Latest Updates

Release Safety & Infrastructure

• Hardened Update PipelineRelease scripts now refuse versions older than known shipped releases, preventing accidental downgrades.
• Verified Hledger BinariesHledger promoted to a verified release dependency with pinned checksums and an in-app repair path.
• CI Release BuildsAdded GitHub CI builds for macOS, Linux, and Windows with generated release checksums.
• Electron Smoke TestsIsolated smoke gate covering startup, Hledger, save/read, goals, settings, and clear-data behavior.

Dashboard & UX Polish

• Heatmap Calendar UpgradeRebuilt with Activity, Volume, and Savings modes plus compact and expanded states.
• Streak Widget ReworkSmaller status control with visible consistency percent and integrated progress bar.
• Smarter Goals & TagsConnected savings and debt goals to transaction purpose for consistent calculations.
• Transaction Form PolishCleaner create/edit layout with predictable footer actions and improved detail views.

Improved UX & Bug Fixes

• Quarter Navigation FixFixed quarter selection reliability across dashboard, graphs, budget, and insights views.
• Filter CleanupRemoved duplicate heatmap filter button — the transaction toolbar filter is now the single source.
• Toolbar RefinementsImproved lower toolbar filter, sort, slider, and expand/collapse button consistency.
• Stability ImprovementsResolved edge-case data loading issues and improved background sync reliability.

New — Couples Mode & Advanced Streaks

• Shared Vaults & ProfilesCreate shared vaults on synced folders, with dual profiles and a joint 'Household' view.
• Mixed & Combined ModesKeep individual expenses private, or merge fully. Your choice.
• The Streak PulseMonitor logging, savings goals, debt repayment, and mindfulness notes.
• Pro Device PortalManage your Pro devices with a secure magic link, no passwords required.

Data Safety & Reliability

• Built-in Journal RecoveryLoads app-created journals automatically when the external Hledger binary is missing.
• Read-Only Recovery ModeBlocks saving if a journal cannot be safely parsed, preventing accidental overwrites.
• Honest Hledger StatusDistinguishes between journal existence and Hledger binary availability.
• Bundled Hledger BinariesRelease builds now securely include official Hledger binaries.

Native Onboarding Restored

• Fresh Install WizardNative onboarding wizard now opens reliably on fresh installs without external services.
• Immediate First SaveSetup and seed data is fully flushed before the app reloads.
• Flag RepairLocal onboarding fallback flags are reconciled back to the file-based onboarding flag where possible.

The "Big Refactor" Release

• Hledger PowerFully migrated to the Hledger accounting engine for professional-grade, plain-text journals.
• Blazing PerformanceFaster launches and lower memory usage after removing 50k+ lines of legacy code.
• Dynamic Headers & UICompact vs Expanded views, frosted-glass splash screen, and centralized Global Search.
• Pro Power ToolsStreak Heatmap visualization, advanced forecasts, and new animation/theme presets.

New — Hledger Integration

• Plain-Text Accounting EngineBudgetNote now uses Hledger under the hood — your finances are stored in a human-readable journal file you own forever.

Fixed & Improved

• Payment MethodsFixed dropdowns showing garbled text instead of method names.
• Transaction AmountsFixed amounts occasionally displaying as invalid numbers after saving.
• Data RepairAdded automatic detection and repair for corrupted entries.
• Seamless SyncData updates now happen silently in the background — no more disruptive popups or screen flashes.

Fixed

• Onboarding LoopResolved an issue where new users could get stuck in an infinite onboarding loop.
• Data StorageSimplified storage to a single data file for improved reliability.

Fixed & Improved

• App IconUpdated to the new transparent logo design with correct dimensions for all platforms.
• Installation reliabilityAdded robust error handling and dialogs to prevent silent failures on startup (Windows/Mac).
• StartupFixed "UI nowhere to be found" issues by forcing window visibility if loading is delayed.

Performance Optimizations

• Faster InstallerOptimized packaging to significantly reduce installer creation time and size.
• Instant LaunchEnabled asar compression to fix wizard freezing and speed up application startup.
• Improved ResponsivenessAdded debounce logic to data saving to prevent filesystem errors during rapid changes.
• Reduced Resource UsageOptimized backend path checks to eliminate repetitive disk I/O and log spam.

Fixed & Improved

• Windows UIFixed issue with non-resizable windows and sharp corners by disabling transparency (Windows limitation).
• InstallerEnhanced Windows installer with a proper setup wizard, license agreement (EULA), and destination folder selection.
• LayoutFixed header overlap issues with native window controls.
• StabilityReverted experimental Snap Layouts implementation to ensure reliable native window management.

This is the first live release of BudgetNote, a local-first budgeting app designed for mindful money management.

Core Features

• Local-First ArchitectureAll your financial data stays on your device in a structured vault
• Transaction TrackingLog income and expenses with sources, amounts, dates, and tags
• Smart TaggingOrganize transactions with customizable color-coded tags
• Multi-Year SupportTrack finances across multiple years with easy year switching

Budgeting & Goals

• Budget LimitsSet spending limits for expense categories
• Savings GoalsCreate and track progress towards financial goals
• Limit AlertsVisual indicators when approaching or exceeding budgets

Insights & Analytics

• Interactive Charts15+ chart types including Category breakdown, Income vs Expenses, Net trends, and more.
• AI HighlightsSmart detection of spending patterns and anomalies
• Monthly NotesAdd reflections and context to your financial months

User Experience

• Beautiful Themes14 curated color palettes including Miami Nights, Aurora
• Custom AccentsPersonalize your experience
• Smooth AnimationsMultiple animation styles
• Keyboard ShortcutsPower user shortcuts for common actions
• Multi-LanguageSupport for 10 languages

Desktop App

• Cross-PlatformAvailable for macOS and Windows
• Auto-UpdatesAutomatic update checking and installation
• Native IntegrationCustom window controls and system integration

Technical

• Electron 39.x for desktop builds
• Structured JSON vault storage with automatic backups
• GitHub-based auto-updates via electron-updater
• Zero-telemetry, privacy-first design