chore(release): prepare v2.5.1

Author: sizzlebop

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,41 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ---
 
+## [2.5.1] - 2026-03-12
+
+### 🪟 Windows Installer Release, Packaging Hardening & 2.5.x Rollup
+
+This release rolls the feature work from `2.5.0` forward into a fresh `2.5.1` installer release and focuses on getting desktop distribution into a stable, repeatable state. It includes the UI and data-layer improvements from the original `2.5.0` work alongside Windows packaging fixes, workflow hardening, and updated download references for the new release.
+
+#### Added
+
+- **First Windows NSIS installer release path** — ByteBox now produces a Windows `.exe` installer through GitHub Actions with multi-step verification and release upload support.
+- **Windows multi-resolution app icon** — Added `electron/assets/icons/icon.ico` with embedded `16/32/48/64/128/256` sizes so installer, desktop shortcut, Start menu, and taskbar icons render correctly.
+- **Manual release build ref support** — The release workflow now accepts a separate manual `ref` input so draft releases can build from `main`, a tag, or a SHA without requiring checkout to match the release tag name exactly.
+
+#### Changed
+
+- **Version bump to `2.5.1`** — Application metadata, lockfile metadata, changelog entries, and desktop download references now point to the new release version.
+- **Release workflow hardening** — Windows release automation now uses native runner shells, installs Python explicitly for `node-gyp`, validates installer output before upload, and stores the generated installer as a workflow artifact in addition to attaching it to the GitHub release.
+- **Release process updated for mutable drafts** — `2.5.1` is intended to be assembled as a draft release first so assets can be uploaded and checked before publishing.
+- **Desktop download references updated** — README and website Electron docs now point Linux download filenames from `2.5.0` to `2.5.1`.
+
+#### Fixed
+
+- **Windows CI `npm ci` failure** — Synced `package-lock.json` so the Windows installer workflow no longer fails immediately on dependency mismatches.
+- **Windows native rebuild failure (`spawnSync npx.cmd EINVAL`)** — The Electron `afterPack` hook now invokes `node-gyp` directly through Node instead of shelling through `npx`, which fixes the Windows rebuild path for `better-sqlite3`.
+- **Missing Windows installer icon resource** — NSIS packaging no longer fails looking for `electron/assets/icons/icon.ico`; the expected icon file now exists in the repo and is bundled correctly.
+- **Manual release/tag coupling issue** — Workflow-dispatch builds no longer assume the release tag is also the ref to check out, which avoids mismatches when preparing a draft release before the final tag flow is settled.
+- **Windows installer workflow visibility** — The workflow now surfaces a concrete failure earlier if no installer file is produced, making debugging much clearer.
+
+#### Included from `2.5.0`
+
+- **Column drag-and-drop** with persisted category ordering
+- **Card reorder consistency fixes** and optimistic drag/drop updates
+- **Expanded personalization settings** including resizable sidebar/columns and typography controls
+- **Electron packaging fixes** for Turbopack alias packages, Prisma client bundling, and `better-sqlite3` Electron ABI handling
+- **Desktop packaging documentation updates** and refreshed release/download guidance
+
 ## [2.5.0] - 2026-03-04
 
 ### 🎯 Category Ordering, Drag-and-Drop, Neon Glow UI & Electron Packaging Fix

README.md

@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@ docker compose logs -f       # follow logs
 
 ### 🖥️ **Desktop App (Electron)**
 
-Runs ByteBox as a native installed application. Currently available for **Linux**.
+Runs ByteBox as a native installed application. Pre-built Linux installers are hosted on Cloudflare R2, and Windows installers are published through GitHub releases.
 
 **Download pre-built installers from the [ByteBox website](https://bytebox.pro/electron-desktop/):**
 
 | Format                | Link                                                                                                   |
 | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
-| AppImage (any distro) | [ByteBox-2.5.0.AppImage](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/ByteBox-2.5.0.AppImage)   |
-| .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)  | [bytebox_2.5.0_amd64.deb](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/bytebox_2.5.0_amd64.deb) |
+| AppImage (any distro) | [ByteBox-2.5.1.AppImage](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/ByteBox-2.5.1.AppImage)   |
+| .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)  | [bytebox_2.5.1_amd64.deb](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/bytebox_2.5.1_amd64.deb) |
 
 Or build from source:
 

package-lock.json

@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "bytebox",
-  "private": true,
   "author": {
     "name": "Pink Pixel",
-    "email": "admino@pinkpixel.dev",
+    "email": "admin@pinkpixel.dev",
     "url": "https://pinkpixel.dev"
   },
   "description": "A dashboard app for developers",
-  "version": "2.5.0",
+  "version": "2.5.1",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist-electron/main.cjs",
   "include": [

package.json

@@ -5,6 +5,16 @@ description: Major ByteBox milestones and what changed.
 
 For complete historical detail, see root `CHANGELOG.md`. This page captures major platform milestones.
 
+## `2.5.1` (March 12, 2026)
+
+- Rolls the `2.5.0` feature work into a fresh installer-focused release
+- Windows NSIS installer pipeline is now working end-to-end through GitHub Actions
+- Release workflow hardened for manual draft releases with a separate build ref input
+- Windows native-module rebuild no longer shells through `npx`, fixing the `spawnSync npx.cmd EINVAL` failure
+- Added a proper multi-size Windows `.ico` for installer, Start menu, taskbar, and desktop shortcut rendering
+- Synced the package lockfile so Windows `npm ci` succeeds in CI
+- Desktop download references updated to `2.5.1`
+
 ## `2.5.0` (March 3, 2026)
 
 - Category column drag-and-drop reordering — grab the `⠿` handle and drag columns into any order

website/src/content/docs/changelog.md

@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ Pre-built installers are hosted on Cloudflare R2:
 
 | Format                | Link                                                                                                   |
 | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
-| AppImage (any distro) | [ByteBox-2.5.0.AppImage](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/ByteBox-2.5.0.AppImage)   |
-| .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)  | [bytebox_2.5.0_amd64.deb](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/bytebox_2.5.0_amd64.deb) |
+| AppImage (any distro) | [ByteBox-2.5.1.AppImage](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/ByteBox-2.5.1.AppImage)   |
+| .deb (Debian/Ubuntu)  | [bytebox_2.5.1_amd64.deb](https://pub-52c1c4beebd34721b63e30b05b1b04de.r2.dev/bytebox_2.5.1_amd64.deb) |
 
 ## Notes