v0.0.2: spotlight input bar, system theme sync, persistent spotlight position

Author: tjbck

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -133,13 +133,16 @@ jobs:
                   APPLE_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID }}
                   APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_PASSWORD }}
                   APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID }}
+                  ELECTRON_BUILDER_BINARIES_MIRROR: https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/
               run: npx electron-builder --mac --${{ matrix.arch }} -c.mac.identity=auto -c.mac.notarize=true --publish never
 
             - name: Package for macOS (unsigned fallback)
               if: matrix.os == 'macos-latest' && (steps.apple_cert.outcome != 'success' || steps.mac_build_signed.outcome == 'failure')
+              env:
+                  ELECTRON_BUILDER_BINARIES_MIRROR: https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder-binaries/releases/download/
               run: |
                   rm -rf dist/
-                  npx electron-builder --mac --${{ matrix.arch }} --publish never
+                  npx electron-builder --mac --${{ matrix.arch }} -c.mac.notarize=false --publish never
 
             - name: Package for Linux
               if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,23 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+## [0.0.2] - 2026-04-06
+
+### Added
+
+- **Spotlight Input Bar** — Lightweight quick-chat bar (⇧⌘I) for submitting queries without opening the full app
+- **Spotlight Shortcut** — Dedicated configurable shortcut for the spotlight, independent from the global app shortcut
+- **Draggable Spotlight** — Spotlight bar can be dragged to any position on screen
+- **Persistent Spotlight Position** — Spotlight position is saved to config and restored across app restarts
+- **Spotlight Settings** — Shortcut recorder in Settings → General for the spotlight shortcut
+
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **System Theme Sync** — App now listens for OS dark/light mode changes in real-time when set to "Auto" (previously only checked once at startup)
+
 ## [0.0.1] - 2026-03-20
 
 ### Added

electron.vite.config.ts

@@ -14,12 +14,21 @@ export default defineConfig({
       rollupOptions: {
         input: {
           index: resolve(__dirname, 'src/preload/index.ts'),
-          'content-preload': resolve(__dirname, 'src/preload/content-preload.ts')
+          'content-preload': resolve(__dirname, 'src/preload/content-preload.ts'),
+          'spotlight-preload': resolve(__dirname, 'src/preload/spotlight-preload.ts')
         }
       }
     }
   },
   renderer: {
+    build: {
+      rollupOptions: {
+        input: {
+          index: resolve(__dirname, 'src/renderer/index.html'),
+          spotlight: resolve(__dirname, 'src/renderer/spotlight.html')
+        }
+      }
+    },
     plugins: [tailwindcss(), svelte()]
   }
 })

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "open-webui",
-  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "version": "0.0.2",
   "license": "AGPL-3.0",
   "description": "Open WebUI Desktop",
   "main": "./out/main/index.js",

src/main/index.ts

@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ if (process.platform === 'linux') {
 
 let mainWindow: BrowserWindow | null = null
 let contentWindow: BrowserWindow | null = null
+let spotlightWindow: BrowserWindow | null = null
 let tray: Tray | null = null
 let isQuiting = false
 
@@ -103,34 +104,151 @@ let SERVER_STATUS: string | null = null
 let SERVER_REACHABLE = false
 let SERVER_PID: number | null = null
 
-// ─── Global Shortcut ────────────────────────────────────
+// ─── Global Shortcuts ───────────────────────────────────
 
-const registerGlobalShortcut = (accelerator?: string): void => {
+const registerShortcuts = (globalAccel?: string, spotlightAccel?: string): void => {
   globalShortcut.unregisterAll()
-  if (!accelerator) return
-  try {
-    globalShortcut.register(accelerator, () => {
-      if (contentWindow && !contentWindow.isDestroyed()) {
-        contentWindow.show()
-        contentWindow.focus()
+
+  // Global shortcut – bring main window to foreground
+  if (globalAccel) {
+    try {
+      globalShortcut.register(globalAccel, () => {
+        if (mainWindow) {
+          mainWindow.show()
+          mainWindow.focus()
+        } else {
+          createMainWindow()
+        }
+      })
+    } catch (error) {
+      log.warn('Failed to register global shortcut:', globalAccel, error)
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Spotlight shortcut – toggle the spotlight input bar
+  if (spotlightAccel) {
+    try {
+      globalShortcut.register(spotlightAccel, () => {
+        toggleSpotlight()
+      })
+    } catch (error) {
+      log.warn('Failed to register spotlight shortcut:', spotlightAccel, error)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// ─── Spotlight Window ───────────────────────────────────
+
+// Remember where the user dragged the spotlight
+let spotlightPosition: { x: number; y: number } | null = null
+
+// Load persisted spotlight position from config (call after CONFIG is loaded)
+function loadSpotlightPosition(): void {
+  if (CONFIG?.spotlightPosition) {
+    spotlightPosition = { ...CONFIG.spotlightPosition }
+  }
+}
+
+function getDefaultSpotlightPosition(): { x: number; y: number } {
+  const { screen } = require('electron')
+  const cursorPoint = screen.getCursorScreenPoint()
+  const activeDisplay = screen.getDisplayNearestPoint(cursorPoint)
+  const { width: screenW } = activeDisplay.workAreaSize
+  const { x: screenX, y: screenY } = activeDisplay.workArea
+  const winW = 748
+  return {
+    x: Math.round(screenX + (screenW - winW) / 2),
+    y: Math.round(screenY + 160)
+  }
+}
+
+function createSpotlightWindow(): BrowserWindow {
+  const pos = spotlightPosition || getDefaultSpotlightPosition()
+
+  const winW = 748
+  const winH = 86
+
+  spotlightWindow = new BrowserWindow({
+    width: winW,
+    height: winH,
+    x: pos.x,
+    y: pos.y,
+    frame: false,
+    transparent: true,
+    alwaysOnTop: true,
+    skipTaskbar: true,
+    resizable: false,
+    hasShadow: false,
+    show: false,
+    icon: path.join(__dirname, 'assets/icon.png'),
+    webPreferences: {
+      preload: join(__dirname, '../preload/spotlight-preload.js'),
+      sandbox: false,
+      webviewTag: false
+    }
+  })
+
+  if (is.dev && process.env['ELECTRON_RENDERER_URL']) {
+    spotlightWindow.loadURL(`${process.env['ELECTRON_RENDERER_URL']}/spotlight.html`)
+  } else {
+    spotlightWindow.loadFile(join(__dirname, '../renderer/spotlight.html'))
+  }
+
+  // Save position when user drags to a new spot
+  spotlightWindow.on('moved', () => {
+    if (spotlightWindow && !spotlightWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+      const [x, y] = spotlightWindow.getPosition()
+      spotlightPosition = { x, y }
+      // Persist to config for cross-session recall
+      setConfig({ spotlightPosition: { x, y } }).catch((err) =>
+        log.warn('Failed to persist spotlight position:', err)
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  spotlightWindow.on('blur', () => {
+    spotlightWindow?.hide()
+  })
+
+  spotlightWindow.on('closed', () => {
+    spotlightWindow = null
+  })
+
+  return spotlightWindow
+}
+
+function toggleSpotlight(): void {
+  if (spotlightWindow && !spotlightWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+    if (spotlightWindow.isVisible()) {
+      spotlightWindow.hide()
+    } else {
+      // Restore to saved position, or default if none saved
+      if (spotlightPosition) {
+        spotlightWindow.setPosition(spotlightPosition.x, spotlightPosition.y)
       } else {
-        mainWindow?.show()
-        mainWindow?.focus()
+        const pos = getDefaultSpotlightPosition()
+        spotlightWindow.setPosition(pos.x, pos.y)
       }
+      spotlightWindow.show()
+      spotlightWindow.focus()
+    }
+  } else {
+    const win = createSpotlightWindow()
+    win.once('ready-to-show', () => {
+      win.show()
+      win.focus()
     })
-  } catch (error) {
-    log.warn('Failed to register global shortcut:', accelerator, error)
   }
 }
 
 // ─── Windows ────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 function createMainWindow(show = true): void {
   mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
-    width: 1100,
-    height: 700,
-    minWidth: 900,
-    minHeight: 560,
+    width: 1280,
+    height: 800,
+    minWidth: 1280,
+    minHeight: 800,
     icon: path.join(__dirname, 'assets/icon.png'),
     show: false,
     titleBarStyle: process.platform === 'win32' ? 'default' : 'hidden',
@@ -192,10 +310,10 @@ function createContentWindow(url: string, connectionId: string): BrowserWindow {
   }
 
   contentWindow = new BrowserWindow({
-    width: 1200,
+    width: 1280,
     height: 800,
-    minWidth: 900,
-    minHeight: 560,
+    minWidth: 1280,
+    minHeight: 800,
     icon: path.join(__dirname, 'assets/icon.png'),
     show: false,
     titleBarStyle: process.platform === 'win32' ? 'default' : 'hidden',
@@ -603,6 +721,7 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
 
   app.whenReady().then(async () => {
     CONFIG = await getConfig()
+    loadSpotlightPosition()
     log.info('Config:', CONFIG)
 
     app.name = 'Open WebUI'
@@ -649,7 +768,7 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
       await setConfig(config)
       CONFIG = await getConfig()
       updateTray()
-      registerGlobalShortcut(CONFIG.globalShortcut)
+      registerShortcuts(CONFIG.globalShortcut, CONFIG.spotlightShortcut)
     })
 
     // Python/uv
@@ -803,6 +922,43 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
     // Misc
     ipcMain.handle('app:reset', () => resetAppHandler())
 
+    // Spotlight
+    ipcMain.handle('spotlight:submit', async (_event, query: string) => {
+      const config = await getConfig()
+      if (!config.defaultConnectionId || config.connections.length === 0) {
+        // No default connection — just show main window
+        mainWindow?.show()
+        mainWindow?.focus()
+        return
+      }
+      const conn = config.connections.find((c) => c.id === config.defaultConnectionId)
+      if (!conn) {
+        mainWindow?.show()
+        mainWindow?.focus()
+        return
+      }
+
+      let url = conn.url
+      if (conn.type === 'local' && SERVER_URL) {
+        url = SERVER_URL
+      }
+      if (url.startsWith('http://0.0.0.0')) {
+        url = url.replace('http://0.0.0.0', 'http://localhost')
+      }
+
+      // Navigate to the connection URL with query
+      const targetUrl = `${url}/?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`
+      sendToRenderer('connection:open', { url: targetUrl, connectionId: conn.id })
+
+      // Show main window and hide spotlight
+      mainWindow?.show()
+      mainWindow?.focus()
+      spotlightWindow?.hide()
+    })
+    ipcMain.handle('spotlight:close', () => {
+      spotlightWindow?.hide()
+    })
+
     // Open Terminal
     ipcMain.handle('open-terminal:start', async () => {
       try {
@@ -1058,7 +1214,7 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
 
 
     // Global shortcut
-    registerGlobalShortcut(CONFIG.globalShortcut)
+    registerShortcuts(CONFIG.globalShortcut, CONFIG.spotlightShortcut)
 
     // Enable screen capture
     session.defaultSession.setDisplayMediaRequestHandler(
@@ -1145,6 +1301,10 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
     globalShortcut.unregisterAll()
     mainWindow = null
     contentWindow = null
+    if (spotlightWindow && !spotlightWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+      spotlightWindow.destroy()
+    }
+    spotlightWindow = null
     tray?.destroy()
     tray = null
   })

src/main/utils/index.ts

@@ -780,6 +780,7 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   connections: Connection[]
   runInBackground: boolean
   globalShortcut: string
+  spotlightShortcut: string
   dataDir: string
   localServer: {
     port: number
@@ -800,6 +801,7 @@ export interface AppConfig {
   }
   envVars: Record<string, string>
   showSidebar: boolean
+  spotlightPosition: { x: number; y: number } | null
 }
 
 const DEFAULT_CONFIG: AppConfig = {
@@ -808,6 +810,7 @@ const DEFAULT_CONFIG: AppConfig = {
   connections: [],
   runInBackground: true,
   globalShortcut: 'Alt+CommandOrControl+O',
+  spotlightShortcut: 'Shift+CommandOrControl+I',
   dataDir: '',
   localServer: {
     port: 8080,
@@ -825,7 +828,8 @@ const DEFAULT_CONFIG: AppConfig = {
     extraArgs: []
   },
   envVars: {},
-  showSidebar: true
+  showSidebar: true,
+  spotlightPosition: null
 }
 
 export const getConfig = async (): Promise<AppConfig> => {

src/preload/spotlight-preload.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { ipcRenderer, contextBridge } from 'electron'
+
+const api = {
+  submitQuery: (query: string): void => {
+    ipcRenderer.invoke('spotlight:submit', query)
+  },
+  closeSpotlight: (): void => {
+    ipcRenderer.invoke('spotlight:close')
+  }
+}
+
+if (process.contextIsolated) {
+  try {
+    contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('spotlightAPI', api)
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(error)
+  }
+} else {
+  // @ts-ignore
+  window.spotlightAPI = api
+}