CI proves that the runtime builds, the launcher starts, and native packages pass their smoke contract on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It does not prove an authenticated ChatGPT session, a live MCP connector, or a complete Codex turn. A release candidate is not ready until those account-bound flows are exercised manually on the platforms below.
Record the release version, operating-system version, install path (clean or upgrade), ChatGPT
plan, Codex version, result of each check, and a redacted Activity log for every failure. Never
capture cookies, tunnel IDs, API keys, bearer tokens, or prompt contents.
Run this list on a maintained Windows 11 x64 machine with a real ChatGPT account:
- Install the packaged launcher on a clean profile and prove that the embedded Bun runtime starts.
- Sign in inside the embedded browser and prove that Temporary Chat reaches a usable composer.
- Install the Codex model route, restart Codex, and prove that every account-available ChatGPT Web effort appears exactly once without removing native models.
- Complete one Browser-only turn and verify streamed commentary plus the final answer.
- Configure the
Codex Native2connector, run Verify runtime, and complete one Full-mode local tool turn. Repeat with Pro when the account exposes Pro. - Drive a chat past the compaction threshold and prove that it continues after compaction without a duplicate or orphaned browser turn.
- Cancel a running turn by closing its launcher tab, then cancel another with the launcher action; prove that neither turn recreates a tab or keeps the runtime busy.
- Quit the launcher during an active turn, confirm the explicit cancellation path, reopen it, and prove that the saved ChatGPT session and Codex route are still valid.
- Disconnect the bridge and prove that the exact previous Codex route is restored. Reconnect it and prove that the existing private MCP credentials are reused rather than replaced.
- Upgrade from the previous public release and prove that launcher state, browser state, Codex settings, and MCP configuration survive the updater transaction.
Any failed or unexecuted item blocks a stable release. An alpha may ship with a named failed item only when the release notes describe the limitation and recovery path explicitly.
Maintainer validation passed on Windows 11 x64 on 2026-08-22 using the published v3.0.0-alpha upgrade package and a real ChatGPT Pro account. The authenticated launcher, Codex model catalog, Full-mode MCP tools, Pro turns, compaction, cancellation, session reuse, and preserved connector configuration were exercised successfully. The direct installer completed successfully but gave no clear completion action; v3.0.0 changes it to an assisted installer with a final launch option.
Repeat items 2 through 10 on the oldest supported macOS version or the closest maintained machine. Packaging smoke and code-signing verification remain separate gates; neither substitutes for the interactive account flow.
CI packaging smoke is required. Before claiming interactive Linux support for a release, repeat items 2 through 7 under a supported desktop session and record the display server and packaging format used.