Releases: helvecioneto/vars
Release 1.2.2
🚀 VARS - Release Notes v1.2.2
We are excited to announce VARS version 1.2.2! This update primarily focuses on stabilizing the application's visual interface (UI) and optimizing the Smart Listener interactions.
✨ New Features & Improvements
- Refined Design & Layout:
- Goodbye Transparent Frames: We removed the native OS drop-shadows on floating windows (
hasShadow: false) to resolve dynamic resizing glitches, ensuring smoother transitions when interacting with dropdown menus. - Controlled Spacing: We added inner margins (
24pxpadding) to both the main and AI response windows. The app's custom CSS shadows now render perfectly without clipping. - Improved Positioning: The initial vertical gap (
GAP) between the main window and the response window has been adjusted to prevent them from overlapping when opened for the first time.
- Goodbye Transparent Frames: We removed the native OS drop-shadows on floating windows (
- History Management: We've introduced a new Clear Responses button! You can now easily empty the processed questions queue and keep your workspace tidy.
🐛 Bug Fixes & Optimizations
- Smart Listener Performance: Resolved intermittent slowdown issues within the Smart Listener feature. The invisible listening and processing pipeline now runs far more efficiently and responsively.
- AI Response Window Rendering Tweaks: Fixed bugs that caused the response window to be displaced when using sequential click navigation. The core components (index.js and bounds.js) have been updated to calculate and broadcast the real container height with absolute precision.
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.2.1...v1.2.2
Release 1.2.1
VARS v1.2.1 Release Notes
🎯 Smart Listener Improvements
This release focuses on enhancing the Smart Listener experience with refined behavior and improved UI handling for multiple detected questions.
🚀 What's New
Smart Listener Behavior Optimization
- No redundant final response: When Smart Listener mode is active, VARS no longer sends a final AI response when recording stops. Since Smart Listener already provides incremental responses to detected questions during transcription, sending the entire transcript again was redundant. This optimization reduces unnecessary API calls and improves the workflow efficiency.
- Applied to both standard recording finalization and Linux system audio finalization
- Transcription is still displayed normally, but the final AI query is skipped when Smart Listener is enabled
Enhanced Question Tabs UI
- Multi-line tab layout: The Smart Listener question tabs in the response window now wrap to multiple lines when more than 10 questions are detected, preventing tabs from being hidden off-screen.
- Changed from horizontal scrolling to automatic line wrapping
- Maintains clean visual organization regardless of the number of detected questions
- Improves accessibility to all detected questions without requiring horizontal scrolling
🔧 Technical Details
Modified Files:
src/renderer/recording/index.js- Added Smart Listener check infinalizeRecording()src/renderer/recording/transcription.js- Added Smart Listener check infinalizeLinuxSystemAudio()src/renderer/response-window/styles.css- Changed.sl-queue-tabsto useflex-wrap: wrap
📋 How It Works
When Smart Listener is active:
- Questions/key points are detected incrementally during transcription (every 5 seconds)
- AI responses are generated for each detected question
- When recording stops, only the transcription is finalized (no additional AI response)
- This prevents duplicate responses and reduces API usage
💡 Benefits
- Cost-effective: Reduces unnecessary API calls when using Smart Listener mode
- Better UX: Clearer workflow - Smart Listener focuses on incremental Q&A, not final summarization
- Improved visibility: All detected questions remain visible and accessible in the UI
- Consistent behavior: Smart Listener mode now has a distinct, optimized workflow
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.2.0...v1.2.1
Release 1.2.0
🎉 VARS v1.2.0 - Major UI & Interaction Improvements
We're excited to announce VARS v1.2.0, featuring powerful new interaction modes and a completely redesigned response display system. This release focuses on improving workflow flexibility and visual customization.
✨ What's New
🖱️ Click-Through Mode
A revolutionary new way to interact with VARS! Enable click-through mode to make the application window transparent to mouse events, allowing you to click through to applications behind it.
Features:
- Global Toggle: Activate/deactivate using keyboard shortcut (
⌥+Ton macOS,Ctrl+Alt+Ton Windows/Linux) - One-Click Control: New toolbar button next to History for quick access
- Smart Interaction: Hold
Ctrlto temporarily interact with VARS while in click-through mode (macOS/Windows) - Visual Feedback: Elegant purple glow indicates when click-through is active
- Multi-Window Support: Works seamlessly on both main and response windows
- Cross-Platform: Full support for macOS, Windows, and Linux
Use Cases:
- Keep VARS visible while working on code or documents
- Monitor AI responses while interacting with other applications
- Create a true overlay experience without window obstruction
🪟 Dedicated Response Window
VARS now displays AI responses in a separate, independent window with intelligent auto-resize capabilities.
Features:
- Dynamic Sizing: Automatically adjusts height based on content
- Smart Positioning: Remembers window position between sessions
- Independent Controls: Move and resize without affecting the main window
- Content Management: Built-in copy and regenerate buttons
- Question Display: Shows your original question alongside the response
- Code Highlighting: Enhanced syntax display for code blocks with copy buttons
Benefits:
- Work with multiple responses simultaneously
- Keep prompts visible while reviewing responses
- Better organization of your AI interactions
- More screen real estate for complex outputs
🎨 Response Window Opacity Controls
Fine-tune the visibility of your response window with precision opacity controls.
Features:
- Adjustable Transparency: Range from 20% to 100% opacity
- Quick Access Buttons: Increase/decrease opacity directly from the response window footer
- Persistent Settings: Your opacity preferences are saved automatically
- Visual Balance: Find the perfect balance between visibility and focus
- Per-Window Control: Response window opacity is independent from main window
🔧 Technical Improvements
- Enhanced IPC communication between main and response windows
- Improved cross-platform mouse event handling
- Optimized window state synchronization
- Better memory management for multiple windows
- Enhanced CSS architecture with visual state indicators
🚀 Getting Started with New Features
Enabling Click-Through Mode
- Click the cursor icon button in the toolbar (next to History)
- Or press
⌥+T(macOS) /Ctrl+Alt+T(Windows/Linux) - Notice the purple glow around the window border
- Hold
Ctrlto interact with VARS temporarily - Toggle again to disable
Using the Response Window
- Ask any question or prompt to VARS
- The response automatically opens in a dedicated window
- Adjust opacity using the +/- buttons in the footer
- Click Regenerate to get a new response for the same prompt
- Use Copy to copy the entire response to clipboard
💡 Tips
- Productivity Boost: Enable click-through mode and position VARS at the top of your screen for constant AI availability
- Multi-Monitor Setup: Move the response window to a secondary monitor for reference while working
- Opacity Tuning: Lower opacity when you need to see content behind the window, increase for focused reading
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Master the shortcuts for faster workflow (
⌥+Tfor click-through,⌥+Spacefor recording)
🐛 Bug Fixes & Improvements
- Fixed window focus issues when toggling modes
- Improved resize performance on Linux systems
- Enhanced tooltip system with clearer instructions
- Better state management across multiple windows
- Improved cross-platform keyboard shortcut handling
📝 Full Changelog
feat:Implement clickthrough functionality with UI controls and state managementfeat:Implement response window opacity controls with UI buttons and config persistencefeat:Implement dedicated, dynamically resizable response window for AI outputs- Various performance optimizations and bug fixes
🔗 Links
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.1.9...v1.2.0
Enjoy VARS v1.2.0! 🎉
Release 1.1.9
Release Notes — VARS v1.1.9
🎙️ Local Whisper Transcription
- Offline transcription now fully working — no API key or internet required
- Fixed
"No duration found"error when decoding webm audio: audio is now converted to WAV (16kHz mono) viaffmpeg-staticbefore being processed by whisper.cpp - Added language mapping so that locale codes like
pt-brare correctly converted to ISO 639-1 (pt) for Whisper
⚙️ Settings Redesign (IA Tab)
- Replaced confusing toggle buttons with 3 clean
<select>elements:- CONNECTION:
OpenAI (OAuth)/OpenAI (API Key)/Gemini (API Key) - MODEL: Select AI model preset — dynamically populated with real model names (e.g.,
Fast (gpt-4o-mini),Balanced (gemini-2.5-flash)) - TRANSCRIPTION:
Local Whisper (Free, Offline)/Cloud (OpenAI API Key)/Cloud (Gemini API Key)
- CONNECTION:
- Model preset options are grouped by provider (OpenAI / Google) with optgroups
- Renamed tab label from "API" to "IA"
🔐 Authentication Fixes
- OAuth disconnect now fully clears credentials: deletes
~/.codex/auth.jsonand removes macOS Keychain entry - Fixed silent API key fallback: when using Auth (Default) mode after logout, the app no longer secretly falls back to a previously saved API key. It now correctly shows an error asking the user to authenticate
- Same fix applied to realtime transcription handler
🎨 UI Polish
- Login, Download, and Delete buttons restyled to match app design system (borderless, subtle background, accent color on hover)
- Removed redundant hint text from OAuth and transcription sections
- Removed non-existent "Auth" transcription preset option
📦 Build & Packaging
- Fixed missing Applications icon in macOS DMG installer: replaced manual
hdiutil+ symlink approach withcreate-dmg, which creates a proper alias with the native Applications folder icon
📄 Documentation
- Complete README.md rewrite reflecting all current features:
- Flexible Authentication (OAuth, API Keys)
- Local Whisper transcription engine with model management
- AI Prompt Tools (System Prompt, Optimizer, Brief Mode)
- Guided Onboarding, Auto-Update, Settings Tabs reference
- Updated project structure, model tables, and troubleshooting
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.8...v1.0.9
Release 1.0.9
Release Notes — VARS v1.0.9
🎙️ Local Whisper Transcription
- Offline transcription now fully working — no API key or internet required
- Fixed
"No duration found"error when decoding webm audio: audio is now converted to WAV (16kHz mono) viaffmpeg-staticbefore being processed by whisper.cpp - Added language mapping so that locale codes like
pt-brare correctly converted to ISO 639-1 (pt) for Whisper
⚙️ Settings Redesign (IA Tab)
- Replaced confusing toggle buttons with 3 clean
<select>elements:- CONNECTION:
OpenAI (OAuth)/OpenAI (API Key)/Gemini (API Key) - MODEL: Select AI model preset — dynamically populated with real model names (e.g.,
Fast (gpt-4o-mini),Balanced (gemini-2.5-flash)) - TRANSCRIPTION:
Local Whisper (Free, Offline)/Cloud (OpenAI API Key)/Cloud (Gemini API Key)
- CONNECTION:
- Model preset options are grouped by provider (OpenAI / Google) with optgroups
- Renamed tab label from "API" to "IA"
🔐 Authentication Fixes
- OAuth disconnect now fully clears credentials: deletes
~/.codex/auth.jsonand removes macOS Keychain entry - Fixed silent API key fallback: when using Auth (Default) mode after logout, the app no longer secretly falls back to a previously saved API key. It now correctly shows an error asking the user to authenticate
- Same fix applied to realtime transcription handler
🎨 UI Polish
- Login, Download, and Delete buttons restyled to match app design system (borderless, subtle background, accent color on hover)
- Removed redundant hint text from OAuth and transcription sections
- Removed non-existent "Auth" transcription preset option
📦 Build & Packaging
- Fixed missing Applications icon in macOS DMG installer: replaced manual
hdiutil+ symlink approach withcreate-dmg, which creates a proper alias with the native Applications folder icon
📄 Documentation
- Complete README.md rewrite reflecting all current features:
- Flexible Authentication (OAuth, API Keys)
- Local Whisper transcription engine with model management
- AI Prompt Tools (System Prompt, Optimizer, Brief Mode)
- Guided Onboarding, Auto-Update, Settings Tabs reference
- Updated project structure, model tables, and troubleshooting
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.8...v1.0.9
Release 1.0.8
VARS v1.0.8 Release Notes
🚀 New Features
✨ Smart Prompt Optimizer
You can now optimize System Prompts with a single click!
- Optimize Button: Uses AI to automatically rewrite and structure your prompt for better results.
- Revert Mode: Instantly revert to the original prompt if you prefer the previous version.
- Multi-language Support: Automatically detects and maintains your prompt's language (EN/PT/ES).
🛠️ Engineering & Performance
- AI Engine Modularization: Complete refactoring of
GoogleandOpenAIproviders into smaller, more maintainable modules. - Optimized IPC Handlers: Main/Renderer communication has been split into specific modules (
ai,audio,config, etc.), improving organization and stability. - CSS Performance: Revised animations and transitions to reduce background CPU/GPU usage.
🐛 Bug Fixes
- Fixed a startup crash caused by ESM module imports (
uuid) during build. - Fixed layout issues in the System Prompt textarea.
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.7...v1.0.8
Release 1.0.7
Release Notes - v1.0.7
We are excited to announce the latest update for VARS! This release focuses on improving the user experience with a more modern UI, better window management, and under-the-hood architectural improvements.
🚀 Key Features
- Auto-Update Mechanism: VARS now automatically checks for updates on startup and notifies you when a new version is available. You can also manually check for updates in the Settings > About tab.
- Modernized Interface: The AI response screen has been redesigned with a compact layout, cleaner aesthetics, and improved readability.
- Window Management:
- Centering: The window now automatically centers itself on your primary display.
- Transparency Controls: You can now adjust the window opacity directly from the Interface settings or using keyboard shortcuts.
- Drag Logic: Improved window dragging behavior for a smoother experience.
🛠 Improvements & Refactors
- Modular Architecture: The renderer process code has been significantly refactored and modularized, improving stability and making the application easier to maintain.
- Event Handling: Fixed various UI event issues to ensure consistent responsiveness.
- Regenerate Feature: Added a specialized button to easily regenerate AI responses.
📦 Commits Included
- feat: implement auto-update check mechanism
- feat: center window, add transparency controls and refine drag logic
- Refactor: Modularize renderer process and fix UI/Event issues
- feat(ui): Modernize response screen with compact layout and regenerate feature
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.6...v1.0.7
Release 1.0.6
VARS v1.0.6 Release Notes
We are excited to announce version 1.0.6 of VARS! This release focuses on enhancing the AI knowledge base capabilities and significantly improving the user interface experience.
🚀 New Features
Google Gemini Knowledge Base
- Advanced File Search: Integrated Google's File Search capabilities to allow the AI to answer questions based on your uploaded documents.
- SDK Migration: Upgraded to the new
@google/genaiSDK for more robust and faster API interactions. - Improved AI Responses: Enhanced response generation logic to better utilize the knowledge base context.
🎨 UI & UX Improvements
- Global Window Dragging: You can now drag the application window by clicking and holding anywhere on the interface (except on text inputs), making it easier to position VARS exactly where you need it.
- Dynamic Window Resizing: The application now intelligently remembers and adjusts its window size when switching between different views (e.g., Settings vs. Main Toolbar).
- Polished Interface: refined responsive styling and improved scrolling behavior for a smoother experience.
Full Changelog:
- feat: Navigate Google Gemini File Search API interactions from direct fetch calls to the new
@google/genaiSDK. - feat: integrate Google File Search (Knowledge Base) functionality, including store management and AI response generation.
- feat: Implement dynamic window resizing for UI modes, refine responsive styling, and improve scrolling behavior.
- feat: Implement global window dragging from most UI elements, excluding input fields, and remove the dedicated drag button.
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.5...v1.0.6
Release 1.0.5
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.4...v1.0.5
Release 1.0.4
Download e Instalação
Windows
Para instalar:
- Baixe o arquivo
.exe - Se aparecer "Windows protegeu seu PC", clique em "Mais informações" → "Executar assim mesmo"
macOS
Para instalar no macOS:
- Baixe o arquivo
.dmg(arm64 para M1/M2/M3 ou x64 para Intel) - Monte o DMG e arraste o app para a pasta Aplicativos
- IMPORTANTE: Antes de abrir, vá em Preferências do Sistema → Segurança e Privacidade → Geral e clique em "Abrir mesmo assim" para permitir que o app seja executado.
- Abra o aplicativo normalmente
Linux
- Baixe o arquivo
.AppImage - Torne-o executável:
chmod +x VARS-*.AppImage - Execute:
./VARS-*.AppImage
Full Changelog: v1.0.3...v1.0.4