IgnitionAI · salim4n · May 29, 2026 · May 29, 2026
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ IgnitionRL
 To author an environment from a blank TypeScript project, follow the first guide in [`docs/BUILD_YOUR_FIRST_ENVIRONMENT.md`](docs/BUILD_YOUR_FIRST_ENVIRONMENT.md).
 To turn a stored learner checkpoint into an inference run and replay, follow [`docs/EXPORT_AND_REPLAY_TRAINED_POLICY.md`](docs/EXPORT_AND_REPLAY_TRAINED_POLICY.md).
 To debug reward shaping with named terms and replay frames, follow [`docs/REWARD_DEBUGGING_GUIDE.md`](docs/REWARD_DEBUGGING_GUIDE.md).
+To build the first unsigned macOS desktop alpha bundle, follow [`docs/MACOS_ALPHA_BUILD.md`](docs/MACOS_ALPHA_BUILD.md).
 
 After cloning and installing dependencies, generate a local project with traces, metrics and JSON exports:
 

diff --git a/apps/studio/README.md b/apps/studio/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,16 @@ bun run --cwd apps/studio dev:desktop
 bun run --cwd apps/studio build:desktop
 ```
 
+The desktop build command currently produces an unsigned macOS `.app` bundle
+for the private alpha:
+
+```txt
+apps/studio/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/macos/IgnitionRL Studio Alpha.app
+```
+
+DMG packaging, Developer ID signing and notarization are intentionally tracked
+as release gaps until Apple credentials and a signing profile are configured.
+
 Current panels:
 
 - workspace summary;

diff --git a/apps/studio/package.json b/apps/studio/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "dev": "vite --host 127.0.0.1",
     "build": "tsc -p tsconfig.json && vite build",
     "dev:desktop": "tauri dev",
-    "build:desktop": "tauri build",
+    "build:desktop": "tauri build --bundles app --ci --no-sign",
     "tauri": "tauri",
     "typecheck": "tsc -p tsconfig.json && tsc -p tsconfig.typecheck.json",
     "test": "bun test"

diff --git a/apps/studio/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/apps/studio/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -443,7 +443,6 @@ fn run_checkpoint_inference_path(
     let trace_dir = run_dir.join("traces");
     let episode_id = format!("{run_id}:episode:0");
     let trace_path = trace_dir.join(format!("{}.json", sanitize_id(&episode_id)));
-    let trace_reference_path = relative_project_path(&root, &trace_path);
     let observation = checkpoint_observation(&checkpoint_payload, 0.0);
     let next_observation = checkpoint_observation(&checkpoint_payload, 1.0);
     let action = checkpoint_action(&checkpoint_payload);

diff --git a/apps/studio/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/apps/studio/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "../node_modules/@tauri-apps/cli/config.schema.json",
-  "productName": "IgnitionRL Studio",
+  "productName": "IgnitionRL Studio Alpha",
   "version": "0.1.0",
   "identifier": "ai.ignitionrl.studio",
   "build": {
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
   "app": {
     "windows": [
       {
-        "title": "IgnitionRL Studio",
+        "title": "IgnitionRL Studio Alpha",
         "width": 1440,
         "height": 960,
         "minWidth": 1100,
@@ -27,7 +27,14 @@
   },
   "bundle": {
     "active": true,
-    "targets": "all",
+    "targets": [
+      "app"
+    ],
+    "publisher": "IgnitionAI",
+    "category": "DeveloperTool",
+    "shortDescription": "Desktop-first RL studio for TypeScript agent environments.",
+    "longDescription": "IgnitionRL Studio Alpha is a local-first desktop shell for opening IgnitionRL projects, inspecting runs, debugging reward terms, replaying episodes and testing checkpoint inference workflows.",
+    "copyright": "Copyright 2026 IgnitionAI",
     "icon": [
       "icons/32x32.png",
       "icons/128x128.png",

diff --git a/docs/MACOS_ALPHA_BUILD.md b/docs/MACOS_ALPHA_BUILD.md
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+# macOS Alpha Build
+
+This document defines the first reproducible macOS desktop alpha build path for
+IgnitionRL Studio.
+
+The alpha target is an unsigned Tauri `.app` bundle. DMG packaging, Developer ID
+signing and notarization are listed as explicit gaps below.
+
+## Local Build Command
+
+From the repository root:
+
+```sh
+bun install --frozen-lockfile
+bun run build:studio:desktop
+```
+
+The root script delegates to:
+
+```sh
+bun run --cwd apps/studio build:desktop
+```
+
+The app-level script runs:
+
+```sh
+tauri build --bundles app --ci --no-sign
+```
+
+That command builds the React/Vite frontend, compiles the Tauri shell in release
+mode and bundles a macOS `.app` without invoking DMG creation or code signing.
+
+## Artifact Path
+
+The local alpha artifact is:
+
+```txt
+apps/studio/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/macos/IgnitionRL Studio Alpha.app
+```
+
+The release binary is also built at:
+
+```txt
+apps/studio/src-tauri/target/release/ignitionrl-studio
+```
+
+## Alpha Bundle Metadata
+
+Current Tauri alpha metadata:
+
+- product name: `IgnitionRL Studio Alpha`;
+- window title: `IgnitionRL Studio Alpha`;
+- bundle identifier: `ai.ignitionrl.studio`;
+- version: `0.1.0`;
+- publisher: `IgnitionAI`;
+- category: `DeveloperTool`;
+- icons: `32x32.png`, `128x128.png`, `128x128@2x.png`, `icon.icns`, `icon.ico`.
+
+The version stays numeric because macOS bundle metadata expects a standard
+release version string. The alpha status is expressed in the product name and
+release documentation.
+
+## Verified Locally
+
+The alpha build command was verified on macOS with:
+
+```sh
+bun run --cwd apps/studio tauri build --bundles app --ci --no-sign
+```
+
+Observed output included:
+
+```txt
+Finished 1 bundle at:
+apps/studio/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/macos/IgnitionRL Studio Alpha.app
+```
+
+## Known Gaps
+
+| Gap | Current status | Required before public distribution |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Developer ID signing | Disabled with `--no-sign`. | Configure Apple Developer Team ID, signing identity and CI secrets. |
+| Notarization | Not configured. | Add Apple notarization credentials and staple notarization tickets. |
+| DMG packaging | `tauri build` with DMG currently fails in the local headless environment during `bundle_dmg.sh`. | Re-enable and verify `tauri build --bundles dmg` on a signed macOS release runner. |
+| Universal binary | Current local artifact is architecture-specific. | Install both Apple targets and build with `--target universal-apple-darwin`. |
+| CI artifact upload | Not enabled. | Add a macOS GitHub Actions release job that uploads `.app` or signed `.dmg` artifacts. |
+| Icon finalization | Bundle icons are configured and present. | Replace placeholder/early alpha artwork before external release if branding changes. |
+
+## CI Recommendation
+
+Do not add this build to every PR yet. The current PR CI runs on Ubuntu and
+already validates the TypeScript, Rust workspace, frontend build and smoke
+projects. A macOS bundle job should be added as a manual or release-only
+workflow when signing/notarization secrets exist.
+
+Recommended future command for that job:
+
+```sh
+bun install --frozen-lockfile
+bun run --cwd apps/studio tauri build --bundles app --ci
+```
+
+Once signing is configured, remove `--no-sign` from the release job. Once DMG is
+stable, switch the release job to `--bundles dmg` or build both `app` and `dmg`.