mphillippi7804 · Oct 15, 2026 · Oct 16, 2026 · Oct 16, 2026 · Oct 16, 2026 · Oct 16, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/DevBuild.yml b/.github/workflows/DevBuild.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ name: HeliosDev Build & Create MSI Files
 on:
   # Allows you to run this workflow manually from the Actions tab
   workflow_dispatch:
+
+# needed to publish the installers as a GitHub Release
+permissions:
+  contents: write
 
 jobs:  
   build:    
@@ -22,6 +26,26 @@ jobs:
           fetch-tags: true
           fetch-depth: 0
 
+      - name: Stage clean source for the download package
+        # copy every tracked file (including submodules) before the build creates or changes anything
+        shell: cmd
+        run: |
+          git -c core.quotepath=off ls-files --recurse-submodules > "%RUNNER_TEMP%\source-files.txt"
+          tar -c -f "%RUNNER_TEMP%\source.tar" -T "%RUNNER_TEMP%\source-files.txt"
+          mkdir "%RUNNER_TEMP%\package\Helios-Developer-Edition"
+          tar -x -f "%RUNNER_TEMP%\source.tar" -C "%RUNNER_TEMP%\package\Helios-Developer-Edition"
+
+      - name: Choose version number
+        # every build gets the next number (1.6.1001.0, 1.6.1002.0, ...) so a new installer replaces the previous one;
+        # it stays in the 1.6.1xxx.x range that the installer scripts treat as a development build
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          $build = 1000 + ${{ github.run_number }}
+          if ($build -gt 1999) { throw "Developer Edition version numbers are exhausted; change the numbering in DevBuild.yml." }
+          $version = "1.6.$build.0"
+          echo "DEV_VERSION=$version" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "Building Helios Developer Edition $version"
+
       - name: Setup MSBuild
         uses: microsoft/setup-msbuild@v2
 
@@ -53,7 +77,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         shell: cmd
         run: |
-          build.cmd test
+          build.cmd dev %DEV_VERSION%
           echo "rc=%errorlevel%" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV
 
       - name: zip up build logs
@@ -82,6 +106,44 @@ jobs:
           tar -a -c -f "./Assets/HeliosDev32Bit_Installers.zip" -C "Helios Installer/Release32" *.msi
           tar -a -c -f "./Assets/HeliosDev_StreamDeck_Alpha.zip" -C "bin/x64/Release" Plugins/OpenMacroBoard.SDK.dll Plugins/OpenMacroBoard.VirtualBoard.dll Plugins/StreamDeckSharp.dll Plugins/HeliosMacroBoard.dll
 
+      - name: Publish installers as a GitHub Release
+        # each build becomes a Release on the repository's main page with:
+        #   - the 64-bit and 32-bit Developer Edition installers
+        #   - one zip with the full source and an Installers folder holding both installers
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          $msi64 = Get-ChildItem "Helios Installer/Release/Helios.*.msi" | Select-Object -First 1
+          $msi32 = Get-ChildItem "Helios Installer/Release32/Helios32bit.*.msi" | Select-Object -First 1
+          if (-not $msi64 -or -not $msi32) { throw "Installers were not built, nothing to publish." }
+
+          $out = Join-Path $env:RUNNER_TEMP "release"
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $out | Out-Null
+          Copy-Item $msi64.FullName (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-64bit.msi")
+          Copy-Item $msi32.FullName (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-32bit.msi")
+
+          $pkg = Join-Path $env:RUNNER_TEMP "package/Helios-Developer-Edition"
+          $inst = Join-Path $pkg "Installers"
+          New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $inst | Out-Null
+          Copy-Item (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-64bit.msi") $inst
+          Copy-Item (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-32bit.msi") $inst
+          tar -a -c -f (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-source-and-installers.zip") -C (Join-Path $env:RUNNER_TEMP "package") "Helios-Developer-Edition"
+
+          $tag = "developer-edition-$env:DEV_VERSION"
+          $notes = "Helios Developer Edition $env:DEV_VERSION built from commit ${{ github.sha }} on branch ${{ github.ref_name }}.`n`n" +
+                   "- Helios-Developer-Edition-64bit.msi: installer for 64-bit Windows (most PCs)`n" +
+                   "- Helios-Developer-Edition-32bit.msi: installer for 32-bit Windows`n" +
+                   "- Helios-Developer-Edition-source-and-installers.zip: full source code with both installers in its Installers folder`n`n" +
+                   "Installs to Program Files\Helios Development alongside regular Helios and adds a Developer Edition shortcut to the desktop."
+          gh release create $tag `
+            (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-64bit.msi") `
+            (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-32bit.msi") `
+            (Join-Path $out "Helios-Developer-Edition-source-and-installers.zip") `
+            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" --target "${{ github.sha }}" `
+            --title "Helios Developer Edition $env:DEV_VERSION" --notes $notes
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "Publishing the release failed." }
+
       - name: Upload Helios_Installers 1
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:

diff --git a/BUILD-DEVELOPER-EDITION.txt b/BUILD-DEVELOPER-EDITION.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+Helios Developer Edition - how to build the installer
+=====================================================
+
+This folder is the complete source for Helios Developer Edition
+(branch helios-developer-edition), including the third-party submodules.
+
+Ready-made installers
+  Every GitHub build publishes a Release on https://github.com/mphillippi7804/Helios/releases with:
+    Helios-Developer-Edition-64bit.msi              installer for 64-bit Windows (most PCs)
+    Helios-Developer-Edition-32bit.msi              installer for 32-bit Windows
+    Helios-Developer-Edition-source-and-installers.zip
+                                                    this source, with both installers in its Installers folder
+  If this folder came from that zip, the installers are already in the Installers folder.
+
+Option A - GitHub (no software needed on your PC)
+  Your fork mphillippi7804/Helios already has this branch.
+  1. On github.com open your fork > Actions > "HeliosDev Build & Create MSI Files".
+  2. Click "Run workflow", choose branch helios-developer-edition, Run.
+  3. When it finishes, the installers appear as a new Release on your fork's Releases page
+     (they are also attached to the run page as artifacts for 2 days).
+
+Option B - build on a Windows PC
+  Requirements:
+    - Windows 10/11
+    - Visual Studio 2022 or newer with the ".NET desktop development" workload
+      and the .NET Framework 4.7.2 targeting pack
+    - Visual Studio extension "Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Projects"
+    - NuGet command line (nuget.exe) on PATH
+  Steps, from a "Developer Command Prompt for VS" in this folder:
+    nuget restore BuildMeFirst.sln
+    nuget restore "KeyPressReceiver/Keypress Receiver.csproj"
+    nuget restore Thirdparty/StreamDeckSharp/src/StreamDeckSharp/StreamDeckSharp.csproj
+    nuget restore Thirdparty/OpenMacroBoard.SDK/src/OpenMacroBoard.SDK/OpenMacroBoard.SDK.csproj
+    nuget restore Thirdparty/OpenMacroBoard.SDK/src/OpenMacroBoard.VirtualBoard/OpenMacroBoard.VirtualBoard.csproj
+    nuget restore Helios.sln
+    build.cmd test
+  or, to give the build its own version number (needed for a new installer to replace an older one):
+    build.cmd dev 1.6.1500.0
+  (keep the third number between 1000 and 1999 and higher than the version you have installed;
+   GitHub builds count up automatically: 1.6.1005.0, 1.6.1006.0, ...)
+  The installers are written to:
+    Helios Installer\Release\Helios.<version>.msi      (64-bit)
+    Helios Installer\Release32\Helios32bit.<version>.msi (32-bit)
+  (The file is named Helios...msi because the build scripts expect that name;
+   it installs as "Helios Developer Edition" in Program Files\Helios Development,
+   alongside regular Helios.)
diff --git a/Helios Installer/Helios Installer.vdproj b/Helios Installer/Helios Installer.vdproj
@@ -3924,7 +3924,7 @@
                 {
                     "{9EF0B969-E518-4E46-987F-47570745A589}:_937487924C53439892F37CF38F2AF25A"
                     {
-                    "Name" = "8:Helios"
+                    "Name" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
                     "AlwaysCreate" = "11:FALSE"
                     "Condition" = "8:"
                     "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
@@ -3948,7 +3948,7 @@
             }
             "{3C67513D-01DD-4637-8A68-80971EB9504F}:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"
             {
-            "DefaultLocation" = "8:[ProgramFiles64Folder][Manufacturer]\\[ProductName]"
+            "DefaultLocation" = "8:[ProgramFiles64Folder]Helios Development"
             "Name" = "8:#1925"
             "AlwaysCreate" = "11:TRUE"
             "Condition" = "8:"
@@ -4116,10 +4116,10 @@
         "Product"
         {
         "Name" = "8:Microsoft Visual Studio"
-        "ProductName" = "8:Helios"
-        "ProductCode" = "8:{421509D7-A828-4190-8C5E-8E1D34BAA66F}"
-        "PackageCode" = "8:{531526BD-654F-45DC-B26B-0F01475637F3}"
-        "UpgradeCode" = "8:{589D8667-3ED9-478B-8F67-A56E4FADBC63}"
+        "ProductName" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
+        "ProductCode" = "8:{D9EDC67F-BB34-499C-B559-F16B1A8D9425}"
+        "PackageCode" = "8:{9F425DB3-5AC3-4E56-8A7D-428CEAED4085}"
+        "UpgradeCode" = "8:{61ABF5C4-2190-4DF7-8D49-7203DFD55DE0}"
         "AspNetVersion" = "8:4.0.30319.0"
         "RestartWWWService" = "11:FALSE"
         "RemovePreviousVersions" = "11:TRUE"
@@ -4129,7 +4129,7 @@
         "Manufacturer" = "8:Helios Virtual Cockpit"
         "ARPHELPTELEPHONE" = "8:"
         "ARPHELPLINK" = "8:https://github.com/HeliosVirtualCockpit/Helios/issues/"
-        "Title" = "8:Helios"
+        "Title" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
         "Subject" = "8:"
         "ARPCONTACT" = "8:Helios Contributors"
         "Keywords" = "8:Helios DCS BMS Cockpit"
@@ -4240,7 +4240,7 @@
         {
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_04C07E0DE5FE4A0EB4EDFB607E9D253D"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Profile Editor"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition"
             "Arguments" = "8:"
             "Description" = "8:"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
@@ -4268,7 +4268,7 @@
             }
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_4959DA6DB3794FBA92F8B9F85C1ACFC9"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Profile Editor"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition"
             "Arguments" = "8:"
             "Description" = "8:"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
@@ -4280,25 +4280,11 @@
             "Icon" = "8:_0772EF6D6A1143D284A5C9123C4C6E66"
             "Feature" = "8:"
             }
-            "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_4BAAECF7E41641BDB7D05D98A8B87D5D"
-            {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Control Center"
-            "Arguments" = "8:"
-            "Description" = "8:"
-            "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
-            "IconIndex" = "3:0"
-            "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
-            "Target" = "8:_60AF79F40A8140E9B89B3252BF8A567C"
-            "Folder" = "8:_AD59734AD6DF48A39047EBE90EC7C76E"
-            "WorkingFolder" = "8:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"
-            "Icon" = "8:_732146C3695F4256A3FBB284936E4563"
-            "Feature" = "8:"
-            }
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_53AFDF753B84467AB063EF6F037857AC"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Profile Editor Debug"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition Debug"
             "Arguments" = "8:-l Debug"
-            "Description" = "8:Profile Editor with Loglevel Debug"
+            "Description" = "8:Developer Edition with Loglevel Debug"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
             "IconIndex" = "3:0"
             "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
@@ -4818,7 +4804,7 @@
             }
             "{5259A561-127C-4D43-A0A1-72F10C7B3BF8}:_0C23ED5842AB4CD4BE1266E39F55D6D2"
             {
-            "SourcePath" = "8:..\\Profile Editor\\obj\\x64\\Release\\Profile Editor.exe"
+            "SourcePath" = "8:..\\Profile Editor\\obj\\x64\\Release\\Developer Edition.exe"
             "TargetName" = "8:"
             "Tag" = "8:"
             "Folder" = "8:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"

diff --git a/Helios Installer/Helios32bit Installer.vdproj b/Helios Installer/Helios32bit Installer.vdproj
@@ -3903,7 +3903,7 @@
                 {
                     "{9EF0B969-E518-4E46-987F-47570745A589}:_937487924C53439892F37CF38F2AF25A"
                     {
-                    "Name" = "8:Helios"
+                    "Name" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
                     "AlwaysCreate" = "11:FALSE"
                     "Condition" = "8:"
                     "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
@@ -3927,7 +3927,7 @@
             }
             "{3C67513D-01DD-4637-8A68-80971EB9504F}:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"
             {
-            "DefaultLocation" = "8:[ProgramFilesFolder][Manufacturer]\\[ProductName]"
+            "DefaultLocation" = "8:[ProgramFilesFolder]Helios Development"
             "Name" = "8:#1925"
             "AlwaysCreate" = "11:TRUE"
             "Condition" = "8:"
@@ -4095,10 +4095,10 @@
         "Product"
         {
         "Name" = "8:Microsoft Visual Studio"
-        "ProductName" = "8:Helios"
-        "ProductCode" = "8:{421509D7-A828-4190-8C5E-8E1D34BAA66F}"
-        "PackageCode" = "8:{14E07531-7433-4D31-8378-1E336DD197ED}"
-        "UpgradeCode" = "8:{589D8667-3ED9-478B-8F67-A56E4FADBC63}"
+        "ProductName" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
+        "ProductCode" = "8:{D9EDC67F-BB34-499C-B559-F16B1A8D9425}"
+        "PackageCode" = "8:{C9D446CE-A9BA-4AFE-87E7-87F45B0C86F4}"
+        "UpgradeCode" = "8:{61ABF5C4-2190-4DF7-8D49-7203DFD55DE0}"
         "AspNetVersion" = "8:4.0.30319.0"
         "RestartWWWService" = "11:FALSE"
         "RemovePreviousVersions" = "11:TRUE"
@@ -4108,7 +4108,7 @@
         "Manufacturer" = "8:Helios Virtual Cockpit"
         "ARPHELPTELEPHONE" = "8:"
         "ARPHELPLINK" = "8:https://github.com/HeliosVirtualCockpit/Helios/issues/"
-        "Title" = "8:Helios"
+        "Title" = "8:Helios Developer Edition"
         "Subject" = "8:"
         "ARPCONTACT" = "8:Helios Contributors"
         "Keywords" = "8:Helios DCS BMS Cockpit"
@@ -4219,7 +4219,7 @@
         {
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_04C07E0DE5FE4A0EB4EDFB607E9D253D"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Profile Editor"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition"
             "Arguments" = "8:"
             "Description" = "8:"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
@@ -4247,7 +4247,7 @@
             }
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_4959DA6DB3794FBA92F8B9F85C1ACFC9"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Profile Editor"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition"
             "Arguments" = "8:"
             "Description" = "8:"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
@@ -4259,25 +4259,11 @@
             "Icon" = "8:_0772EF6D6A1143D284A5C9123C4C6E66"
             "Feature" = "8:"
             }
-            "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_4BAAECF7E41641BDB7D05D98A8B87D5D"
-            {
-            "Name" = "8:Helios Control Center"
-            "Arguments" = "8:"
-            "Description" = "8:"
-            "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
-            "IconIndex" = "3:0"
-            "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
-            "Target" = "8:_60AF79F40A8140E9B89B3252BF8A567C"
-            "Folder" = "8:_AD59734AD6DF48A39047EBE90EC7C76E"
-            "WorkingFolder" = "8:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"
-            "Icon" = "8:_732146C3695F4256A3FBB284936E4563"
-            "Feature" = "8:"
-            }
             "{970C0BB2-C7D0-45D7-ABFA-7EC378858BC0}:_53AFDF753B84467AB063EF6F037857AC"
             {
-            "Name" = "8:Profile Editor Debug"
+            "Name" = "8:Developer Edition Debug"
             "Arguments" = "8:-l Debug"
-            "Description" = "8:Profile Editor with Loglevel Debug"
+            "Description" = "8:Developer Edition with Loglevel Debug"
             "ShowCmd" = "3:1"
             "IconIndex" = "3:0"
             "Transitive" = "11:FALSE"
@@ -4797,7 +4783,7 @@
             }
             "{5259A561-127C-4D43-A0A1-72F10C7B3BF8}:_0C23ED5842AB4CD4BE1266E39F55D6D2"
             {
-            "SourcePath" = "8:..\\Profile Editor\\obj\\AnyCPU32\\Release\\Profile Editor.exe"
+            "SourcePath" = "8:..\\Profile Editor\\obj\\AnyCPU32\\Release\\Developer Edition.exe"
             "TargetName" = "8:"
             "Tag" = "8:"
             "Folder" = "8:_E384890BFB804E8DBFE6ADCE0EDB8172"

diff --git a/Helios Installer/HeliosInstallAdjustments.vbs b/Helios Installer/HeliosInstallAdjustments.vbs
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ else
    Dim toolsUpgrade:toolsUpgrade = "{1A6DEA70-100A-4C3B-A9D9-64340BEAC520}"
    Dim upgradeCode:upgradeCode = heliosUpgrade
 
+   ' upgrade code for Helios Developer Edition, which installs alongside regular Helios
+   ' in Program Files\Helios Development (must match UpgradeCode in the Helios installer projects)
+   Dim heliosDevEditionUpgrade:heliosDevEditionUpgrade = "{61ABF5C4-2190-4DF7-8D49-7203DFD55DE0}"
+
    ' upgrade code for Helios Development Prototypes
    Dim heliosDevUpgrade:heliosDevUpgrade = "{BA7FFC56-BDB7-4B02-8A12-089A630CCF96}"
 
@@ -34,7 +38,10 @@ else
    Dim session : Set session = installer.OpenPackage(database,1) : If Err <> 0 Then Fail "Installer: '" & msiPackage & "' has invalid installer package format"
 
    ' check product (this script is shared)
-   if session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios Keypress Receiver" then
+   if session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios Developer Edition" then
+        Wscript.Echo "configuring Helios Developer Edition"
+        upgradeCode = heliosDevEditionUpgrade
+   elseif session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios Keypress Receiver" then
         Wscript.Echo "configuring Helios Keypress Receiver Installer"
         upgradeCode = keypressUpgrade
    elseif session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios Developer Tools" then
@@ -55,7 +62,7 @@ else
    ' run custom actions as user instead of system
    Execute database, "UPDATE CustomAction SET `Type` = 1025 WHERE `Type` = 3073"
 
-   if session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios" then
+   if session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios" or session.Property("ProductName") = "Helios Developer Edition" then
 		if not RemoveProblemComponent( database, "PATCHING.DLL|patching.dll") then 
             ' if lowercase was not found then try mixed case
             if not RemoveProblemComponent( database, "PATCHING.DLL|Patching.dll") then
@@ -70,7 +77,11 @@ else
    Set devBuild = New RegExp
    devBuild.Pattern = "[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.1...\.[0-9]+"
    if devBuild.Test(version) then
-     Execute database, "DELETE FROM Shortcut WHERE `Directory_` = 'DesktopFolder' " 
+     ' development builds normally get no desktop shortcuts, but Helios Developer Edition keeps
+     ' its "Developer Edition" desktop shortcut (it is the only desktop shortcut it installs)
+     if session.Property("ProductName") <> "Helios Developer Edition" then
+         Execute database, "DELETE FROM Shortcut WHERE `Directory_` = 'DesktopFolder' " 
+     end if
      Execute database, "UPDATE Shortcut SET `Name` = 'CONTRO~1|Dev Control Center Debug' WHERE `Name` = 'CONTRO~1|Control Center Debug'"
      Execute database, "UPDATE Shortcut SET `Name` = 'PROFIL~1|Dev Profile Editor Debug' WHERE `Name` = 'PROFIL~1|Profile Editor Debug'"
      Execute database, "UPDATE Shortcut SET `Name` = 'HELIOS~2|Dev Helios Profile Editor' WHERE `Name` = 'HELIOS~2|Helios Profile Editor'"

diff --git a/Helios/ConfigManager.cs b/Helios/ConfigManager.cs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ private static void ReportFatalWriteFailureAndExit(string path)
             MessageBox.Show($"Helios could not write to its own data folder at '{path}'.  " 
                 + "Most likely you have an anti virus or 'application firewall' that is trying to protect your 'Documents' folder.\n\n"
                 + "These types of features are sometimes called 'Ransomware Protection' or 'Controlled Folder Access' (in Windows).\n\n"
-                + "You will need to give permission to 'Profile Editor.exe', 'HeliosPatching.exe' and 'Control Center.exe' so that\n"
+                + "You will need to give permission to 'Profile Editor.exe' (or 'Developer Edition.exe'), 'HeliosPatching.exe' and 'Control Center.exe' so that\n"
                 + "Helios can use its own folders.\n\n"
                 + "Helios will now exit.",
                 "Write Access to Helios Folder Denied");