable', () => {
+        const form = createSettingsForm(formBuilder, true);
+        form.patchValue({ updateChannel: null as unknown as 'stable' });
+        expect(
+            createSettingsFromFormValue(form, {} as Settings).updateChannel
+        ).toBe('stable');
+
+        form.patchValue({ updateChannel: 'canary' as unknown as 'stable' });
+        expect(
+            createSettingsFromFormValue(form, {} as Settings).updateChannel
+        ).toBe('stable');
+    });
+});
+
 describe('settings form utils — EPG display offset', () => {
     const formBuilder = new FormBuilder();
 

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-form.utils.ts

@@ -7,11 +7,14 @@ import {
     Validators,
 } from '@angular/forms';
 import {
+    AppUpdateChannel,
     CoverSize,
+    DEFAULT_APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL,
     DEFAULT_DASHBOARD_RAILS_SETTINGS,
     DEFAULT_TMDB_SETTINGS,
     EpgViewMode,
     Language,
+    normalizeAppUpdateChannel,
     normalizeDashboardRailsSettings,
     normalizeEmbeddedMpvExtraOptions,
     normalizeExternalPlayerArguments,
@@ -89,6 +92,7 @@ export function createSettingsForm(
         }),
         startupBehavior: StartupBehavior.FirstView,
         startupWindowMode: 'normal' as StartupWindowMode,
+        updateChannel: DEFAULT_APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL as AppUpdateChannel,
         showExternalPlaybackBar: true,
         stripCountryPrefix: false,
         theme: Theme.SystemTheme,
@@ -182,6 +186,7 @@ export function createSettingsFromFormValue(
         dashboardRails: normalizeDashboardRailsSettings(value.dashboardRails),
         startupBehavior: value.startupBehavior ?? StartupBehavior.FirstView,
         startupWindowMode: normalizeStartupWindowMode(value.startupWindowMode),
+        updateChannel: normalizeAppUpdateChannel(value.updateChannel),
         showExternalPlaybackBar: value.showExternalPlaybackBar ?? true,
         stripCountryPrefix: value.stripCountryPrefix ?? false,
         theme: value.theme ?? Theme.SystemTheme,

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-options.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
     StartupBehaviorOption,
     StartupWindowModeOption,
     ThemeOption,
+    UpdateChannelOption,
 } from './settings.models';
 
 export const SETTINGS_THEME_OPTIONS: ThemeOption[] = [
@@ -90,6 +91,17 @@ export const SETTINGS_STARTUP_WINDOW_MODE_OPTIONS: StartupWindowModeOption[] = [
     },
 ];
 
+export const SETTINGS_UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS: UpdateChannelOption[] = [
+    {
+        value: 'stable',
+        labelKey: 'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL_STABLE',
+    },
+    {
+        value: 'nightly',
+        labelKey: 'SETTINGS.APP_UPDATE_CHANNEL_NIGHTLY',
+    },
+];
+
 export const SETTINGS_OS_PLAYER_OPTIONS: SettingsPlayerOption[] = [
     {
         id: VideoPlayer.MPV,

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings.component.html

@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@
                 @case ('about') {
                     <app-settings-about-section
                         [isDesktop]="isDesktop"
+                        [form]="settingsForm"
+                        [updateChannelOptions]="updateChannelOptions"
                         [version]="appUpdate.version()"
                         [buildCommit]="buildCommit"
                         [updateMessage]="appUpdate.updateMessage()"

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings.component.ts

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import {
     SETTINGS_EPG_VIEW_MODE_OPTIONS,
     SETTINGS_STARTUP_BEHAVIOR_OPTIONS,
     SETTINGS_STARTUP_WINDOW_MODE_OPTIONS,
+    SETTINGS_UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS,
     SETTINGS_THEME_OPTIONS,
 } from './settings-options';
 import { SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent } from './settings-playback-section.component';
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ export class SettingsComponent
     readonly coverSizeOptions = SETTINGS_COVER_SIZE_OPTIONS;
     readonly startupBehaviorOptions = SETTINGS_STARTUP_BEHAVIOR_OPTIONS;
     readonly startupWindowModeOptions = SETTINGS_STARTUP_WINDOW_MODE_OPTIONS;
+    readonly updateChannelOptions = SETTINGS_UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS;
     readonly epgViewModeOptions = SETTINGS_EPG_VIEW_MODE_OPTIONS;
 
     readonly sectionNavItems: SettingsSection[] = buildSettingsSectionNavItems({

apps/web/src/app/settings/settings.models.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {
+    AppUpdateChannel,
     CoverSize,
     EpgViewMode,
     StartupBehavior,
@@ -30,6 +31,11 @@ export interface StartupWindowModeOption {
     labelKey: string;
 }
 
+export interface UpdateChannelOption {
+    value: AppUpdateChannel;
+    labelKey: string;
+}
+
 export interface CoverSizeOption {
     value: CoverSize;
     icon: string;

apps/web/src/app/settings/test-stubs/settings-test-harness.stub.ts

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
     showDashboard: true,
     startupBehavior: StartupBehavior.FirstView,
     startupWindowMode: 'normal',
+    updateChannel: 'stable',
     showExternalPlaybackBar: true,
     stripCountryPrefix: false,
     theme: Theme.SystemTheme,
@@ -128,6 +129,8 @@ export const DEFAULT_APP_UPDATE_STATUS: ElectronBridgeAppUpdateStatus = {
     manualDownloadUrl: 'https://github.com/4gray/iptvnator/releases/latest',
     status: ELECTRON_BRIDGE_APP_UPDATE_STATUSES.Idle,
     supportedSelfUpdate: true,
+    channel: 'stable',
+    installedChannel: 'stable',
 };
 
 export class MatSnackBarStub {