Release notes

Local Hoist v0.5.0

October 12, 2026

Browse and edit workspace files inside Local Hoist, switch between chats and files in tabs, and listen to text files aloud. This release also adds conversation change summaries, drag-to-collapse panels, and clearer recovery options when the app cannot start.

New

Browse workspace folders and edit text files without leaving the app. The editor includes syntax highlighting, line numbers, word wrap, and save controls, with checks for conflicting changes on disk. Preview images and review file diffs in the same workspace.
Keep multiple conversations and files open in tabs. Conversation hover cards and tab previews show activity and change summaries, separating uncommitted work attributed to each chat from its recorded commit history.
Read the current text file aloud using your saved speech model, voice, and playback speed. Pause, resume, or stop playback from the editor.

Improved

Drag resizable panels closed and pull them back open from their edges. Arrange the file explorer and editor side by side or stacked, and open files in the main area when you need more room.
Choose separate foreground and background colors for image annotations, add filled text backgrounds, and undo text deletion. Recording controls stay with the note being dictated while you draw or select other annotations.

Fixed

Conversation rollback now loads the complete history before showing a preview, so older changes are included even when they are not loaded in the chat. Confirmation stays disabled if that history cannot be loaded.
Commit reviews now use current uncommitted file counts, and recorded commit statistics retain their file and line totals across sessions. Dismissing a commit dialog no longer leaves a pending request that can reopen it.

Reliability

If the app's backend cannot start, a recovery dialog now explains what to do next and provides a copyable diagnostic report. Supported builds can check for an update from the recovery dialog and ask before installing it.