feat: implement automatic startup update check

- Add automatic GitHub release check on startup
- Display update notification in the footer with version delta
- Skip update checks for development builds
- Update version to 1.1.8
- Expand built-in themes from 12 to 32
- Add interactive demo gif to README

docs: update documentation for 1.1.8

- Update CHANGELOG.md with new features
- Update README.md with new theme list and demo gif
- Update VERSION.txt to 1.1.8

Author: programmersd21

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.1.8]
+
+### Added
+- **Startup Update Check**: Kairo now automatically checks for new releases on GitHub during startup. If a newer version is found, a notification appears in the footer with the version delta (e.g., `v1.1.7 → v1.1.8`) and instructions to update.
+- **Smart Update Logic**: Update checks are intelligently skipped when running a development build (`dev`) to minimize noise for contributors.
+- **Interactive Demo**: Added a new, high-fidelity demo GIF to the documentation for better visual clarity of the application's workflow and animations.
+
 ## [1.1.7]
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 <div align="center">
 
-# 📝 Kairo — 🌿 Minimal, powerful task management.
+# 📝 Kairo
 
-![Main App](screenshots/thumbnail.png)
+### 🌿 Minimal, powerful task management for the modern terminal.
 
 [![Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/programmersd21/kairo?sort=semver&style=for-the-badge&logo=github&color=7c3aed)](https://github.com/programmersd21/kairo/releases)
 [![CI](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/programmersd21/kairo/ci.yml?branch=main&style=for-the-badge&logo=githubactions&logoColor=white&color=2563eb)](https://github.com/programmersd21/kairo/actions)
 [![Go Report Card](https://img.shields.io/badge/go%20report-A%2B-brightgreen?style=for-the-badge&logo=go&logoColor=white&color=10b981)](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/programmersd21/kairo)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-f59e0b?style=for-the-badge&logo=open-source-initiative&logoColor=white)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
 
+---
+
+| **Static Overview** | **Interactive Demo** |
+|:---:|:---:|
+| ![Main App](screenshots/thumbnail.png) | ![Demo](screenshots/demo.gif) |
+
 **⌛ Time, executed well.**
 
 </div>
@@ -108,6 +114,9 @@ kairo update
 Downloads the latest GitHub Release for your OS/arch, verifies it against `checksums.txt`, and safely replaces the installed binary.
 On Windows, Kairo will automatically close to apply the update; simply re-run `kairo` once the terminal returns.
 
+**Startup Notifications:**
+Kairo automatically checks for updates on startup. If a newer version is available, a notification will appear in the footer (e.g., `Update: v1.1.7 → v1.1.8`) directing you to run the update command.
+
 ---
 
 ## 🤖 Automation & CLI API
@@ -217,6 +226,8 @@ return plugin
 
 Kairo features a **minimalist design system** optimized for clarity and focus.
 
+![Main App](screenshots/thumbnail.png)
+
 ### Design Philosophy
 
 - **Breathable Layout** — Reduced padding and thin borders for a clean, modern look
@@ -291,9 +302,10 @@ cp configs/kairo.example.toml ~/.config/kairo/config.toml
 ```
 
 Then edit to customize:
-- **Theme selection** — Choose from 12 built-in themes:
-    - **Dark:** Catppuccin (Default), Midnight, Aurora, Cyberpunk, Dracula, Nord
-    - **Light:** Vanilla, Solarized, Rose, Matcha, Cloud, Sepia
+- **Theme selection** — Choose from 32 built-in themes:
+    - **Premium Dark:** `catppuccin` (Default), `midnight`, `aurora`, `cyberpunk`, `dracula`, `nord`, `obsidian_bloom`, `neon_reef`, `carbon_sunset`, `vanta_aurora`, `plasma_grape`, `midnight_jade`, `synthwave_minimal`, `graphite_matcha`
+    - **Premium Light:** `vanilla`, `solarized`, `rose`, `matcha`, `cloud`, `sepia`, `cloud_dancer`, `sakura_sand`, `olive_mist`, `terracotta_air`, `vanilla_sky`, `peach_fuzz_neo`, `coastal_drift`, `matcha_latte`
+    - **Hybrid/Specialized:** `digital_lavender`, `neo_mint_system`, `sunset_gradient_pro`, `forest_sanctuary`
 - **Keybindings** — Rebind any keyboard shortcut
 - **View ordering** — Customize your task view tabs
 - **Sync settings** — Configure Git repository sync

VERSION.txt

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.1.7
+1.1.8

internal/app/model.go

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/tasklist"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/theme"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/ui/theme_menu"
+	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/updater"
 	"github.com/programmersd21/kairo/internal/util"
 )
 
@@ -126,6 +127,8 @@ type Model struct {
 	statusText string
 	isErr      bool
 
+	updateAvailable *updateAvailableMsg
+
 	syncEngine *ksync.Engine
 
 	plugHost *plugins.Host
@@ -232,7 +235,7 @@ func applyThemeOverride(t theme.Theme, o config.ThemeConfig) theme.Theme {
 }
 
 func (m *Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	cmds := []tea.Cmd{m.loadTagsCmd(), m.loadTasksCmd(), m.loadAllTasksCmd()}
+	cmds := []tea.Cmd{m.loadTagsCmd(), m.loadTasksCmd(), m.loadAllTasksCmd(), m.checkUpdateCmd()}
 	if m.cfg.App.Rainbow {
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.rainbowTickCmd())
 	}
@@ -462,6 +465,10 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.isErr = true
 		}
 		return m, nil
+
+	case updateAvailableMsg:
+		m.updateAvailable = &x
+		return m, nil
 	}
 
 	if km, ok := msg.(tea.KeyMsg); ok {
@@ -938,7 +945,22 @@ func (m *Model) renderFooter() string {
 		if m.syncEngine != nil && m.syncEngine.Enabled() {
 			syncStatus = styles.IconSync + " "
 		}
-		right = m.s.Muted.Render(syncStatus + buildinfo.VersionTag() + " ")
+
+		versionText := buildinfo.VersionTag()
+		if m.updateAvailable != nil {
+			cur := m.updateAvailable.Current
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(cur, "v") {
+				cur = "v" + cur
+			}
+			lat := m.updateAvailable.Latest
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(lat, "v") {
+				lat = "v" + lat
+			}
+			versionText = fmt.Sprintf("Update: %s → %s (run `kairo update`)", cur, lat)
+			right = m.s.Muted.Foreground(m.s.Theme.Accent).Bold(true).Render(syncStatus + versionText + " ")
+		} else {
+			right = m.s.Muted.Render(syncStatus + versionText + " ")
+		}
 	}
 
 	line := render.BarLine(left, right, m.width, m.s.Theme.Bg)
@@ -1275,6 +1297,27 @@ func (m *Model) syncNowCmd() tea.Cmd {
 	}
 }
 
+func (m *Model) checkUpdateCmd() tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		v := buildinfo.EffectiveVersion()
+		if v == "dev" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		cfg := updater.DefaultConfig()
+		res, _, err := cfg.Check(m.ctx, v)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil // Silently fail update check
+		}
+		if res.Update {
+			return updateAvailableMsg{
+				Current: res.Current,
+				Latest:  res.Latest,
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 func openURLCmd(url string) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
 		var cmd *exec.Cmd

internal/app/msg.go

@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ type pluginChangedMsg struct{}
 
 type syncDoneMsg struct{ Err error }
 
+type updateAvailableMsg struct {
+	Current string
+	Latest  string
+}
+
 type rainbowTickMsg struct{}
 
 type strikeAnimationTickMsg struct{ TaskID string }

internal/lua/engine.go

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (e *Engine) SetupKairoAPI(L *lua.LState) {
 	L.SetField(kairo, "notify", L.NewFunction(e.luaNotify))
 
 	// Meta
-	L.SetField(kairo, "version", lua.LString("1.1.7"))
+	L.SetField(kairo, "version", lua.LString("1.1.8"))
 
 	// Set as global
 	L.SetGlobal("kairo", kairo)