erikdarlingdata · erikdarlingdata · Mar 23, 2026 · Mar 18, 2026 · Mar 18, 2026 · Mar 18, 2026
diff --git a/.coderabbit.yaml b/.coderabbit.yaml
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -42,9 +42,17 @@ jobs:
       - name: Publish Dashboard
         run: dotnet publish Dashboard/Dashboard.csproj -c Release -o publish/Dashboard
 
+      - name: Publish Dashboard (self-contained for Velopack)
+        if: github.event_name == 'release'
+        run: dotnet publish Dashboard/Dashboard.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained -o publish/Dashboard-velopack
+
       - 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
 
@@ -156,6 +164,25 @@ jobs:
           Remove-Item "releases/PerformanceMonitorInstaller-$version.zip" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
           Compress-Archive -Path 'signed/Installer/*' -DestinationPath "releases/PerformanceMonitorInstaller-$version.zip" -Force
 
+      - name: Create Velopack release (Dashboard)
+        if: github.event_name == 'release'
+        shell: pwsh
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.VERSION }}
+        run: |
+          dotnet tool install -g vpk
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path releases/velopack-dashboard
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path releases/velopack-lite
+
+          # Dashboard: download previous + pack
+          vpk download github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ github.repository }} --channel dashboard -o releases/velopack-dashboard --token $env:GH_TOKEN
+          vpk pack -u PerformanceMonitorDashboard -v $env:VERSION -p publish/Dashboard-velopack -e PerformanceMonitorDashboard.exe -o releases/velopack-dashboard --channel dashboard
+
+          # Lite: download previous + pack
+          vpk download github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ 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'
         shell: pwsh
@@ -174,3 +201,13 @@ jobs:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
           gh release upload ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }} releases/*.zip releases/SHA256SUMS.txt --clobber
+
+      - name: Upload Velopack artifacts
+        if: github.event_name == 'release'
+        shell: pwsh
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.VERSION }}
+        run: |
+          vpk upload github --repoUrl https://github.com/${{ 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
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,64 @@ 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).
 
+## [2.4.0] - 2026-03-23
+
+### Important
+
+- **Lite data directory moved**: Lite now stores all data (config, DuckDB, archives, logs) in `%LOCALAPPDATA%\PerformanceMonitorLite\` instead of alongside the executable. This enables auto-update support. Existing users upgrading from the zip should use **Import Settings** and **Import Data** to bring over their configuration and historical data from the old install folder.
+- **Auto-update (Windows)**: Both Dashboard and Lite now include Velopack auto-update. Users who install via the new Setup.exe will receive update notifications and can download + apply updates from within the app. Existing zip distribution continues to work as before.
+
+### Added
+
+- **Velopack auto-update** for Dashboard and Lite — check on startup, download + apply from About window with confirmation dialog before restart ([#635])
+- **Per-tab time range slicers** on Dashboard and Lite query tabs — filter data directly on each tab without changing global time range ([#655], [#662])
+- **Time display picker** (Local/UTC/Server) in Dashboard and Lite toolbars ([#646])
+- **Import Settings** — renamed from "Import Connections", now also copies `settings.json`, `collection_schedule.json`, `ignored_wait_types.json`, and `alert_state.json` from a previous install
+- **Alert muting improvements** — pre-fill context fields (database, query, wait type, job name) from alert detail text, configurable default expiration for new mute rules, tooltip on query text field ([#642])
+- **Missing date columns** on Query Stats and Procedure Stats tabs (`creation_time`, `last_execution_time`) ([#649], [#651], [#654])
+- **Trace pattern drill-down** now includes `CollectionTime` and `NtUserName` columns ([#663])
+- **DataGrid sort preservation** across auto-refresh — sort order no longer resets when data refreshes ([#659])
+- **CLI installer**: colored output (green/red/yellow) and version check on startup ([#639])
+- **GUI installer**: version check on startup
+- **Growth rate and VLF count** columns in Database Sizes (from v2.3.0 nightly, now in upgrade path) ([#567])
+- `llms.txt` and `CITATION.cff` for project discoverability ([#630])
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Lite data directory** moved to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\PerformanceMonitorLite\` for Velopack compatibility
+- **Delta gap detection** added to all cumulative-counter collectors (file I/O, wait stats, query stats, procedure stats, memory grants) — prevents inflated spikes after app restart ([#633])
+- **File I/O NULL fallbacks** improved when `sys.master_files` is inaccessible — falls back to `DB_NAME()` and `File_{id}` instead of generic "Unknown" ([#633])
+- **Running jobs collector** skipped gracefully when login lacks msdb access ([#656])
+- NuGet packages updated to latest minor versions ([#653])
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Installer writing SUCCESS when files fail** — CLI tolerated 1 failure in automated mode, GUI had a similar workaround. Now any failure = not success.
+- **Query stats collector causing SQL dumps** on passive mirror servers — removed `dm_exec_plan_attributes` CROSS APPLY, uses temp table of ONLINE database IDs instead ([#632])
+- **Trigger name extraction** fails when comment before `CREATE TRIGGER` contains " ON " ([#666])
+- **FinOps expensive queries** DuckDB error — query referenced `statement_start_offset` column that doesn't exist in schema
+- **Imported parquet files** not recognized by archive compaction — added regex patterns for `imported_` prefix
+- **Auto-refresh after Import Data** — views now refresh immediately after import completes
+
+[#630]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/630
+[#632]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/632
+[#633]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/633
+[#635]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/635
+[#639]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/639
+[#642]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/642
+[#646]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/646
+[#649]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/649
+[#651]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/651
+[#653]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/653
+[#654]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/654
+[#655]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/655
+[#656]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/656
+[#659]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/659
+[#662]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/pull/662
+[#663]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/663
+[#666]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/666
+[#567]: https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor/issues/567
+
 ## [2.3.0] - 2026-03-18
 
 ### Important

diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+cff-version: 1.2.0
+title: "SQL Server Performance Monitor"
+message: "If you use this software, please cite it as below."
+type: software
+authors:
+  - given-names: Erik
+    family-names: Darling
+    affiliation: "Darling Data, LLC"
+    website: "https://erikdarling.com"
+repository-code: "https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor"
+url: "https://erikdarling.com/free-sql-server-performance-monitoring/"
+license: MIT
+version: "2.3.0"
+date-released: "2026-03-18"
+keywords:
+  - sql-server
+  - performance-monitoring
+  - database-monitoring
+  - dba-tools
+  - mcp-server
+  - wait-stats
+  - execution-plans
diff --git a/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs b/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 using System.Reflection;
 using System.Windows;
 using PerformanceMonitorDashboard.Services;
+using Velopack;
+using System;
 
 namespace PerformanceMonitorDashboard
 {
@@ -19,6 +21,8 @@ public partial class AboutWindow : Window
         private const string DarlingDataUrl = "https://www.erikdarling.com";
 
         private string? _updateReleaseUrl;
+        private UpdateManager? _velopackMgr;
+        private Velopack.UpdateInfo? _pendingUpdate;
 
         public AboutWindow()
         {
@@ -47,6 +51,32 @@ 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 to legacy check
+            }
+
+            // Fallback: GitHub Releases API check (opens browser)
             var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync(bypassCache: true);
 
             if (result == null)
@@ -56,8 +86,9 @@ 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
@@ -69,6 +100,50 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
             }
         }
 
+        private bool _updateDownloaded;
+
+        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))

diff --git a/Dashboard/Analysis/FactScorer.cs b/Dashboard/Analysis/FactScorer.cs
@@ -308,8 +308,10 @@ private static double ScoreBadActorFact(Fact fact)
     /// </summary>
     private static double ScoreAnomalyFact(Fact fact)
     {
-        if (fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_CPU_SPIKE") || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_READ_LATENCY")
-            || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_WRITE_LATENCY"))
+        if (   fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_CPU_SPIKE"    , StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_READ_LATENCY" , StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_WRITE_LATENCY", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            )
         {
             // Deviation-based scoring: 2σ = 0.5, 4σ = 1.0
             var deviation = fact.Metadata.GetValueOrDefault("deviation_sigma");
@@ -319,15 +321,17 @@ private static double ScoreAnomalyFact(Fact fact)
             return base_score * confidence;
         }
 
-        if (fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_WAIT_"))
+        if (fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_WAIT_", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         {
             // Ratio-based scoring: 5x = 0.5, 20x = 1.0
             var ratio = fact.Metadata.GetValueOrDefault("ratio");
             if (ratio < 5) return 0.0;
             return 0.5 + 0.5 * Math.Min((ratio - 5.0) / 15.0, 1.0);
         }
 
-        if (fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_BLOCKING_SPIKE") || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_DEADLOCK_SPIKE"))
+        if (   fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_BLOCKING_SPIKE", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            || fact.Key.StartsWith("ANOMALY_DEADLOCK_SPIKE", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+            )
         {
             // Ratio-based: 3x = 0.5, 10x = 1.0
             var ratio = fact.Metadata.GetValueOrDefault("ratio");
@@ -859,7 +863,7 @@ private static (double concerning, double? critical)? GetWaitThresholds(string w
 /// <summary>
 /// An amplifier definition: a named predicate that boosts severity when matched.
 /// </summary>
-internal class AmplifierDefinition
+internal sealed class AmplifierDefinition
 {
     public string Description { get; set; } = string.Empty;
     public double Boost { get; set; }