.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -153,7 +153,10 @@ jobs:
     with:
       solution: gclo.slnx
       app-project: gclo/gclo.csproj
-      app-id: gclo
+      # Prereleases pack as their own Velopack app (gclo-dev): separate install
+      # folder, Start menu entry, update feed and data root, so a dev build can be
+      # installed beside the stable one (#114). Asset names follow the app id.
+      app-id: ${{ contains(github.ref_name, '-') && 'gclo-dev' || 'gclo' }}
       main-exe: gclo.exe
       icon: gclo/Assets/Brand/gclo.ico
       platform: x64
@@ -193,6 +196,7 @@ jobs:
       TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
       K22_VERSION: ${{ needs.release.outputs.version }}
       K22_CHANNEL: ${{ needs.release.outputs.prerelease == 'true' && 'dev' || 'stable' }}
+      K22_APP_ID: ${{ needs.release.outputs.prerelease == 'true' && 'gclo-dev' || 'gclo' }}
       EXPECTED_SUBJECT: ${{ vars.TRUSTED_SIGNING_SUBJECT }}
     steps:
       - name: Download the published assets
@@ -202,9 +206,9 @@ jobs:
           GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
         run: |
           New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force assets | Out-Null
-          gh release download $env:TAG --dir assets --pattern "gclo-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Setup.exe" --pattern "gclo-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Portable.zip" --pattern "gclo-cli-win-x64-$env:K22_VERSION.zip"
+          gh release download $env:TAG --dir assets --pattern "$env:K22_APP_ID-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Setup.exe" --pattern "$env:K22_APP_ID-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Portable.zip" --pattern "gclo-cli-win-x64-$env:K22_VERSION.zip"
           if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
-          Expand-Archive assets/gclo-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Portable.zip -DestinationPath assets/portable
+          Expand-Archive assets/$env:K22_APP_ID-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Portable.zip -DestinationPath assets/portable
           Expand-Archive assets/gclo-cli-win-x64-$env:K22_VERSION.zip -DestinationPath assets/cli
 
       - name: signtool verify /pa /all on every shipped executable
@@ -217,7 +221,7 @@ jobs:
           }
           $signtool = Get-ChildItem "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Windows Kits\10\bin" -Recurse -Filter signtool.exe |
              Where-Object { $_.FullName -match '\\x64\\' } | Sort-Object FullName -Descending | Select-Object -First 1
-          $files = @(Get-Item assets/gclo-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Setup.exe) + @(Get-ChildItem assets/portable, assets/cli -Recurse -Include *.exe, *.dll |
+          $files = @(Get-Item assets/$env:K22_APP_ID-$env:K22_CHANNEL-Setup.exe) + @(Get-ChildItem assets/portable, assets/cli -Recurse -Include *.exe, *.dll |
              Where-Object { $_.Name -like 'gclo*' -or $_.Name -in 'Update.exe' })
           $failed = 0
           foreach ($f in $files)

docs/RELEASING.md

@@ -23,6 +23,21 @@ Any prerelease identifier works (`-alpha`, `-beta.2`, `-rc.1`, ...) — the rule
 is simply: **a `-` in the version means prerelease, which means the `dev`
 channel**.
 
+### The dev edition is a separate app
+
+A prerelease is packed as its own Velopack app, id **`gclo-dev`**, while stable
+releases use **`gclo`**. The two install side by side: separate install folder
+(`%LOCALAPPDATA%\gclo-dev` vs `%LOCALAPPDATA%\gclo`), Start menu entry, update
+feed and data root (`%LOCALAPPDATA%\KofTwentyTwo\gclo-dev` vs `…\gclo`), and
+the dev edition's window title reads "gclo (dev)". A machine can therefore keep
+the stable app for real work and a dev build for trying the next release; each
+only ever updates within its own channel. The dev edition's assets follow its
+app id: `gclo-dev-dev-Setup.exe`, `gclo-dev-dev-Portable.zip`,
+`gclo-dev-1.2.3-beta.1-dev-full.nupkg`, `releases.dev.json`. The CLI zip is the
+same for both (`gclo-cli-win-x64-<version>.zip`). Dev installs made before this
+split (app id `gclo` on the dev channel, up to 1.0.2-beta.3) cannot update into
+`gclo-dev`: uninstall them, or install the stable app over them.
+
 ### How self-update channels map
 
 The desktop app updates itself with [Velopack](https://velopack.io). Each

gclo.Engine.Tests/GcloPathsTests.cs

@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ public sealed class GcloPathsTests
 
 
 
+   /// <summary>The dev edition keeps its own data root beside the stable one (#114).</summary>
+   [Fact]
+   public void DataFolderNameFor_DevEdition_UsesItsOwnFolder()
+   {
+      // Edition itself is process-wide state set once by the app's entry point; the
+      // tests exercise the pure mapping so they cannot race the vault's scoping.
+      Assert.Equal("gclo", GcloPaths.DataFolderNameFor(""));
+      Assert.Equal("gclo-dev", GcloPaths.DataFolderNameFor("dev"));
+      Assert.Throws<ArgumentNullException>(() => GcloPaths.DataFolderNameFor(null!));
+      Assert.Equal("", GcloPaths.Edition);
+      Assert.Equal("gclo", GcloPaths.DataFolderName);
+   }
+
+
+
    /// <summary>The default root is never the install root nor anything under it.</summary>
    [Fact]
    public void DefaultDataRoot_IsNotTheVelopackInstallRoot()

gclo.ViewModels/GcloPaths.cs

@@ -34,11 +34,36 @@ public static class GcloPaths
 
 
    /// <summary>
-   /// %LOCALAPPDATA%\KofTwentyTwo\gclo: the root used when GCLO_DATA_DIR is not
-   /// set. Outside the Velopack install root on purpose (see the type remarks).
+   /// The installed edition: "" for the stable app (Velopack app id <c>gclo</c>) and
+   /// "dev" for the dev-channel app (<c>gclo-dev</c>), which installs beside the
+   /// stable one and keeps its own data root so both can run on one machine (#114).
+   /// Set once by the app's entry point before anything reads <see cref="DataRoot"/>;
+   /// local and CLI runs leave it empty.
+   /// </summary>
+   public static string Edition { get; set; } = "";
+
+
+
+   /// <summary>The folder name under %LOCALAPPDATA%\KofTwentyTwo: "gclo", or "gclo-dev" for the dev edition.</summary>
+   public static string DataFolderName => DataFolderNameFor(Edition);
+
+
+
+   /// <summary>"gclo" for the stable edition (empty <paramref name="edition"/>), "gclo-&lt;edition&gt;" otherwise.</summary>
+   public static string DataFolderNameFor(string edition)
+   {
+      ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(edition);
+      return edition.Length == 0 ? "gclo" : $"gclo-{edition}";
+   }
+
+
+
+   /// <summary>
+   /// %LOCALAPPDATA%\KofTwentyTwo\gclo (or gclo-dev): the root used when GCLO_DATA_DIR
+   /// is not set. Outside the Velopack install root on purpose (see the type remarks).
    /// </summary>
    public static string DefaultDataRoot =>
        Path.Combine(
            Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData),
-           "KofTwentyTwo", "gclo");
+           "KofTwentyTwo", DataFolderName);
 }

gclo/MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window
       InitializeComponent();
       ApplyBackdrop();
 
-      Title = "gclo — Git Clone Large Organizations";
+      // The dev edition installs beside the stable app, so the title says which one this is.
+      Title = GcloPaths.Edition.Length == 0
+          ? "gclo — Git Clone Large Organizations"
+          : $"gclo ({GcloPaths.Edition}) — Git Clone Large Organizations";
 
       // Quick Sync is declared in XAML; its Guid tag and the account items are
       // runtime data, so they are filled in here.

gclo/Program.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  */
 
 using System;
+using gclo.ViewModels;
 using Velopack;
 
 
@@ -25,6 +26,14 @@ public static class Program
       // Must be first: handles Velopack install/update/uninstall hooks and may exit.
       VelopackApp.Build().Run();
 
+      // The dev channel is packed as its own app (id gclo-dev) so it installs beside
+      // the stable one; it keeps its own data root and says so in the title (#114).
+      // Local and CLI runs have no Velopack app id and stay on the stable paths.
+      if(string.Equals(Velopack.Locators.VelopackLocator.Current?.AppId, "gclo-dev", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+      {
+         GcloPaths.Edition = "dev";
+      }
+
       // The remainder mirrors the XAML-generated Main (obj\...\App.g.i.cs) verbatim.
       global::WinRT.ComWrappersSupport.InitializeComWrappers();
       global::Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Application.Start((p) =>