fix: remove Update channel from Settings, keep only Release channel

Update channel (Stable/Canary) was redundant since builds are flat.
Removed the UI dropdown, canary update logic in useUpdater, and
update_channel field from Settings type (TS + Rust). Release channel
(Alpha/Beta/Stable) remains as the sole selector.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/ABSTRACTIONS.md

@@ -551,15 +551,11 @@ Managed by `useSettings` hook and `SettingsPanel` component.
 
 ---
 
-## Update Channels & Feature Flags
-
-### Settings
-- **`update_channel`** — `"stable"` (default/null) or `"canary"`. Stored in `Settings` struct, configurable in Settings panel under "Updates" section.
+## Updates & Feature Flags
 
 ### Hooks
-- **`useUpdater(channel?)`** — Checks for updates. For stable: uses Tauri updater plugin. For canary: fetches `latest-canary.json` and opens release page for download.
+- **`useUpdater()`** — Checks for updates using the Tauri updater plugin. Automatic download and install.
 - **`useFeatureFlag(flag)`** — Returns boolean for a named feature flag. Checks `localStorage` override (`ff_<name>`), then falls back to compile-time default. Type-safe via `FeatureFlagName` union.
 
 ### CI/CD
 - **`.github/workflows/release.yml`** — Stable builds from `main`. Produces `latest.json` on GitHub Pages.
-- **`.github/workflows/release-canary.yml`** — Canary builds from `canary` branch. Produces `latest-canary.json` on GitHub Pages. Releases are marked as prerelease.

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -802,29 +802,13 @@ sequenceDiagram
 - **Settings:** `telemetry_consent`, `crash_reporting_enabled`, `analytics_enabled`, `anonymous_id` in `Settings` struct
 - **Consent:** `TelemetryConsentDialog` shown when `telemetry_consent === null`
 
-### Update Channels (Stable / Canary)
+### Updates
 
-Laputa supports two release channels:
+Laputa uses the Tauri updater plugin for automatic updates:
 
-- **Stable** (default): builds from `main` branch, published as full GitHub Releases
-- **Canary**: builds from `canary` branch, published as pre-release GitHub Releases
-
-```mermaid
-flowchart LR
-    main["main branch"] -->|push| stable["Stable build<br/>latest.json"]
-    canary["canary branch"] -->|push| canaryBuild["Canary build<br/>latest-canary.json"]
-    stable --> ghPages["GitHub Pages"]
-    canaryBuild --> ghPages
-    ghPages -->|"update_channel = stable"| stableUsers["Stable users<br/>(auto-update via plugin)"]
-    ghPages -->|"update_channel = canary"| canaryUsers["Canary users<br/>(fetch + manual download)"]
-```
-
-**How it works:**
-- Both channels publish to GitHub Pages: `latest.json` (stable) and `latest-canary.json` (canary)
-- `update_channel` is stored in `Settings` (`settings.json`), configurable in Settings panel
-- **Stable**: uses the Tauri updater plugin with automatic download and install
-- **Canary**: `useUpdater` hook fetches `latest-canary.json` via HTTP, compares versions, and opens the GitHub release page for manual download
-- Canary versions use semver prerelease: `0.YYYYMMDD.N-canary`
+- Builds from `main` branch are published as GitHub Releases
+- `latest.json` is published to GitHub Pages for the updater plugin
+- `useUpdater()` hook checks for updates automatically and supports download + install
 
 ### Feature Flags (PostHog + Release Channels)
 

src-tauri/src/settings.rs

@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ pub struct Settings {
     pub crash_reporting_enabled: Option<bool>,
     pub analytics_enabled: Option<bool>,
     pub anonymous_id: Option<String>,
-    pub update_channel: Option<String>,
     pub release_channel: Option<String>,
 }
 
@@ -64,10 +63,6 @@ fn save_settings_at(path: &PathBuf, settings: Settings) -> Result<(), String> {
             .anonymous_id
             .map(|k| k.trim().to_string())
             .filter(|k| !k.is_empty()),
-        update_channel: settings
-            .update_channel
-            .map(|k| k.trim().to_string())
-            .filter(|k| !k.is_empty()),
         release_channel: settings
             .release_channel
             .map(|k| k.trim().to_string())
@@ -141,7 +136,6 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(s.crash_reporting_enabled.is_none());
         assert!(s.analytics_enabled.is_none());
         assert!(s.anonymous_id.is_none());
-        assert!(s.update_channel.is_none());
     }
 
     #[test]

src/App.test.tsx

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ const mockCommandResults: Record<string, unknown> = {
   get_modified_files: [],
   get_note_content: mockAllContent['/vault/project/test.md'] || '',
   get_file_history: [],
-  get_settings: { openai_key: null, google_key: null, github_token: null, github_username: null, auto_pull_interval_minutes: null, telemetry_consent: true, crash_reporting_enabled: null, analytics_enabled: null, anonymous_id: null, update_channel: null },
+  get_settings: { openai_key: null, google_key: null, github_token: null, github_username: null, auto_pull_interval_minutes: null, telemetry_consent: true, crash_reporting_enabled: null, analytics_enabled: null, anonymous_id: null, release_channel: null },
   git_pull: { status: 'up_to_date', message: 'Already up to date', updatedFiles: [], conflictFiles: [] },
   save_settings: null,
   check_vault_exists: true,

src/App.tsx

@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ function App() {
   const zoom = useZoom()
   const buildNumber = useBuildNumber()
 
-  const { status: updateStatus, actions: updateActions } = useUpdater(settings.update_channel)
+  const { status: updateStatus, actions: updateActions } = useUpdater()
 
   const handleCheckForUpdates = useCallback(async () => {
     if (updateStatus.state === 'downloading') {

src/components/SettingsPanel.test.tsx

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const emptySettings: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
+  release_channel: null,
 }
 
 const populatedSettings: Settings = {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const populatedSettings: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
+  release_channel: null,
 }
 
 describe('SettingsPanel', () => {
@@ -405,56 +405,6 @@ describe('SettingsPanel', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  describe('Update channel section', () => {
-    it('renders the update channel dropdown', () => {
-      render(
-        <SettingsPanel open={true} settings={emptySettings} onSave={onSave} onClose={onClose} />
-      )
-      expect(screen.getByTestId('settings-update-channel')).toBeInTheDocument()
-      expect(screen.getByText('Updates')).toBeInTheDocument()
-    })
-
-    it('defaults to stable when update_channel is null', () => {
-      render(
-        <SettingsPanel open={true} settings={emptySettings} onSave={onSave} onClose={onClose} />
-      )
-      const select = screen.getByTestId('settings-update-channel') as HTMLSelectElement
-      expect(select.value).toBe('stable')
-    })
-
-    it('reflects canary setting', () => {
-      const canarySettings: Settings = { ...emptySettings, update_channel: 'canary' }
-      render(
-        <SettingsPanel open={true} settings={canarySettings} onSave={onSave} onClose={onClose} />
-      )
-      const select = screen.getByTestId('settings-update-channel') as HTMLSelectElement
-      expect(select.value).toBe('canary')
-    })
-
-    it('saves update_channel when changed to canary', () => {
-      render(
-        <SettingsPanel open={true} settings={emptySettings} onSave={onSave} onClose={onClose} />
-      )
-      fireEvent.change(screen.getByTestId('settings-update-channel'), { target: { value: 'canary' } })
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId('settings-save'))
-
-      expect(onSave).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
-        update_channel: 'canary',
-      }))
-    })
-
-    it('saves null when channel is stable (default)', () => {
-      render(
-        <SettingsPanel open={true} settings={emptySettings} onSave={onSave} onClose={onClose} />
-      )
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByTestId('settings-save'))
-
-      expect(onSave).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
-        update_channel: null,
-      }))
-    })
-  })
-
   describe('Privacy & Telemetry section', () => {
     it('renders crash reporting and analytics toggles', () => {
       render(

src/components/SettingsPanel.tsx

@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ function SettingsPanelInner({ settings, onSave, onClose }: Omit<SettingsPanelPro
   const [githubToken, setGithubToken] = useState(settings.github_token)
   const [githubUsername, setGithubUsername] = useState(settings.github_username)
   const [pullInterval, setPullInterval] = useState(settings.auto_pull_interval_minutes ?? 5)
-  const [updateChannel, setUpdateChannel] = useState(settings.update_channel ?? 'stable')
   const [releaseChannel, setReleaseChannel] = useState(settings.release_channel ?? 'stable')
   const [crashReporting, setCrashReporting] = useState(settings.crash_reporting_enabled ?? false)
   const [analytics, setAnalytics] = useState(settings.analytics_enabled ?? false)
@@ -150,9 +149,8 @@ function SettingsPanelInner({ settings, onSave, onClose }: Omit<SettingsPanelPro
     crash_reporting_enabled: crashReporting,
     analytics_enabled: analytics,
     anonymous_id: (crashReporting || analytics) ? (settings.anonymous_id ?? crypto.randomUUID()) : settings.anonymous_id,
-    update_channel: updateChannel === 'stable' ? null : updateChannel,
     release_channel: releaseChannel === 'stable' ? null : releaseChannel,
-  }), [openaiKey, googleKey, githubToken, githubUsername, pullInterval, updateChannel, releaseChannel, crashReporting, analytics, settings.telemetry_consent, settings.anonymous_id])
+  }), [openaiKey, googleKey, githubToken, githubUsername, pullInterval, releaseChannel, crashReporting, analytics, settings.telemetry_consent, settings.anonymous_id])
 
   const handleSave = () => {
     const prevAnalytics = settings.analytics_enabled ?? false
@@ -206,7 +204,6 @@ function SettingsPanelInner({ settings, onSave, onClose }: Omit<SettingsPanelPro
           githubToken={githubToken ?? null} githubUsername={githubUsername ?? null}
           onGitHubConnected={handleGitHubConnected} onGitHubDisconnect={handleGitHubDisconnect}
           pullInterval={pullInterval} setPullInterval={setPullInterval}
-          updateChannel={updateChannel} setUpdateChannel={setUpdateChannel}
           releaseChannel={releaseChannel} setReleaseChannel={setReleaseChannel}
           crashReporting={crashReporting} setCrashReporting={setCrashReporting}
           analytics={analytics} setAnalytics={setAnalytics}
@@ -242,7 +239,6 @@ interface SettingsBodyProps {
   onGitHubConnected: (token: string, username: string) => void
   onGitHubDisconnect: () => void
   pullInterval: number; setPullInterval: (v: number) => void
-  updateChannel: string; setUpdateChannel: (v: string) => void
   releaseChannel: string; setReleaseChannel: (v: string) => void
   crashReporting: boolean; setCrashReporting: (v: boolean) => void
   analytics: boolean; setAnalytics: (v: boolean) => void
@@ -307,26 +303,12 @@ function SettingsBody(props: SettingsBodyProps) {
       <div style={{ height: 1, background: 'var(--border)' }} />
 
       <div>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: 13, fontWeight: 600, color: 'var(--foreground)', marginBottom: 4 }}>Updates</div>
+        <div style={{ fontSize: 13, fontWeight: 600, color: 'var(--foreground)', marginBottom: 4 }}>Release Channel</div>
         <div style={{ fontSize: 12, color: 'var(--muted-foreground)', lineHeight: 1.5 }}>
-          Canary builds include the latest features but may be less stable. Restart required after changing.
+          Controls which features are visible. Alpha users see all features. Beta/Stable see features as they are promoted.
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 6 }}>
-        <label style={{ fontSize: 12, fontWeight: 500, color: 'var(--foreground)' }}>Update channel</label>
-        <select
-          value={props.updateChannel}
-          onChange={(e) => props.setUpdateChannel(e.target.value)}
-          className="border border-border bg-transparent text-foreground rounded"
-          style={{ fontSize: 13, padding: '8px 10px', outline: 'none', fontFamily: 'inherit' }}
-          data-testid="settings-update-channel"
-        >
-          <option value="stable">Stable</option>
-          <option value="canary">Canary (pre-release)</option>
-        </select>
-      </div>
-
       <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: 6 }}>
         <label style={{ fontSize: 12, fontWeight: 500, color: 'var(--foreground)' }}>Release channel</label>
         <select
@@ -340,9 +322,6 @@ function SettingsBody(props: SettingsBodyProps) {
           <option value="beta">Beta</option>
           <option value="alpha">Alpha (bleeding edge)</option>
         </select>
-        <div style={{ fontSize: 11, color: 'var(--muted-foreground)', lineHeight: 1.4 }}>
-          Alpha users see all features. Beta/Stable see features as they are promoted.
-        </div>
       </div>
 
       <div style={{ height: 1, background: 'var(--border)' }} />

src/hooks/useSettings.test.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ const defaultSettings: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
   release_channel: null,
 }
 
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@ const savedSettings: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
   release_channel: null,
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ describe('useSettings', () => {
       crash_reporting_enabled: null,
       analytics_enabled: null,
       anonymous_id: null,
-      update_channel: null,
+      release_channel: null,
     }
 
     await act(async () => {

src/hooks/useSettings.ts

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ const EMPTY_SETTINGS: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
   release_channel: null,
 }
 

src/hooks/useTelemetry.test.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const baseSettings: Settings = {
   openai_key: null, google_key: null,
   github_token: null, github_username: null, auto_pull_interval_minutes: null,
   telemetry_consent: null, crash_reporting_enabled: null,
-  analytics_enabled: null, anonymous_id: null, update_channel: null, release_channel: null,
+  analytics_enabled: null, anonymous_id: null, release_channel: null,
 }
 
 describe('useTelemetry', () => {

src/hooks/useUpdater.test.ts

@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ vi.mock('@tauri-apps/plugin-process', () => ({
   relaunch: (...args: unknown[]) => mockRelaunch(...args),
 }))
 
-const mockGetVersion = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('0.20260101.1')
-vi.mock('@tauri-apps/api/app', () => ({
-  getVersion: () => mockGetVersion(),
-}))
-
 import { isTauri } from '../mock-tauri'
 
 describe('useUpdater', () => {
@@ -205,42 +200,6 @@ describe('useUpdater', () => {
     expect(mockDownload).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
-  describe('canary channel', () => {
-    it('fetches latest-canary.json when channel is canary', async () => {
-      vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(true)
-      mockGetVersion.mockResolvedValue('0.20260101.1')
-
-      const mockFetch = vi.mocked(globalThis.fetch)
-      mockFetch.mockResolvedValueOnce(new Response(JSON.stringify({
-        version: '0.20260325.99-canary',
-        notes: 'Canary build',
-        platforms: {
-          'darwin-aarch64': {
-            url: 'https://github.com/refactoringhq/laputa-app/releases/download/v0.20260325.99-canary/laputa.app.tar.gz',
-            signature: 'sig123',
-          },
-        },
-      }), { status: 200 }))
-
-      const { result } = renderHook(() => useUpdater('canary'))
-
-      let checkResult: string | undefined
-      await act(async () => {
-        checkResult = await result.current.actions.checkForUpdates()
-      })
-
-      expect(checkResult).toBe('available')
-      expect(result.current.status).toEqual({
-        state: 'available',
-        version: '0.20260325.99-canary',
-        notes: 'Canary build',
-      })
-      expect(mockFetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        'https://refactoringhq.github.io/laputa-app/latest-canary.json'
-      )
-    })
-  })
-
   describe('checkForUpdates (manual)', () => {
     it('returns up-to-date when no update is available', async () => {
       vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(true)

src/hooks/useUpdater.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import { isTauri } from '../mock-tauri'
 import { openExternalUrl } from '../utils/url'
 
 const RELEASE_NOTES_URL = 'https://refactoringhq.github.io/laputa-app/'
-const CANARY_ENDPOINT = 'https://refactoringhq.github.io/laputa-app/latest-canary.json'
 
 export type UpdateStatus =
   | { state: 'idle' }
@@ -21,45 +20,14 @@ export interface UpdateActions {
   dismiss: () => void
 }
 
-interface CanaryRelease {
-  version: string
-  notes: string
-  platforms: Record<string, { url: string; signature: string }>
-}
-
-async function checkCanaryUpdate(): Promise<{ version: string; notes: string; downloadUrl: string } | null> {
-  const response = await fetch(CANARY_ENDPOINT)
-  if (!response.ok) return null
-
-  const data = await response.json() as CanaryRelease
-  const { getVersion } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/app')
-  const currentVersion = await getVersion()
-
-  if (data.version === currentVersion) return null
-
-  const platform = data.platforms['darwin-aarch64']
-  const downloadUrl = platform?.url?.replace(/\.tar\.gz$/, '').replace(/\.app$/, '') ?? ''
-
-  return { version: data.version, notes: data.notes, downloadUrl }
-}
-
-export function useUpdater(channel: string | null = null): { status: UpdateStatus; actions: UpdateActions } {
+export function useUpdater(): { status: UpdateStatus; actions: UpdateActions } {
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<UpdateStatus>({ state: 'idle' })
   const updateRef = useRef<unknown>(null)
-  const canaryUrlRef = useRef<string | null>(null)
 
   const checkForUpdates = useCallback(async (): Promise<UpdateCheckResult> => {
     if (!isTauri()) return 'up-to-date'
 
     try {
-      if (channel === 'canary') {
-        const canary = await checkCanaryUpdate()
-        if (!canary) return 'up-to-date'
-        canaryUrlRef.current = canary.downloadUrl
-        setStatus({ state: 'available', version: canary.version, notes: canary.notes })
-        return 'available'
-      }
-
       const { check } = await import('@tauri-apps/plugin-updater')
       const update = await check()
       if (!update) return 'up-to-date'
@@ -75,7 +43,7 @@ export function useUpdater(channel: string | null = null): { status: UpdateStatu
       console.warn('[updater] Failed to check for updates')
       return 'error'
     }
-  }, [channel])
+  }, [])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isTauri()) return
@@ -84,12 +52,6 @@ export function useUpdater(channel: string | null = null): { status: UpdateStatu
   }, [checkForUpdates])
 
   const startDownload = useCallback(async () => {
-    // Canary: open the GitHub release page for manual download
-    if (canaryUrlRef.current) {
-      openExternalUrl(canaryUrlRef.current)
-      return
-    }
-
     const update = updateRef.current as {
       version: string
       downloadAndInstall: (cb: (event: { event: string; data?: { contentLength?: number; chunkLength?: number } }) => void) => Promise<void>

src/mock-tauri/mock-handlers.ts

@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ let mockSettings: Settings = {
   crash_reporting_enabled: null,
   analytics_enabled: null,
   anonymous_id: null,
-  update_channel: null,
   release_channel: null,
 }
 
@@ -210,7 +209,6 @@ export const mockHandlers: Record<string, (args: any) => any> = {
       crash_reporting_enabled: s.crash_reporting_enabled,
       analytics_enabled: s.analytics_enabled,
       anonymous_id: s.anonymous_id,
-      update_channel: s.update_channel,
       release_channel: s.release_channel,
     }
     return null

src/types.ts

@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ export interface Settings {
   crash_reporting_enabled: boolean | null
   analytics_enabled: boolean | null
   anonymous_id: string | null
-  update_channel: string | null
   release_channel: string | null
 }
 

tests/smoke/canary-release-feature-flags.spec.ts

@@ -9,32 +9,34 @@ async function openSettings(page: import('@playwright/test').Page) {
   return panel
 }
 
-test.describe('Canary release channel + feature flags', () => {
+test.describe('Release channel settings', () => {
   test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto('/')
     await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle')
   })
 
-  test('Settings panel shows Update channel dropdown defaulting to Stable', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('Settings panel shows Release channel dropdown defaulting to Stable', async ({ page }) => {
     await openSettings(page)
 
-    // Check the Updates section exists
-    await expect(page.getByText('Updates')).toBeVisible()
-    await expect(page.getByText('Canary builds include')).toBeVisible()
+    // Check the Release Channel section exists
+    await expect(page.getByText('Release Channel')).toBeVisible()
 
     // Check the dropdown defaults to stable
-    const select = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-update-channel"]')
+    const select = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-release-channel"]')
     await expect(select).toBeVisible()
     await expect(select).toHaveValue('stable')
+
+    // Update channel should NOT be present
+    await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="settings-update-channel"]')).not.toBeVisible()
   })
 
-  test('Update channel can be changed to canary and saved', async ({ page }) => {
+  test('Release channel can be changed to alpha and saved', async ({ page }) => {
     await openSettings(page)
 
-    // Change to canary
-    const select = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-update-channel"]')
-    await select.selectOption('canary')
-    await expect(select).toHaveValue('canary')
+    // Change to alpha
+    const select = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-release-channel"]')
+    await select.selectOption('alpha')
+    await expect(select).toHaveValue('alpha')
 
     // Save (closes the panel)
     await page.click('[data-testid="settings-save"]')
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ test.describe('Canary release channel + feature flags', () => {
 
     // Reopen settings and verify the value persisted
     await openSettings(page)
-    const reopenedSelect = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-update-channel"]')
-    await expect(reopenedSelect).toHaveValue('canary')
+    const reopenedSelect = page.locator('[data-testid="settings-release-channel"]')
+    await expect(reopenedSelect).toHaveValue('alpha')
   })
 })