Velopack auto-update for Lite + data directory migration (#635)

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Publish Lite
         run: dotnet publish Lite/PerformanceMonitorLite.csproj -c Release -o publish/Lite
 
+      - name: Publish Lite (self-contained for Velopack)
+        if: github.event_name == 'release'
+        run: dotnet publish Lite/PerformanceMonitorLite.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained -o publish/Lite-velopack
+
       - name: Publish CLI Installer
         run: dotnet publish Installer/PerformanceMonitorInstaller.csproj -c Release
 
@@ -168,13 +172,16 @@ jobs:
           VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.VERSION }}
         run: |
           dotnet tool install -g vpk
-          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path releases/velopack
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path releases/velopack-dashboard
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path releases/velopack-lite
 
-          # Download previous release for delta generation
-          vpk download github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel win -o releases/velopack --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          # Dashboard: download previous + pack
+          vpk download github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel dashboard -o releases/velopack-dashboard --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          vpk pack -u PerformanceMonitorDashboard -v $env:VERSION -p publish/Dashboard-velopack -e PerformanceMonitorDashboard.exe -o releases/velopack-dashboard --channel dashboard
 
-          # Pack Dashboard (use self-contained publish output)
-          vpk pack -u PerformanceMonitorDashboard -v $env:VERSION -p publish/Dashboard-velopack -e PerformanceMonitorDashboard.exe -o releases/velopack --channel win
+          # Lite: download previous + pack
+          vpk download github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel lite -o releases/velopack-lite --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          vpk pack -u PerformanceMonitorLite -v $env:VERSION -p publish/Lite-velopack -e PerformanceMonitorLite.exe -o releases/velopack-lite --channel lite
 
       - name: Generate checksums
         if: github.event_name == 'release'
@@ -202,4 +209,5 @@ jobs:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.VERSION }}
         run: |
-          vpk upload github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel win -o releases/velopack --releaseName "v$env:VERSION" --tag "v$env:VERSION" --merge --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          vpk upload github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel dashboard -o releases/velopack-dashboard --releaseName "v$env:VERSION" --tag "v$env:VERSION" --merge --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          vpk upload github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel lite -o releases/velopack-lite --releaseName "v$env:VERSION" --tag "v$env:VERSION" --merge --token $env:GH_TOKEN

Lite/App.xaml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <Application x:Class="PerformanceMonitorLite.App"
              xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
              xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
-             StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
+             >
     <Application.Resources>
         <ResourceDictionary>
             <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

Lite/App.xaml.cs

@@ -166,18 +166,19 @@ protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
 
         base.OnStartup(e);
 
-        // Initialize paths - use executable directory for portability
-        var exeDirectory = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory;
-        DataDirectory = exeDirectory;
-        ConfigDirectory = Path.Combine(exeDirectory, "config");
-        DatabasePath = Path.Combine(exeDirectory, "monitor.duckdb");
-        ArchiveDirectory = Path.Combine(exeDirectory, "archive");
+        // Initialize paths — store data in %LOCALAPPDATA% so Velopack updates
+        // can replace the app directory without losing data
+        var appDataRoot = Path.Combine(
+            Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData),
+            "PerformanceMonitorLite");
+        DataDirectory = appDataRoot;
+        ConfigDirectory = Path.Combine(appDataRoot, "config");
+        DatabasePath = Path.Combine(appDataRoot, "monitor.duckdb");
+        ArchiveDirectory = Path.Combine(appDataRoot, "archive");
 
         // Ensure directories exist
-        if (!Directory.Exists(ConfigDirectory))
-        {
-            Directory.CreateDirectory(ConfigDirectory);
-        }
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(ConfigDirectory);
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.Combine(appDataRoot, "archive"));
 
         // Load settings
         LoadDefaultTimeRange();
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
         Helpers.ThemeManager.Apply(ColorTheme);
 
         // Initialize logging
-        var logDirectory = Path.Combine(exeDirectory, "logs");
+        var logDirectory = Path.Combine(appDataRoot, "logs");
         AppLogger.Initialize(logDirectory);
         Helpers.MethodProfiler.Initialize(logDirectory);
         Helpers.QueryLogger.Initialize(logDirectory);
@@ -198,6 +199,10 @@ protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
         AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += OnUnhandledException;
         DispatcherUnhandledException += OnDispatcherUnhandledException;
         TaskScheduler.UnobservedTaskException += OnUnobservedTaskException;
+
+        // Create and show main window (StartupUri removed for Velopack custom Main)
+        var mainWindow = new MainWindow();
+        mainWindow.Show();
     }
 
     protected override void OnExit(ExitEventArgs e)

Lite/Controls/ServerTab.xaml.cs

@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@
             }
 
             var tz = ServerTimeHelper.GetTimezoneLabel(ServerTimeHelper.CurrentDisplayMode);
             ConnectionStatusText.Text = $"{_server.ServerNameDisplay} - Last refresh: {DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss} ({tz})";
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -4242,7 +4242,7 @@
 
     private void OpenLogFile_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
     {
-        var logDir = System.IO.Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "logs");
+        var logDir = System.IO.Path.Combine(App.DataDirectory, "logs");
         var logFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(logDir, $"lite_{DateTime.Now:yyyyMMdd}.log");
 
         if (File.Exists(logFile))

Lite/MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -165,26 +165,41 @@ private async Task CheckForUpdatesOnStartupAsync()
     {
         try
         {
+            await Task.Delay(5000); // Don't slow down startup
+
             if (!App.CheckForUpdatesOnStartup) return;
 
-            var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync();
-            if (result?.IsUpdateAvailable == true)
+            // Try Velopack first (supports download + apply)
+            try
             {
-                var answer = MessageBox.Show(
-                    $"Performance Monitor {result.LatestVersion} is available (you have {result.CurrentVersion}).\n\nWould you like to open the download page?",
-                    "Update Available",
-                    MessageBoxButton.YesNo,
-                    MessageBoxImage.Information);
+                var mgr = new Velopack.UpdateManager(
+                    new Velopack.Sources.GithubSource(
+                        "https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor", null, false));
 
-                if (answer == MessageBoxResult.Yes)
+                var newVersion = await mgr.CheckForUpdatesAsync();
+                if (newVersion != null)
                 {
-                    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
+                    Dispatcher.Invoke(() =>
                     {
-                        FileName = result.ReleaseUrl,
-                        UseShellExecute = true
+                        Title = $"Performance Monitor Lite — Update v{newVersion.TargetFullRelease.Version} available (Help > About)";
                     });
+                    return;
                 }
             }
+            catch
+            {
+                // Velopack packages may not exist yet — fall through
+            }
+
+            // Fallback: GitHub Releases API check
+            var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync();
+            if (result?.IsUpdateAvailable == true)
+            {
+                Dispatcher.Invoke(() =>
+                {
+                    Title = $"Performance Monitor Lite — Update {result.LatestVersion} available (Help > About)";
+                });
+            }
         }
         catch
         {

Lite/PerformanceMonitorLite.csproj

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
+    <StartupObject>PerformanceMonitorLite.Program</StartupObject>
     <AssemblyName>PerformanceMonitorLite</AssemblyName>
     <RootNamespace>PerformanceMonitorLite</RootNamespace>
     <Product>SQL Server Performance Monitor Lite</Product>
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@
     <!-- MCP server for LLM tool access -->
     <PackageReference Include="ModelContextProtocol" Version="0.7.0-preview.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="ModelContextProtocol.AspNetCore" Version="0.7.0-preview.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Velopack" Version="0.0.1298" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

Lite/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Erik Darling, Darling Data LLC
+ *
+ * This file is part of the SQL Server Performance Monitor Lite.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
+ */
+
+using System;
+using Velopack;
+
+namespace PerformanceMonitorLite
+{
+    public static class Program
+    {
+        [STAThread]
+        public static void Main(string[] args)
+        {
+            VelopackApp.Build().Run();
+
+            var app = new App();
+            app.InitializeComponent();
+            app.Run();
+        }
+    }
+}

Lite/Services/AlertStateService.cs

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public class AlertStateService
 
         public AlertStateService()
         {
-            _stateFilePath = Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "alert_state.json");
+            _stateFilePath = Path.Combine(App.DataDirectory, "alert_state.json");
             _silencedServers = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
             _acknowledgedAlerts = new Dictionary<string, DateTime>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
             Load();

Lite/Windows/AboutWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
  * Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
  */
 
+using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Reflection;
 using System.Windows;
 using PerformanceMonitorLite.Services;
+using Velopack;
 
 namespace PerformanceMonitorLite.Windows;
 
@@ -21,6 +23,9 @@ public partial class AboutWindow : Window
     private const string DarlingDataUrl = "https://www.erikdarling.com";
 
     private string? _updateReleaseUrl;
+    private UpdateManager? _velopackMgr;
+    private Velopack.UpdateInfo? _pendingUpdate;
+    private bool _updateDownloaded;
 
     public AboutWindow()
     {
@@ -45,6 +50,32 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         UpdateStatusText.Text = "Checking for updates...";
         UpdateStatusText.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
 
+        // Try Velopack first (supports download + apply)
+        try
+        {
+            _velopackMgr = new UpdateManager(
+                new Velopack.Sources.GithubSource("https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor", null, false));
+
+            var updateInfo = await _velopackMgr.CheckForUpdatesAsync();
+            if (updateInfo != null)
+            {
+                _pendingUpdate = updateInfo;
+                UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: v{updateInfo.TargetFullRelease.Version} — click to install";
+                UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+                UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= UpdateStatusText_Click;
+                UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += VelopackDownload_Click;
+                UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
+                UpdateStatusText.Foreground = FindResource("AccentBrush") as System.Windows.Media.Brush
+                    ?? System.Windows.Media.Brushes.DodgerBlue;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // Velopack packages may not exist yet — fall through
+        }
+
+        // Fallback: GitHub Releases API check (opens browser)
         var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync(bypassCache: true);
 
         if (result == null)
@@ -54,8 +85,9 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         else if (result.IsUpdateAvailable)
         {
             _updateReleaseUrl = result.ReleaseUrl;
-            UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: {result.LatestVersion} (you have {result.CurrentVersion})";
+            UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: {result.LatestVersion} (you have {result.CurrentVersion}) — click to open releases";
             UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+            UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= VelopackDownload_Click;
             UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += UpdateStatusText_Click;
             UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
             UpdateStatusText.Foreground = FindResource("AccentBrush") as System.Windows.Media.Brush
@@ -67,6 +99,48 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         }
     }
 
+    private async void VelopackDownload_Click(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (_velopackMgr == null || _pendingUpdate == null) return;
+
+        // Step 3: restart with confirmation
+        if (_updateDownloaded)
+        {
+            var result = MessageBox.Show(this,
+                "The application will close and restart with the new version. Continue?",
+                "Update Ready",
+                MessageBoxButton.OKCancel,
+                MessageBoxImage.Question);
+
+            if (result == MessageBoxResult.OK)
+            {
+                _velopackMgr.ApplyUpdatesAndRestart(_pendingUpdate.TargetFullRelease);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Step 2: download
+        try
+        {
+            UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= VelopackDownload_Click;
+            UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = null;
+            UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Arrow;
+            UpdateStatusText.Text = "Downloading update...";
+
+            await _velopackMgr.DownloadUpdatesAsync(_pendingUpdate);
+
+            _updateDownloaded = true;
+            UpdateStatusText.Text = "Update downloaded.";
+            UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+            UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
+            UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += VelopackDownload_Click;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Download failed: {ex.Message}";
+        }
+    }
+
     private void UpdateStatusText_Click(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
     {
         if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_updateReleaseUrl))