Updates
How the update check works, the difference between an optional and a required update, and how to verify a download.
How the check works
On startup OrbitLab asks the update service which build is current for its channel. The check is fail-open: if the service cannot be reached, the app starts normally rather than blocking you.
GET https://api.starshipai.online/api/app/version
?channel=beta&platform=windowsOptional and required updates
Most updates are optional. You are shown what changed and can choose Later or Install Update.
An update becomes required only when the release is marked forced and your installed version is older than the release's minimum supported version. In that case the app asks you to update before continuing.
Verifying a download by hand
Every release page on this site publishes the SHA-256 of each artifact. Compare it against the file you downloaded before running it.
Get-FileHash .\OrbitLab-win-Setup.exe -Algorithm SHA256Advanced: pointing the app elsewhere
The backend and update-feed URLs can be overridden, which is mainly useful for testing. The app reads, in priority order: the ORBITLAB_BACKEND_URL and ORBITLAB_UPDATE_FEED environment variables, an orbitlab.settings.json next to the executable, then the same file in your app-data folder.
HTTPS is required. Plain HTTP is accepted only for localhost. Setting a value to "disabled" turns that endpoint off entirely and the app runs fully offline.
{
"backendBaseUrl": "https://api.starshipai.online",
"updateFeedUrl": "disabled"
}