Vast 0.3.0 Release Notes

Vast 0.3.0 was published for Windows x64 on 12 September 2026. These notes describe changes since 0.2.7. The desktop runtime remains Electron 44.1.0.

Use the installation and update guide to choose the correct package. The public release includes the installer, Portable, standalone updater, full update ZIP, checksums, manifests, and FFmpeg source.

Downloads and workspace sessions

Fixed downloads that saved correctly but never appeared in progress notifications or sidebar history, including sessions created by extensions during startup.
Connected download tracking to shared, isolated persistent, and temporary workspace sessions, with duplicate-safe setup when a webview attaches.
Restored active download progress after reloading the browser interface and kept simultaneous downloads independently visible.
Persisted download start and completion before subsequent security-scan results, so a slow scan no longer delays completed history.
Retry now uses the original workspace session, preserving its cookie and authentication context when that session is available.
Kept temporary-session download records out of durable history. Files explicitly saved to disk still remain on disk.

Global corner radius and appearance

Made Corner radius a continuous global control across the 6–36 px range, with proportional shapes for controls, cards, panels, menus, and dialogs.
Applied the same radius system to browser chrome, tabs, workspace controls, Settings, internal pages, notifications, PDF controls, and password autofill surfaces.
Applied the persisted radius during startup and window creation. True circles, decorative shapes, and intentional docked edges retain their geometry.
Reduced excessive glow and shadow treatment in Settings, particularly in Dim mode, and corrected inconsistent Dim backgrounds in Notes and adjacent panels.

Fixed pointer handling in the experimental Purist omnibar so the address bar and its buttons respond to clicks.
Corrected More Tabs overflow placement so the searchable hidden-tab menu does not collide with the address bar and neighboring controls.
Repaired browser context-menu routing for navigation, selection copying, page actions, notes, Reading List, printing, muting, and inspection where supported.
Added packaged menu coverage for web pages, internal surfaces, and tab lifecycle transitions.

Settings and privacy

Reorganized Privacy settings into consistent half-width controls, with long exception inputs grouped in full-width rows below.
Changed Set browser as default to use the normal Settings button style while keeping Windows in control of default-app selection.
Removed the native ad-blocking engine, filter-list settings, and browser ad-blocker shortcut. Install the optional Adblocker for Vast extension for filter-list and cosmetic blocking.
Retained built-in common-tracker protection, link cleaning, cookie controls, fingerprinting protection, WebRTC policy, and workspace isolation.

Background updates and recovery

Completed background update downloading for eligible installed direct builds, with verified installer metadata and a durable next-launch handoff.
Bound prepared updates to the original installation and profile, preserving custom install paths and separating independent installations.
Kept the running browser available if the update helper cannot accept the handoff, and bounded failed installation retries instead of repeatedly trapping startup.
Protected active sessions by waiting for the old browser process before replacing application files.
Kept Microsoft Store updates managed by Microsoft Store. Portable and unpacked copies do not run the installed-browser automatic update path.

Windows installation and Store packaging

Unified the actual NSIS installer include so PDF registration and uninstall cleanup are included in the packaged installer.
Registered Vast as an available PDF Open with handler without taking over the current PDF default or changing Windows UserChoice.
Verified that uninstall removes Vast-owned registrations while preserving generic PDF, HTTP, HTTPS, and user-selected associations.
Added transparent, unplated Windows taskbar icons at standard target sizes without extra padding, plus package checks that require them.
Separated browser version 0.3.0 from the configurable Store package version. Store availability follows its separate certification and rollout.

Performance and persistence

Preserved lazy loading of the browser stage, Settings, Command Palette, Side Panel, and Smart Unload.
Kept inactive restored tabs discarded until needed, together with tab/sidebar memoization, content visibility, and stable webview event bindings.
Kept high-frequency download progress out of general renderer autosave; download persistence remains owned by the main process.
Retained queued and deduplicated writes, consolidated persistence, bounded rolling backups, cached request-policy derivation, and asynchronous diagnostics writes.
Rechecked the obfuscated production build and existing JavaScript budgets without changing the Electron 44.1.0 runtime or browser-view architecture.

Release verification

Updated compatible dependencies and overrides so the root and Relay dependency audits pass without high or critical findings.
Expanded download lifecycle, radius, updater, installer, menu, extension, and release-integrity regression coverage.
Verified the real 0.2.7-to-0.3.0 upgrade and Windows installation lifecycle, along with public source and secret-scanning checks.
Published the same verified candidate bytes with SHA-256/SHA-512 lists, source provenance, update metadata, and FFmpeg corresponding source.

After updating

Existing profile data and preferences are retained through normal migrations. Reopen the browser and confirm version 0.3.0 in Settings. If you used native ad-block lists, install and configure Adblocker for Vast; old native filter settings do not automatically configure the extension.

See Troubleshooting for download, update, and workspace issues. Back up important data before switching distribution channels or moving an installation.