Beside for Windows v0.2.0 — Release Notes & Customer Changelog

Target Repository: https://github.com/thisma-labs/beside-windows-support
Live Help Center: https://thisma-labs.github.io/beside-windows-support
Supported OS: Windows 10 (version 1809 / build 17763 or later) and Windows 11 (64-bit x64)
Release Tag: windows-v0.2.0 (or v0.2.0)

Welcome to Beside for Windows v0.2.0

Beside for Windows is the official, dedicated desktop client for Beside, engineered to deliver wire-speed local peer sharing across your home and office Wi-Fi network with zero cloud dependencies.

Key Features & Highlights in v0.2.0

1. Modern 3-Column Desktop Architecture

The Windows interface is designed natively for widescreen desktop displays:

• Left Column — Identity & Quick Access: Displays your machine identity, pinned Mutual TLS 1.3 certificate fingerprint, and quick system folder shortcuts (Downloads, Desktop, Pictures).
• Center Column — Concentric Radar & Dropzone: Live zero-configuration mDNS radar showing nearby active devices. Drag any file or entire folder tree directly into the radar dropzone to dispatch immediately.
• Right Column — Discovered Devices & Transfer Queue: Real-time peer status cards, active transfer progress docks, and a 60-second queue for incoming file and message approvals.

2. Deep Windows Operating System Integrations

• Windows File Explorer Context Menu: Right-click any file or directory in Windows File Explorer and click "Send with Beside". Dispatches instantly if one peer is online or presents a rapid target picker.
• Classic SendTo Integration: Fully registered in shell:sendto for fast keyboard dispatches.
• System Tray Mode: Runs quietly in the notification area. The right-click context menu lets you pause incoming transfers, toggle auto-accept, send files, or open settings.
• Interactive WinRT Toast Notifications: Actionable desktop notification banners with inline buttons: Accept, Decline, Copy text, and Open folder.
• File Explorer Reveal: Completed transfers automatically highlight received files in File Explorer using the Win32 SHOpenFolderAndSelectItems shell API.
• DPAPI Hardware Security: Master private identity keys are encrypted at rest using the Windows Data Protection API bound to your Windows user logon credentials.

3. Light and Dark Theme Support

• Full dark and light theme adaptation matching your Windows system theme preference.
• Manual toggle available directly in settings.

4. Wire-Speed TCP Streaming with Flat 64 KB Memory Usage

• Streams files directly to peer devices at native Wi-Fi speeds (up to 110 MB/s).
• Memory consumption stays flat at 64 KB regardless of whether you are sending a 500 KB document or a 40 GB 4K video.

5. Mutual TLS 1.3 & 8-Digit SAS Pairing

• Authenticate new devices in public environments (coffee shops, hotels, universities) with an unforgeable 8-digit visual SAS code derived from the TLS 1.3 Key Exporter.
• Once verified, peer device public keys are permanently pinned in your local TrustStore.

Official Windows Distributions & SHA-256 Checksums

Verifying Checksums in PowerShell

Always verify your downloaded binary integrity before running:

:::powershell
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 Beside-Setup-v0.2.0-x64.exe
# Expected: 1f2f28b7e404519de9e5b836940315be26306a8b6f3c222762a6d67dc753ff8e

Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 Beside-v0.2.0-Windows-x64.zip
# Expected: bca3db28d780790797a4123f157bca3587243c6f581a1388b24975ab6cb467d9

Upgrading & Uninstallation

• Upgrading: Simply run the new Beside-Setup-v0.2.0-x64.exe installer. It automatically closes any running instance of Beside and upgrades your installation in place while preserving your paired trusted devices and Beside Pro license.
• Uninstallation: Uninstall cleanly from Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Beside. The uninstaller automatically releases your Beside Pro device activation slot when connected to the internet.