Desktop nightly updater proof

Build each checkout with vp i and vp run build:desktop:bundle, then node apps/desktop/node_modules/electron/install.js.
Stage: python3 stage.py CHECKOUT STAGE_DIRECTORY
Run: headless-desktop node drive-update-check.cjs STAGE_DIRECTORY CHECKOUT
All output goes to a new timestamped run below STAGE_DIRECTORY. No live T3 state is seeded.

The staging script copies stock Electron 44.10.1 and uses the checkout apps directory as the packaged application payload. Renaming the executable enables Electron packaged-app identity. No application source or updater code is rewritten. The package identity is the reported installed nightly version. APPIMAGE enables the normal Linux update path; no update is downloaded or installed. The GitHub feed is live and unmocked.

Both matched recordings click Settings > About > Check for Updates from idle on Nightly. Before: no offer, status error, ERR_UPDATER_NO_PUBLISHED_VERSIONS in runtime output. After: Download offered for 0.1.10-nightly.20261112.4580. Stills require identical screenshots 500 ms apart. The native-error still is an additional base-only confirmation via the application menu; that native dialog was moved into the same crop.

A later additional head menu check returned HTTP 403 from GitHub. The paired Settings captures and transcript precede that response and record a successful live head check.

AI-assisted; verified with the tests and tools listed above.