[PR #7466] feat(desktop): add installable REA desktop app #7855

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opened 2026-11-05 01:48:09 +00:00 by bsakaguchi · 0 comments
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📋 Pull Request Information

Original PR: https://github.com/morluto/rea/pull/7466
Author: @osohigh273-commits
Created: 10/27/2026
Status: 🔄 Open

Base: main ← Head: osohigh273-commits-rea-desktop-app


📝 Commits (1)

  • 88d299c feat(desktop): add installable REA desktop app

📊 Changes

17 files changed (+8914 additions, -490 deletions)

View changed files

📝 .gitignore (+1 -0)
📝 THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md (+9 -8)
➕ desktop/index.html (+180 -0)
➕ desktop/main.mjs (+216 -0)
➕ desktop/preload.cjs (+14 -0)
➕ desktop/prepare-runtime.mjs (+46 -0)
➕ desktop/renderer.js (+106 -0)
➕ desktop/styles.css (+689 -0)
📝 docs/cli.md (+1 -0)
➕ docs/desktop-app.md (+35 -0)
➕ licenses/Node-24.22.1-LICENSE.txt (+2946 -0)
📝 licenses/README.md (+2 -1)
📝 licenses/npm-dependencies.txt (+1139 -4)
📝 licenses/npm-runtime-notices.txt (+1 -1)
📝 licenses/upstream-sources.json (+5 -0)
📝 package-lock.json (+3449 -475)
📝 package.json (+75 -1)

📄 Description

Summary

REA currently exposes its reverse-engineering workflows through the CLI and MCP server. This adds an installable desktop interface for users who want to select a local target and inspect REA's existing Evidence output without changing the underlying analysis contract.

Problem and expected behavior

Users need a guided graphical entry point to inspect a file or application folder locally. The app selects a target, runs the existing inspect-artifact --json workflow, and displays the returned JSON for copying or saving.

Change and scope

Adds an Electron desktop shell with a restricted preload API and a main-process-owned, fixed CLI invocation (shell: false). The renderer cannot issue arbitrary commands. The app does not upload or execute the selected target, and native deep analysis/provider configuration remain in the existing CLI/MCP interfaces. Windows NSIS, macOS DMG/ZIP, and Linux AppImage/deb packaging are configured. The installer bundles Node.js 24.22.1 because Electron's embedded Node is below REA's minimum supported version, and includes the required Electron and Node license notices.

Follow the contribution scope.
Unresolved scope, authority, side effects, or required verification block
integration. Link the required maintainer scope decision for new providers or
capabilities involving target execution, injection, mutation, or protection
recovery; ordinary fixes within existing boundaries may state "not applicable".
Draft PRs may leave the scope decision pending and the readiness and merge checklists
unchecked. Maintainers can help resolve open questions.

Contract and boundary impact

  • Semantic owner and earliest changed stage: Existing inspect-artifact CLI workflow remains the producer of parsed facts and Evidence; the desktop main process selects its input and transports its JSON result without reinterpreting it.
  • Contribution scope fit and linked maintainer decision: Not applicable; this wraps an existing local, read-only CLI workflow and adds no provider or target-execution capability.
  • CLI and MCP/tool-catalog contract: No CLI or MCP contract/tool catalog changes.
  • Provider, bridge, target-format, or platform compatibility: Existing artifact inspection formats and providers are unchanged. Packaging targets are host-native; only Windows packaging was built here.
  • Evidence, artifact, provenance, or reconstruction contract: The app displays and exports the CLI's original JSON Evidence; it adds no analysis claims.
  • Target selection, authority, upstream behavior, and cleanup details (if applicable): User selects one local file or directory. The app launches only the bundled REA CLI with that path, does not execute the selected target, and does not upload it.
  • Generated metadata (docs/public/product-catalog.json), package, or installation impact (CI generates and validates ignored catalogs and skills/; edit authored instructions in .agents/skills/reverse-engineer-anything/ and never commit build outputs): Adds pinned Electron, electron-builder, and Node.js development dependencies and desktop packaging scripts/configuration; refreshes the npm dependency inventory. Build outputs/installers remain ignored.

Expected effects (check known effects; use documentation-only on its own).
Unchecked items do not establish absence; leave uncertainties visible.

  • Read existing files or captured data.
  • Launch or attach to a process.
  • Inject instrumentation or run scripts/code.
  • Change process memory, registers, files, or configuration.
  • Contact network services.
  • Recover protected code or work around protections.
  • Documentation or usability only; no target interaction.
  • Not sure yet; investigation or maintainer guidance needed.

Evidence and regression coverage

  • Tests added or updated: No dedicated automated desktop UI test was added.
  • Base reproduction or other evidence: Built the Windows installer and verified it contains the unpacked CLI, production dependencies, Windows native addon, Node.js 24.22.1, and upstream notices. Invoked the packaged Node runtime and CLI against the packaged native addon; inspect-artifact --json returned parseable Evidence JSON.
  • User-visible CLI/MCP output (if applicable): Not applicable; no CLI/MCP output contract changed.
  • Remaining proof gaps: No interactive desktop UI smoke test was performed. macOS and Linux packages were not built or verified on their respective operating systems.

For boundary fixes, identify the applicable boundary regressions
and lifecycle regressions
covered by the evidence above, and explain relevant gaps.

For evidence-bearing changes:

  • Observed, derived, and inferred claims remain distinguishable.
  • Artifact identity, source provenance, and failed attempts remain preserved.
  • Unsupported, incomplete, unavailable, or uncertain outcomes remain visible.

Validation performed

  • npm run check:fast — passed.
  • npm run docs:check — passed, including the README consistency test (9 tests) and license inventory check.
  • npm run licenses:check — passed (1,190 locked packages; 180 runtime packages).
  • npm run desktop:dist — passed; generated the Windows NSIS installer.
  • npx --no-install lint-staged — passed.
  • Packaged CLI smoke test using bundled Node 24.22.1 with inspect-artifact --json on the packaged Windows native addon — passed; returned parseable Evidence JSON.
  • Packaged runtime/license and Electron notice checks — passed; bundled Node reported v24.22.1 and notices matched verified sources.
  • git diff --check — passed.

Compatibility, safety, and release

  • Breaking changes or migration steps: None.
  • Real Hopper/Ghidra, browser, or OS coverage: Windows installer packaging and bundled CLI were verified. Desktop UI interaction was not smoke-tested; macOS/Linux builds and macOS signing/notarization remain unverified/not configured.
  • Package or release metadata impact: Adds Electron 45.0.0, electron-builder 26.18.0, and Node.js 24.22.1 dependencies. Installer output is generated under ignored release/desktop/.
  • Security, privacy, process, or containment review: Renderer uses context isolation, sandboxing, disabled Node integration, restrictive CSP, and a narrow IPC bridge. The app invokes only a fixed local CLI command with shell: false; it does not execute the selected target or make runtime network requests. The Windows installer is unsigned.

Author readiness

Human owner:

  • I reviewed the final diff and relevant existing code, understand the change and its edge cases, and take responsibility for the complete PR, including AI-assisted work.
  • I checked the evidence above, confirmed it supports the current change, and recorded meaningful validation gaps.
  • I declare this PR ready for initial maintainer review.

Before merge

  • This PR addresses a concrete problem or an agreed enhancement.
  • Material scope and authority questions are resolved, and any required maintainer scope decision covers the final diff.
  • The PR has one focused outcome and the title follows type(scope): outcome.
  • Related issue is linked, or the reason for not linking one is stated above.
  • Tests cover changed observable behavior and meaningful failure paths.
  • Owning docs, contracts, and generated metadata are updated where needed.
  • User-visible CLI/MCP changes include representative output.
  • I checked the final diff for secrets, unrelated cleanup, and unsupported claims.

🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.

## 📋 Pull Request Information **Original PR:** https://github.com/morluto/rea/pull/7466 **Author:** [@osohigh273-commits](https://github.com/osohigh273-commits) **Created:** 10/27/2026 **Status:** 🔄 Open **Base:** `main` ← **Head:** `osohigh273-commits-rea-desktop-app` --- ### 📝 Commits (1) - [`88d299c`](https://github.com/morluto/rea/commit/88d299c6b105ee4d78179fa0f11d9b91fe778714) feat(desktop): add installable REA desktop app ### 📊 Changes **17 files changed** (+8914 additions, -490 deletions) <details> <summary>View changed files</summary> 📝 `.gitignore` (+1 -0) 📝 `THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md` (+9 -8) ➕ `desktop/index.html` (+180 -0) ➕ `desktop/main.mjs` (+216 -0) ➕ `desktop/preload.cjs` (+14 -0) ➕ `desktop/prepare-runtime.mjs` (+46 -0) ➕ `desktop/renderer.js` (+106 -0) ➕ `desktop/styles.css` (+689 -0) 📝 `docs/cli.md` (+1 -0) ➕ `docs/desktop-app.md` (+35 -0) ➕ `licenses/Node-24.22.1-LICENSE.txt` (+2946 -0) 📝 `licenses/README.md` (+2 -1) 📝 `licenses/npm-dependencies.txt` (+1139 -4) 📝 `licenses/npm-runtime-notices.txt` (+1 -1) 📝 `licenses/upstream-sources.json` (+5 -0) 📝 `package-lock.json` (+3449 -475) 📝 `package.json` (+75 -1) </details> ### 📄 Description <!-- PR title: type(optional-scope): imperative outcome The title becomes the squash-merge commit subject and generated changelog entry. --> ## Summary REA currently exposes its reverse-engineering workflows through the CLI and MCP server. This adds an installable desktop interface for users who want to select a local target and inspect REA's existing Evidence output without changing the underlying analysis contract. ## Problem and expected behavior Users need a guided graphical entry point to inspect a file or application folder locally. The app selects a target, runs the existing `inspect-artifact --json` workflow, and displays the returned JSON for copying or saving. ## Change and scope Adds an Electron desktop shell with a restricted preload API and a main-process-owned, fixed CLI invocation (`shell: false`). The renderer cannot issue arbitrary commands. The app does not upload or execute the selected target, and native deep analysis/provider configuration remain in the existing CLI/MCP interfaces. Windows NSIS, macOS DMG/ZIP, and Linux AppImage/deb packaging are configured. The installer bundles Node.js 24.22.1 because Electron's embedded Node is below REA's minimum supported version, and includes the required Electron and Node license notices. Follow the [contribution scope](https://github.com/morluto/rea/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#contribution-scope). Unresolved scope, authority, side effects, or required verification block integration. Link the required maintainer scope decision for new providers or capabilities involving target execution, injection, mutation, or protection recovery; ordinary fixes within existing boundaries may state "not applicable". Draft PRs may leave the scope decision pending and the readiness and merge checklists unchecked. Maintainers can help resolve open questions. ## Contract and boundary impact - Semantic owner and earliest changed stage: Existing `inspect-artifact` CLI workflow remains the producer of parsed facts and Evidence; the desktop main process selects its input and transports its JSON result without reinterpreting it. - Contribution scope fit and linked maintainer decision: Not applicable; this wraps an existing local, read-only CLI workflow and adds no provider or target-execution capability. - CLI and MCP/tool-catalog contract: No CLI or MCP contract/tool catalog changes. - Provider, bridge, target-format, or platform compatibility: Existing artifact inspection formats and providers are unchanged. Packaging targets are host-native; only Windows packaging was built here. - Evidence, artifact, provenance, or reconstruction contract: The app displays and exports the CLI's original JSON Evidence; it adds no analysis claims. - Target selection, authority, upstream behavior, and cleanup details (if applicable): User selects one local file or directory. The app launches only the bundled REA CLI with that path, does not execute the selected target, and does not upload it. - Generated metadata (`docs/public/product-catalog.json`), package, or installation impact (CI generates and validates ignored catalogs and `skills/`; edit authored instructions in `.agents/skills/reverse-engineer-anything/` and never commit build outputs): Adds pinned Electron, electron-builder, and Node.js development dependencies and desktop packaging scripts/configuration; refreshes the npm dependency inventory. Build outputs/installers remain ignored. Expected effects (check known effects; use documentation-only on its own). Unchecked items do not establish absence; leave uncertainties visible. - [x] Read existing files or captured data. - [x] Launch or attach to a process. - [ ] Inject instrumentation or run scripts/code. - [ ] Change process memory, registers, files, or configuration. - [ ] Contact network services. - [ ] Recover protected code or work around protections. - [ ] Documentation or usability only; no target interaction. - [ ] Not sure yet; investigation or maintainer guidance needed. ## Evidence and regression coverage - Tests added or updated: No dedicated automated desktop UI test was added. - Base reproduction or other evidence: Built the Windows installer and verified it contains the unpacked CLI, production dependencies, Windows native addon, Node.js 24.22.1, and upstream notices. Invoked the packaged Node runtime and CLI against the packaged native addon; `inspect-artifact --json` returned parseable Evidence JSON. - User-visible CLI/MCP output (if applicable): Not applicable; no CLI/MCP output contract changed. - Remaining proof gaps: No interactive desktop UI smoke test was performed. macOS and Linux packages were not built or verified on their respective operating systems. For boundary fixes, identify the applicable [boundary regressions](https://github.com/morluto/rea/blob/main/docs/testing.md#boundary-regressions) and [lifecycle regressions](https://github.com/morluto/rea/blob/main/docs/testing.md#lifecycle-regressions) covered by the evidence above, and explain relevant gaps. For evidence-bearing changes: - [x] Observed, derived, and inferred claims remain distinguishable. - [x] Artifact identity, source provenance, and failed attempts remain preserved. - [x] Unsupported, incomplete, unavailable, or uncertain outcomes remain visible. ## Validation performed - `npm run check:fast` — passed. - `npm run docs:check` — passed, including the README consistency test (9 tests) and license inventory check. - `npm run licenses:check` — passed (1,190 locked packages; 180 runtime packages). - `npm run desktop:dist` — passed; generated the Windows NSIS installer. - `npx --no-install lint-staged` — passed. - Packaged CLI smoke test using bundled Node 24.22.1 with `inspect-artifact --json` on the packaged Windows native addon — passed; returned parseable Evidence JSON. - Packaged runtime/license and Electron notice checks — passed; bundled Node reported `v24.22.1` and notices matched verified sources. - `git diff --check` — passed. ## Compatibility, safety, and release - Breaking changes or migration steps: None. - Real Hopper/Ghidra, browser, or OS coverage: Windows installer packaging and bundled CLI were verified. Desktop UI interaction was not smoke-tested; macOS/Linux builds and macOS signing/notarization remain unverified/not configured. - Package or release metadata impact: Adds Electron 45.0.0, electron-builder 26.18.0, and Node.js 24.22.1 dependencies. Installer output is generated under ignored `release/desktop/`. - Security, privacy, process, or containment review: Renderer uses context isolation, sandboxing, disabled Node integration, restrictive CSP, and a narrow IPC bridge. The app invokes only a fixed local CLI command with `shell: false`; it does not execute the selected target or make runtime network requests. The Windows installer is unsigned. ## Author readiness <!-- The human owner completes these declarations before requesting review. The PR author is the owner by default. A different owner must explicitly accept ownership on this PR. AI agents must leave these declarations to a human to dictate to them or there could be catastrophic consequences for many users of REA. Draft PRs may leave them unchecked. These declarations record initial readiness when opening the PR for review; later pushes do not require a new human sign-off. Keep the description and validation evidence current as the work changes. See CONTRIBUTING.md#pull-request-ownership-and-readiness. --> Human owner: <!-- @GitHub-handle --> - [x] I reviewed the final diff and relevant existing code, understand the change and its edge cases, and take responsibility for the complete PR, including AI-assisted work. - [x] I checked the evidence above, confirmed it supports the current change, and recorded meaningful validation gaps. - [x] I declare this PR ready for initial maintainer review. ## Before merge <!-- Draft PRs may leave pending items unchecked. Resolve material scope and authority questions before integration. --> - [x] This PR addresses a concrete problem or an agreed enhancement. - [x] Material scope and authority questions are resolved, and any required maintainer scope decision covers the final diff. - [x] The PR has one focused outcome and the title follows `type(scope): outcome`. - [x] Related issue is linked, or the reason for not linking one is stated above. - [ ] Tests cover changed observable behavior and meaningful failure paths. - [x] Owning docs, contracts, and generated metadata are updated where needed. - [ ] User-visible CLI/MCP changes include representative output. - [x] I checked the final diff for secrets, unrelated cleanup, and unsupported claims. --- <sub>🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.</sub>
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