Merge pull request 'fix(update): route the self-update by install kind (apt/pip/source) — 0.37.1' (#38) from fix/updater-by-install into main

Reviewed-on: #38

.gitea/workflows/release.yml

@@ -113,13 +113,19 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           if [ -z "${PKG_TOKEN:-}" ]; then
-            echo "PACKAGES_TOKEN not set — skipping apt publish (the .deb is still a release asset)."
+            echo "REGISTRY_TOKEN not set — skipping apt publish (the .deb is still a release asset)."
             exit 0
           fi
           OWNER="${{ github.repository_owner }}"
           URL="${{ github.server_url }}/api/packages/${OWNER}/debian/pool/stable/main/upload"
           for f in dist/*.deb; do
             echo "Uploading $(basename "$f") to the apt registry…"
-            curl -sS --fail --user "${OWNER}:${PKG_TOKEN}" --upload-file "$f" "$URL"
+            code=$(curl -sS -o /tmp/apt_upload.txt -w '%{http_code}' \
+              --user "${OWNER}:${PKG_TOKEN}" --upload-file "$f" "$URL" || true)
+            case "$code" in
+              2*)  echo "  uploaded ($code)";;
+              409) echo "  already published ($code) — skipping (registry versions are immutable)";;
+              *)   echo "  upload failed ($code):"; cat /tmp/apt_upload.txt || true; exit 1;;
+            esac
           done
           echo "apt source: deb ${{ github.server_url }}/api/packages/${OWNER}/debian stable main"

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,43 @@ All notable changes to RigDoctor are recorded here. Format follows
 (`MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`, pre-1.0). `__version__` and `pyproject.toml` must match the git
 release tag (so the auto-updater, D18, can compare versions).
 
+## [0.37.1] - 2026-05-22
+### Fixed
+- **`rigdoctor update` now uses the right method for how RigDoctor was installed.** It detects
+  apt (`.deb`), pip (venv/`.run`), or source installs (`updates.install_kind()`); only pip
+  installs self-update in place. An apt install no longer fails with "No module named pip" —
+  it (and the GUI Update button) shows `sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade
+  rigdoctor`; a source checkout points to `git pull`.
+
+## [0.37.0] - 2026-05-22
+### Added
+- **Version footer** — a footer across the bottom of the window shows `RigDoctor v<version>` in
+  the bottom-right (moved out of the sidebar).
+### Fixed
+- **Pages scroll when content doesn't fit, and the window is no longer pinned to the tallest
+  page's height.** Long pages (Settings, Tuning, …) get a scrollbar when too tall — so controls
+  like Uninstall are always reachable — and the window can now be resized smaller than the screen
+  (min height dropped from "taller than the screen" to ~600px). Pages that manage their own
+  scroll/fill (Dashboard, System Health, Inventory, Share) are unchanged.
+
+## [0.36.1] - 2026-05-22
+### Fixed
+- `rigdoctor gui` printed the wrong fix when PySide6 is missing — it suggested the non-existent
+  `python3-pyside6` package. Now it names the real split modules
+  (`python3-pyside6.qt{widgets,gui,websockets,svg}` + `python3-pyte`).
+
+## [0.36.0] - 2026-05-22
+### Fixed
+- **`.deb` now installs all dependencies automatically — no manual tool install.** The previous
+  `Recommends: python3-pyside6` named a package that doesn't exist on Debian/Ubuntu (PySide6 is
+  split per module), so apt silently skipped it and the GUI wouldn't start. Now it Recommends the
+  actual modules the GUI imports — `python3-pyside6.qt{widgets,gui,websockets,svg}` + `python3-pyte`.
+### Changed
+- **`apt install rigdoctor` sets up the whole toolset.** The `.deb` also Recommends the optional
+  diagnostic/gaming tools (smartmontools, lm-sensors, dmidecode, pciutils, libnotify-bin,
+  libsecret-tools, gamemode, mangohud) so they install by default — users never hand-install
+  tools. `cpupower` is a Suggests (kernel-tied); `--no-install-recommends` still gives CLI-only.
+
 ## [0.35.0] - 2026-05-22
 ### Added
 - **`.deb` package (M9 / D8)** — `packaging/make_deb.py` builds a `rigdoctor_<version>_all.deb`

README.md

@@ -1,152 +1,136 @@
 # RigDoctor
 
-A **modular diagnostics, monitoring, and health-check toolkit for Linux gamers.**
+**Hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers.** Live sensors, crash-safe
+logging, plain-language health reports, per-game diagnostics, and optional AI explanations —
+in a desktop app, a tray applet, or the terminal. Ubuntu/Debian + NVIDIA first.
 
-> **Status:** 🟢 Phase 1 (MVP) complete. The **sensor core (M1)**, **crash-capture logger
+Linux gaming faults are hard to pin down — GPUs falling off the PCIe bus, black screens
-> (M3)**, and **health report (M4)** all work — live `snapshot`/`monitor`, crash-safe `record`
+mid-game, silent thermal/VRAM throttling, driver/Proton mismatches. The useful data is
-> with a post-crash report, and `report` to scan logs/SMART/driver for likely causes. A
+scattered across `nvidia-smi`, `/sys`, `journalctl`, and SMART, and the readings right before a
-> desktop GUI (M10) ties them together (dashboard, recording, health). See `docs/ROADMAP.md`.
+freeze are usually lost. RigDoctor pulls it together and keeps the evidence.
 
-## Why this exists
+## Features
 
-Linux gaming hardware faults are hard to diagnose: GPUs falling off the PCIe bus, the screen
+- **Live monitoring** — a dark desktop **dashboard** (history graphs + per-subsystem cards), a
-suddenly going black mid-game, silent thermal/VRAM throttling, power transients,
+  **tray applet** with at-a-glance status, and a terminal view (`rigdoctor monitor`).
-driver/library mismatches, Proton quirks, and CPU governor / power-profile misconfiguration.
+- **Crash-safe recording** — background logger that `fsync`s every sample, so the state right
-The data needed to diagnose them is scattered across `nvidia-smi`, `/sys/class/hwmon`,
+  before a hard freeze survives. Manual, always-on, or auto-start when a game launches.
-`journalctl`, SMART, and more — and the most useful readings (the ones right before a hard
+- **Health report** — scans `journalctl`/SMART/driver for likely causes (Xid, OOM, disk
-freeze) are usually lost because nothing flushed them to disk.
+  errors, throttling…) and explains them with suggested fixes.
+- **Per-game diagnostics** — pick a game, capture while you play, get a focused report; hard
+  crashes are detected and analysed on next launch.
+- **Gaming tune-ups** — flags risky settings (CPU governor, PCIe ASPM, persistence mode…) with
+  **one-click, reversible fixes**.
+- **Proactive alerts** — desktop notifications on overheating and critical kernel events
+  (GPU-lost, Xid, out-of-memory, disk I/O).
+- **AI explanations** *(optional, opt-in)* — explain a diagnostic in plain language with a
+  **local model (Ollama)** or **Claude**. Never automatic; only when you press the button.
+- **Shareable reports** — zip a diagnostic (logs, inventory, AI transcript) to hand to someone,
+  or share a live **terminal session** for remote help.
+- **Self-updating** — `apt upgrade`, or the in-app updater.
 
-RigDoctor pulls all of that into one modular tool: live monitoring, crash-safe logging, a
+## Install
-one-shot health report, and an interactive installer that only sets up the modules a given
-user actually needs for their hardware.
 
-**Seed use cases:** an RTX 3070 that intermittently "falls off the bus" under heavy GPU load
+### Debian / Ubuntu — `.deb`
-(Path of Exile on Linux, Escape from Tarkov on Windows), and a monitor going black mid-game.
-See `docs/SPEC.md` §1.
 
-## How you run it
+The simplest path: grab the latest **`rigdoctor_<version>_all.deb`** from the
-
+[releases page](https://git.jesseyvanofferen.com/jessey/rigdoctor/releases) and install it —
-RigDoctor is **GUI-first** — the desktop app is the primary way in — but every feature is
+apt pulls the GUI dependencies (PySide6, pyte) automatically:
-also available headless:
-- **Desktop GUI** — graphical dashboard, recording controls, log browser, reports. The
-  default interface for most users.
-- **Tray applet** — a small top-menu-bar applet with quick actions and at-a-glance status.
-- **CLI** — full functionality from the terminal; works over SSH and in scripts.
-
-The GUI/tray are optional modules; a headless (CLI-only) install loses no capability.
-
-## Key decisions (settled)
-
-| Topic | Decision |
-|-------|----------|
-| Name | **RigDoctor** |
-| Language / stack | **Python 3 + Qt (PySide6)** — core/CLI/daemon stdlib-only; Qt only for GUI/tray |
-| Primary distro | **Ubuntu** (Debian via apt); others best-effort later |
-| Primary GPU | **NVIDIA** first; AMD, then Intel later |
-| MVP | **Sensor core + crash logger + health report** (NVIDIA-only, CLI-first) |
-| Distribution | **User-local install** (self-updating from the public repo, no root); **`.deb`** optional |
-| Scope of action | **Read-only + suggestions** (no auto-apply yet) |
-| Stress tests | **Out of scope** |
-
-Full rationale and the still-open questions are in `docs/DECISIONS.md`.
-
-## Repo layout
-
-| Path | Purpose |
-|------|---------|
-| `docs/SPEC.md` | Product specification — vision, requirements, modules (the main planning doc) |
-| `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` | Technical design — core engine, front-ends, daemon, installer |
-| `docs/MODULES.md` | Catalog of modules with scope, dependencies, status |
-| `docs/ROADMAP.md` | Phased milestones |
-| `docs/DECISIONS.md` | Decision log + remaining open questions |
-| `src/rigdoctor/` | Source code — `core/` engine + sources, `cli.py`, `render.py` |
-| `installer/` | Installer / `.deb` packaging (empty until Phase 4) |
-| `tests/` | Tests (stdlib `unittest`) |
-
-## Install (user-local, no root)
-
-RigDoctor installs into a private venv under `~/.local` — no root, self-updating:
 
 ```bash
-./install.sh                 # from a source checkout or the self-extracting .run
+sudo apt install ./rigdoctor_*_all.deb        # CLI only: add --no-install-recommends
-./install.sh --ref v0.0.6    # install a specific released tag (needs a token)
-./install.sh --uninstall     # remove it
 ```
 
-This adds `rigdoctor` / `rigdoctor-gui` to `~/.local/bin` and a desktop entry. Each release
+**Or add the apt repository** for `apt install` + automatic updates. The registry is public and
-also ships a one-file **`.run`** installer (download, `chmod +x`, run). Updates are gated to
+GPG-signed — no token needed; just add the signing key and a deb822 source:
-accounts on the Git server (a Personal Access Token); save one via the GUI **Setup → Update
-access** panel or `rigdoctor login`, then `rigdoctor update` (or the sidebar button).
-
-## Install (`.deb`, system-wide)
-
-Each release also ships a **`.deb`** (`Architecture: all`, M9/D8). Download it from the release
-and install with apt (pulls the GUI deps — PySide6/pyte — via Recommends):
-
-```bash
-sudo apt install ./rigdoctor_<version>_all.deb     # CLI-only: add --no-install-recommends
-```
-
-When the apt registry is enabled on the server, you can instead add it as a source and
-`sudo apt update && sudo apt install rigdoctor` (with `apt upgrade` for updates):
 
 ```bash
+# signing key → dearmored into the keyring
+sudo install -d -m 0755 /etc/apt/keyrings
 curl -fsSL https://git.jesseyvanofferen.com/api/packages/jessey/debian/repository.key \
-  | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/gitea-rigdoctor.asc > /dev/null
+  | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/gitea-jessey.gpg
-echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/gitea-rigdoctor.asc] \
+
-  https://git.jesseyvanofferen.com/api/packages/jessey/debian stable main" \
+# the source (modern deb822 format, GPG-verified, all-arch)
-  | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/rigdoctor.list
+sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/rigdoctor.sources >/dev/null <<'EOF'
+Types: deb
+URIs: https://git.jesseyvanofferen.com/api/packages/jessey/debian
+Suites: stable
+Components: main
+Architectures: all
+Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/gitea-jessey.gpg
+EOF
+
+sudo apt update && sudo apt install rigdoctor
 ```
 
-## Run it (dev)
+Then `sudo apt upgrade` keeps it current.
 
-Stdlib-only, no install needed (target is Python ≥ 3.11; tested on 3.14):
+### Any distro — self-extracting `.run` (no root)
+
+Download **`rigdoctor-<version>-installer.run`** from the releases page and run it. It installs
+into a private virtualenv under `~/.local` (no root), adds the launchers + desktop entry, and
+opens the first-run setup wizard:
 
 ```bash
-PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m rigdoctor snapshot     # one-shot sensor read
+sh rigdoctor-*-installer.run
-PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m rigdoctor snapshot --json
-PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m rigdoctor monitor -n 1 # live view (Ctrl-C to quit)
-PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m rigdoctor sources       # list detected sensor sources
-PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m unittest discover -s tests
 ```
 
-### Crash-capture logger (M3)
+### Updating & removing
 
-A crash-safe background logger (JSONL, `fsync` per sample, bounded by rotation) for catching
+- **`.deb`:** `sudo apt upgrade` (or reinstall a newer `.deb`).
-the state right before a freeze:
+- **`.run` / user-local:** the in-app **Update** button, or `rigdoctor update`.
+- **Remove:** `sudo apt remove rigdoctor`, or `rigdoctor uninstall` for the user-local install.
+
+## Using it
+
+Launch **RigDoctor** from your app menu, or:
 
 ```bash
-rigdoctor record start          # start logging in the background
+rigdoctor-gui          # desktop app (+ tray)
-rigdoctor record status         # is it running? latest readings, sample count
+rigdoctor --help       # everything from the terminal (works over SSH)
-rigdoctor record stop           # stop it
-rigdoctor record report         # post-crash summary: peaks, events, last samples
-rigdoctor record run            # run in the foreground (the systemd-ready entrypoint)
 ```
 
-Logs live in `~/.local/share/rigdoctor/logs/`. It detects GPU "lost"/hang (nvidia-smi query
+Handy CLI commands:
-timeout) and writes an event marker. Trigger modes (always-on / game-launch) and the
-`systemd --user` service arrive in Phase 4.
-
-### Desktop GUI (M10)
-
-The GUI uses PySide6 (Qt) — the only part of RigDoctor that needs a non-stdlib dep:
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e '.[gui]'   # core + PySide6, gives `rigdoctor` and `rigdoctor-gui`
+rigdoctor snapshot              # one-shot reading of every sensor
-rigdoctor gui             # or: rigdoctor-gui
+rigdoctor monitor              # live terminal dashboard
+rigdoctor report               # health report (logs / SMART / driver)
+rigdoctor diagnose start|finish # capture while gaming, then analyse
+rigdoctor gameenv              # flag risky gaming settings + fixes
+rigdoctor inventory            # hardware/OS inventory
+rigdoctor ai explain           # AI explanation of the current findings (opt-in)
+rigdoctor bundle               # zip the latest diagnostic into a shareable report
 ```
 
-It opens a dark-themed window with sidebar navigation and a **live dashboard** over the
+## Requirements
-same sensor core — circular gauges for the headline metrics plus collapsible per-subsystem
-cards (GPU/CPU/memory/storage) with temperature-colored values (icey-blue → green → red).
-The **Logs** and **Health** sections are full pages (recording controls + post-crash report;
-and the kernel-log / SMART / driver scan). **Inventory** is a placeholder until M5 lands.
 
-Without the GUI extra, `pip install -e .` gives just the stdlib-only CLI.
+- **Linux** — Ubuntu/Debian first-class (the `.deb`); the `.run` works on any distro with
+  Python ≥ 3.11.
+- **GPU** — NVIDIA fully supported (via `nvidia-smi`); AMD/Intel sensors are best-effort.
+- **CLI/daemon** need only Python 3 (stdlib). The **GUI/tray** add **PySide6** (`python3-pyside6`).
+- Optional tools unlock more: `smartmontools`, `lm-sensors`, `gamemode`, `mangohud`. The setup
+  wizard offers to install them.
 
-## Start here
+## Privacy
 
-1. Read `docs/SPEC.md` for what we're building.
+Everything stays on your machine — no telemetry, no phone-home. The AI assistant is **off by
-2. Read `docs/ROADMAP.md` for the build order (Phase 1 = the MVP).
+default** and runs only when you explicitly trigger it; with Ollama nothing leaves the machine,
-3. Read `docs/DECISIONS.md` for the settled decisions (D1–D15).
+and the Claude option asks before sending. Reports are local files; they leave only if you share
-</content>
+the zip.
+
+## Development
+
+RigDoctor's core is stdlib-only Python; the GUI/tray use PySide6.
+
+```bash
+git clone https://git.jesseyvanofferen.com/jessey/rigdoctor && cd rigdoctor
+pip install -e ".[gui]"                    # core + GUI; omit [gui] for CLI-only
+python -m unittest discover -s tests       # run the test suite
+PYTHONPATH=src python3 -m rigdoctor snapshot   # run without installing
+```
+
+Design docs live in `docs/` — `SPEC.md` (vision/requirements), `ARCHITECTURE.md`,
+`MODULES.md` (module catalog), `ROADMAP.md`, and `DECISIONS.md` (the decision log).
+Contributions: branch off `main`, keep tests green (CI runs them on PRs), and bump the version
++ `CHANGELOG.md` for shipped changes.

assets/avatar.svg

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="512" height="512" viewBox="0 0 512 512">
+  <defs>
+    <radialGradient id="bg" cx="50%" cy="42%" r="78%">
+      <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#1b2230"/>
+      <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#0d0f13"/>
+    </radialGradient>
+  </defs>
+  <rect width="512" height="512" fill="url(#bg)"/>
+  <!-- gauge ring -->
+  <circle cx="256" cy="256" r="168" fill="none" stroke="#2a2f39" stroke-width="28"/>
+  <!-- accent sweep -->
+  <path d="M256 88 a168 168 0 1 1 -118.8 49.2" fill="none" stroke="#38bdf8"
+        stroke-width="28" stroke-linecap="round"/>
+  <!-- heartbeat / monitoring trace -->
+  <path d="M120 264 H200 L232 192 L280 336 L312 264 H392" fill="none" stroke="#e6e8eb"
+        stroke-width="28" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/>
+</svg>

packaging/make_deb.py

@@ -2,9 +2,13 @@
 
 Pure-Python app, so it's `Architecture: all`: we stage the package into dist-packages, drop the
 two launchers in /usr/bin, install the desktop entry + icon, write a DEBIAN/control, and call
-`dpkg-deb`. The core is stdlib (`Depends: python3`); the GUI/tray deps are **Recommends**
+`dpkg-deb`. The core is stdlib (`Depends: python3`); everything else is **Recommends** so a
-(`python3-pyside6`, `python3-pyte`) so `apt install rigdoctor` gives the full app by default,
+plain `apt install rigdoctor` sets up the whole toolset automatically (users never hand-install
-while `--no-install-recommends` yields a CLI-only install.
+deps) — the GUI modules (Debian/Ubuntu split PySide6 per module, so we name
+`python3-pyside6.qt{widgets,gui,websockets,svg}`) + `python3-pyte`, plus the diagnostic/gaming
+tools (smartmontools, lm-sensors, dmidecode, pciutils, libnotify-bin, libsecret-tools, gamemode,
+mangohud). `--no-install-recommends` still yields a CLI-only install; `cpupower` is a Suggests
+(kernel-tied/heavy).
 
 Run: `python packaging/make_deb.py` → `dist/rigdoctor_<version>_all.deb`.
 """
@@ -57,7 +61,8 @@ Maintainer: {maintainer}
 Section: utils
 Priority: optional
 Depends: python3 (>= 3.11)
-Recommends: python3-pyside6, python3-pyte
+Recommends: python3-pyside6.qtwidgets, python3-pyside6.qtgui, python3-pyside6.qtwebsockets, python3-pyside6.qtsvg, python3-pyte, smartmontools, lm-sensors, dmidecode, pciutils, libnotify-bin, libsecret-tools, gamemode, mangohud
+Suggests: linux-tools-generic
 Homepage: {homepage}
 Description: Hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers
  RigDoctor monitors GPU/CPU temperatures, load, and sensors, captures crash

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "rigdoctor"
-version = "0.35.0"
+version = "0.37.1"
 description = "Modular hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"

src/rigdoctor/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """RigDoctor — modular hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers."""
 
-__version__ = "0.35.0"
+__version__ = "0.37.1"

src/rigdoctor/cli.py

@@ -55,8 +55,9 @@ def cmd_gui(args) -> int:
         from .gui.app import main as gui_main
     except ImportError as exc:
         print("The GUI needs PySide6, which isn't installed.")
-        print("  Install it with:  pip install 'rigdoctor[gui]'")
+        print("  Ubuntu/Debian:  sudo apt install python3-pyside6.qtwidgets "
-        print("  or on Ubuntu:     sudo apt install python3-pyside6")
+              "python3-pyside6.qtgui python3-pyside6.qtwebsockets python3-pyside6.qtsvg python3-pyte")
+        print("  pip:            pip install 'rigdoctor[gui]'")
         print(f"  ({exc})")
         return 2
     return gui_main([sys.argv[0]])
@@ -262,6 +263,10 @@ def cmd_update(args) -> int:
         print("\nWhat's new:\n" + "\n".join("  " + ln for ln in notes.splitlines()) + "\n")
     if args.check:
         return 0
+    kind = updates.install_kind()
+    if kind != "pip":  # apt/source installs aren't pip-updatable — show the right command
+        print(updates.update_hint(kind))
+        return 0
     print(f"Installing {tag}…")
     rc, out = updates.apply_update(tag)
     print(out[-2000:])

src/rigdoctor/core/updates.py

@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@ state for the UI; `apply_update` performs the no-root self-update.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import functools
 import json
+import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import urllib.error
 import urllib.request
+from pathlib import Path
 
 from .. import __version__
 from ..config import load_token
@@ -31,6 +34,50 @@ UP_TO_DATE = "up-to-date"
 AVAILABLE = "available"
 
 
+APT_PACKAGE = "rigdoctor"
+
+
+def _dpkg_owns(path: Path) -> bool:
+    """True if dpkg reports `path` belongs to a package (i.e. an apt/.deb install)."""
+    if not shutil.which("dpkg"):
+        return False
+    try:
+        r = subprocess.run(["dpkg", "-S", str(path)], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5)
+    except (subprocess.SubprocessError, OSError):
+        return False
+    return r.returncode == 0 and APT_PACKAGE in r.stdout
+
+
+@functools.lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def install_kind() -> str:
+    """How RigDoctor was installed: 'apt' (.deb), 'pip' (venv/.run), or 'dev' (source checkout).
+
+    Decides which updater to use: only 'pip' can self-update in place; apt is root/dpkg-managed
+    and source is VCS-managed, so those are guided rather than auto-applied.
+    """
+    pkg = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]  # .../rigdoctor
+    if _dpkg_owns(pkg / "__init__.py"):
+        return "apt"
+    if sys.prefix != sys.base_prefix:  # inside a venv → the pip/.run install
+        return "pip"
+    if (pkg.parents[1] / "pyproject.toml").exists():  # repo checkout
+        return "dev"
+    if str(pkg).startswith("/usr/") or "/dist-packages/" in str(pkg):
+        return "apt"  # system-managed but no dpkg record — still don't pip
+    return "pip"
+
+
+def update_hint(kind: str | None = None) -> str:
+    """Human guidance for installs that can't self-update via pip (apt / source)."""
+    kind = kind or install_kind()
+    if kind == "apt":
+        return ("Installed via apt — update with:\n"
+                f"  sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade {APT_PACKAGE}")
+    if kind == "dev":
+        return "Running from a source checkout — update with `git pull`."
+    return ""
+
+
 def _parse(version: str) -> tuple[int, ...]:
     return tuple(int(p) for p in version.lstrip("vV").split(".") if p.isdigit())
 
@@ -100,11 +147,16 @@ def list_releases(limit: int = 15, timeout: float = 6.0) -> tuple[list[tuple[str
 
 
 def apply_update(tag: str) -> tuple[int, str]:
-    """Self-update the current (user-local) install to `tag` via authenticated pip.
+    """Update to `tag` using the method matching how RigDoctor was installed.
 
-    Installs `rigdoctor[gui] @ git+https://oauth2:<token>@…/rigdoctor.git@<tag>` into
+    Only pip/venv installs are upgraded in place (authenticated pip install of
-    the running environment. Returns (exit_code, output) with the token scrubbed.
+    `rigdoctor[gui] @ git+https://oauth2:<token>@…/rigdoctor.git@<tag>`). apt and source
+    installs can't be (root/dpkg- or VCS-managed), so they return guidance instead of
+    attempting pip. Returns (exit_code, output) with the token scrubbed.
     """
+    kind = install_kind()
+    if kind != "pip":
+        return (1, update_hint(kind))
     token = load_token()
     if not token:
         return (1, "No update token configured. Run `rigdoctor login`.")

src/rigdoctor/gui/main_window.py

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
     QMainWindow,
     QMessageBox,
     QPushButton,
+    QScrollArea,
     QStackedWidget,
     QSystemTrayIcon,
     QTextEdit,
@@ -51,6 +52,10 @@ _NAV = [
     ("App", ["Settings", "Share"]),
 ]
 _PAGES = [name for _section, names in _NAV for name in names]
+# Pages that manage their own scrolling (pinned header + inner scroll) or must fill the
+# viewport (the Share terminal) — these are added to the stack as-is; every other page is
+# wrapped in a QScrollArea so it scrolls when too tall and doesn't pin the window's height.
+_NO_WRAP = {"Dashboard", "System Health", "Inventory", "Share"}
 _ICON = Path(__file__).parent / "assets" / "rigdoctor.svg"
 
 
@@ -68,7 +73,11 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
 
         central = QWidget()
         self.setCentralWidget(central)
-        layout = QHBoxLayout(central)
+        outer = QVBoxLayout(central)
+        outer.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        outer.setSpacing(0)
+        body = QWidget()
+        layout = QHBoxLayout(body)
         layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
         layout.setSpacing(0)
 
@@ -100,11 +109,14 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             "Share": self.share_page,
         }
         for name in _PAGES:
-            self._stack.addWidget(self._pages[name])
+            page = self._pages[name]
+            self._stack.addWidget(page if name in _NO_WRAP else self._scrollable(page))
         content_layout.addWidget(self._stack)
 
         layout.addWidget(self._build_sidebar())
         layout.addWidget(content, 1)
+        outer.addWidget(body, 1)
+        outer.addWidget(self._build_footer())
 
         self._worker = SamplerWorker(interval=interval)
         self._worker.sampled.connect(self.dashboard.update_sample)
@@ -216,9 +228,6 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         v.addStretch(1)
         live = QLabel(f'<span style="color:{ACCENT};">●</span> <span style="color:{MUTED};">Live</span>')
         v.addWidget(live)
-        version = QLabel(f"v{__version__}")
-        version.setObjectName("Muted")
-        v.addWidget(version)
         changelog_btn = QPushButton("Changelog")
         changelog_btn.setObjectName("LinkButton")
         changelog_btn.setCursor(Qt.CursorShape.PointingHandCursor)
@@ -248,6 +257,27 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         v.addWidget(self._restart_btn)
         return bar
 
+    def _scrollable(self, page: QWidget) -> QScrollArea:
+        """Wrap a page so it scrolls when taller than the window — and so the window can shrink
+        below the page's natural height instead of being pinned to it."""
+        area = QScrollArea()
+        area.setWidget(page)
+        area.setWidgetResizable(True)
+        area.setFrameShape(QFrame.Shape.NoFrame)
+        area.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(Qt.ScrollBarPolicy.ScrollBarAlwaysOff)
+        return area
+
+    def _build_footer(self) -> QFrame:
+        bar = QFrame()
+        bar.setObjectName("Footer")
+        h = QHBoxLayout(bar)
+        h.setContentsMargins(14, 5, 16, 5)
+        h.addStretch(1)
+        version = QLabel(f"RigDoctor v{__version__}")
+        version.setObjectName("Muted")
+        h.addWidget(version)
+        return bar
+
     def _restart(self) -> None:
         gui = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), "rigdoctor-gui")
         if os.path.exists(gui):
@@ -259,6 +289,9 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
     def _apply_update(self) -> None:
         if not self._latest_tag:
             return
+        if updates.install_kind() != "pip":  # apt/source: can't pip-update — show the command
+            QMessageBox.information(self, "Update RigDoctor", updates.update_hint())
+            return
         box = QMessageBox(self)
         box.setWindowTitle(f"Update to {self._latest_tag}")
         box.setText(f"Update RigDoctor to {self._latest_tag}?")
@@ -424,7 +457,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             self._update_label.setText("update check unavailable")
         elif state == updates.AVAILABLE:
             self._update_label.setText(f'<span style="color:{GOOD};">{tag} available</span>')
-            self._update_btn.setText(f"Update to {tag}")
+            self._update_btn.setText(f"Update to {tag}" if updates.install_kind() == "pip" else "How to update")
             self._update_btn.setVisible(True)
             if self._alert_monitor.enabled and tag != self._notified_update_tag:
                 self._notified_update_tag = tag  # once per version, not every poll

src/rigdoctor/gui/theme.py

@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ QMainWindow, #ContentArea, #Page {{ background: {BG}; }}
 QLabel {{ background: transparent; }}
 
 #Sidebar {{ background: {SIDEBAR}; border-right: 1px solid {CARD_BORDER}; }}
+#Footer {{ background: {SIDEBAR}; border-top: 1px solid {CARD_BORDER}; }}
+#Footer QLabel {{ font-size: 11px; }}
 #AppTitle {{ font-size: 17px; font-weight: 800; }}
 #AppSubtitle {{ color: {MUTED}; font-size: 11px; }}
 

tests/test_updates.py

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""Tests for the M13 updater: install detection + routing the update to the right method."""
+
+import unittest
+from unittest import mock
+
+from rigdoctor.core import updates
+
+
+class InstallKindTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        updates.install_kind.cache_clear()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        updates.install_kind.cache_clear()
+
+    def test_apt_when_dpkg_owns_the_package(self):
+        with mock.patch.object(updates, "_dpkg_owns", return_value=True):
+            self.assertEqual(updates.install_kind(), "apt")
+
+    def test_pip_when_running_in_a_venv(self):
+        with mock.patch.object(updates, "_dpkg_owns", return_value=False), \
+             mock.patch.object(updates.sys, "prefix", "/opt/venv"), \
+             mock.patch.object(updates.sys, "base_prefix", "/usr"):
+            self.assertEqual(updates.install_kind(), "pip")
+
+
+class ApplyUpdateRoutingTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_apt_returns_guidance_and_never_runs_pip(self):
+        with mock.patch.object(updates, "install_kind", return_value="apt"), \
+             mock.patch("subprocess.run") as run:
+            rc, out = updates.apply_update("v9.9.9")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 1)
+        self.assertIn("apt install --only-upgrade", out)
+        run.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_dev_returns_guidance_and_never_runs_pip(self):
+        with mock.patch.object(updates, "install_kind", return_value="dev"), \
+             mock.patch("subprocess.run") as run:
+            rc, out = updates.apply_update("v9.9.9")
+        self.assertIn("git pull", out)
+        run.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_pip_install_runs_pip(self):
+        proc = mock.Mock(returncode=0, stdout="Successfully installed", stderr="")
+        with mock.patch.object(updates, "install_kind", return_value="pip"), \
+             mock.patch.object(updates, "load_token", return_value="TOK"), \
+             mock.patch("subprocess.run", return_value=proc) as run:
+            rc, _out = updates.apply_update("v1.2.3")
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
+        cmd = run.call_args[0][0]
+        self.assertIn("pip", cmd)
+        self.assertIn("install", cmd)
+
+
+class UpdateHintTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_apt_hint_names_the_apt_command(self):
+        self.assertIn("apt install --only-upgrade rigdoctor", updates.update_hint("apt"))
+
+    def test_dev_hint_says_git_pull(self):
+        self.assertIn("git pull", updates.update_hint("dev"))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()