Files
voculinux/docs/UPDATE.md
T
jatinkrmalik 460378ae0c chore: bump version to v0.4.1-alpha
Release preparation for v0.4.1-alpha with the following updates:

Features:
- Language selector UI with 10 languages and auto-detection support

Bug Fixes:
- App drawer launch fix when installing from local repo (absolute path for VENV_DIR)
- Escape commit message in Detect Changes step
- Correct git fetch syntax for tag-based updates

Updated Files:
- src/vocalinux/version.py: 0.4.0-alpha → 0.4.1-alpha
- install.sh: Default tag v0.3.0-alpha → v0.4.1-alpha
- README.md: Install command version updates
- docs/INSTALL.md: Install command version updates
- docs/UPDATE.md: New v0.4.1-alpha section, moved v0.4.0-alpha to Previous Versions
- web/src/app/layout.tsx: Software version update
2026-01-29 00:13:34 -08:00

4.0 KiB

Updating Vocalinux

This guide explains how to update Vocalinux to the latest version.

If You Installed via curl (One-liner)

Simply re-run the installation command with the new version tag:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jatinkrmalik/vocalinux/main/install.sh | bash -s -- --tag=v0.4.1-alpha

The installer will:

  • Update your existing installation
  • Preserve your configuration and models
  • Install any new dependencies

Note

: The installer automatically detects and updates existing installations.

If You Installed from Source

cd vocalinux
git fetch origin
git checkout v0.4.1-alpha
./install.sh

Or to always get the latest main branch:

cd vocalinux
git pull origin main
./install.sh

Detailed Update Methods

Method 1: Reinstall via Installer (Easiest)

The installer handles everything automatically:

# From the repo (if you have it cloned)
cd vocalinux
./install.sh --tag=v0.4.1-alpha

# Or via curl (for any installation)
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jatinkrmalik/vocalinux/main/install.sh | bash -s -- --tag=v0.4.1-alpha

What gets preserved:

  • Your configuration at ~/.config/vocalinux/
  • Your speech models at ~/.local/share/vocalinux/models/
  • Your custom settings and preferences

Method 2: Manual Update (Advanced)

If you prefer manual control over the update process:

# 1. Navigate to your vocalinux directory
cd vocalinux

# 2. Pull the latest changes
git fetch origin
git checkout v0.4.1-alpha

# 3. Activate your virtual environment
source venv/bin/activate

# 4. Update the package
pip install --upgrade .

# 5. Exit and restart
exit
vocalinux

Checking Your Current Version

To see which version you have installed:

# Check the package version
python3 -c "import vocalinux; print(vocalinux.version.__version__)"

# Or check from the repo
git describe --tags

What's New in v0.4.1-alpha

  • Language selector UI: Choose from 10 languages with auto-detection support for Whisper
  • App drawer launch fix: Desktop entry now works when installing from local repo
  • Better commit handling: Fixed error with special characters in commit messages
  • Improved update mechanism: Corrected git fetch syntax for tag-based updates

See the full changelog.


Previous Versions

v0.4.0-alpha

  • Multi-language support: French, German, and Russian
  • Debian 13+ compatibility: Fixed appindicator package issues
  • Python 3.12+ support: Improved venv handling
  • Better install script: Tag-based version selection

Troubleshooting

Update Won't Install

Symptom: Installation fails during update

Solution: Run the uninstaller first, then reinstall:

# Keep your config and models
./uninstall.sh --keep-config --keep-data

# Reinstall
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jatinkrmalik/vocalinux/main/install.sh | bash -s -- --tag=v0.4.1-alpha

Old Version Still Running

Symptom: After update, old version is still active

Solution: Fully exit and restart:

# Kill any running instances
pkill -f vocalinux

# Start fresh
vocalinux

Dependencies Changed

Symptom: New version has different system dependencies

Solution: The installer handles this, but if you see errors:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-3.0

Automatic Updates (Coming Soon)

We're working on an in-app update mechanism. For now, please use the manual update methods above.

To check if a new version is available:

# Check latest release
curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/jatinkrmalik/vocalinux/releases/latest | grep "tag_name"

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