FrameTrellis v1.2.1: Startup Diagnostics, Windows Verification, and Release Reliability

FrameTrellis v1.2.1 is now available as a stable maintenance update to my local-first, open-source desktop video editor built with C++20, Qt 6/QML, MLT and FFmpeg.

Unlike v1.2.0, which focused on batch timeline-editing improvements, v1.2.1 strengthens the engineering behind startup, packaging and validation.

1. More useful startup diagnostics

The editor now records additional checkpoints during application startup, QML window creation, event-loop shutdown and final cleanup.

These logs make it easier to investigate where something went wrong during the startup lifecycle.

Another improvement concerns initialization failures. When QML window creation fails, the application now follows its normal cleanup sequence for controllers, background worker tasks and the MLT runtime.

2. Stricter Windows package verification

The Windows packaging workflow now retains more diagnostic information, including standard output, standard error and available crash logs.

Module inspection has also become stricter. Invalid DLL paths, including misleading directory-prefix matches and traversal outside allowed locations, are rejected.

On Windows 11 ARM64 CI runners, the x64 application is checked under emulation through two independent launches. Both must succeed and produce fresh screenshots.

This prevents a successful second run from hiding an earlier failure.

3. Expanded regression testing

This release adds a dedicated Windows PowerShell regression suite for module-path validation.

Pre-release validation also included Linux GCC builds, sanitizer testing, Windows MSYS2 compilation, GUI tests and package verification workflows.

The final release process independently rebuilds and checks the version-stamped Windows packages.

4. An important limitation

An intermittent startup problem involving Qt6Core.dll was previously observed on a Windows 11 ARM64 CI runner.

Later verification runs passed, but the underlying cause remains undetermined.

Version 1.2.1 improves diagnostics and failure detection. It does not claim that the original issue has been definitively fixed.

5. Availability and compatibility

The existing .ftproj project format remains unchanged.

Windows 10 (1809 or later) and Windows 11 x64 users can download an installer or portable ZIP. Linux users can build from source.

Windows packages are unsigned, so users should verify their SHA-256 checksums.

WinGet integration is not part of this release.

Get FrameTrellis

GitHub release:
https://github.com/sanskarIN/frametrellis/releases/tag/v1.2.1

Source repository:
https://github.com/sanskarIN/frametrellis

Website:
https://sanskarin.github.io/frametrellis/

FrameTrellis continues to evolve through open development, testing and community feedback.

If you're interested in C++, Qt, FFmpeg or desktop application engineering, I'd welcome your thoughts on startup diagnostics and release verification.