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Add framework-dependent deployment packages without bundled .NET runtime#4236

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Add framework-dependent deployment packages without bundled .NET runtime#4236
Copilot wants to merge 5 commits intodevfrom
copilot/provide-installation-package-without-dotnet

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Copilot AI commented Jan 27, 2026

Adds framework-dependent installation packages for users with .NET 9.0 already installed, reducing download size by ~150-200MB.

Changes

Build configuration:

  • Added Net9.0-FrameworkDependent.pubxml publish profile with SelfContained=false, outputs to Output/Release-FD
  • Enhanced post_build.ps1 to build both deployment modes in sequence

Package outputs:

  • Self-contained (existing): Flow-Launcher-Setup.exe, Flow-Launcher-Portable.zip
  • Framework-dependent (new): Flow-Launcher-Setup-FD.exe, Flow-Launcher-Portable-FD.zip

CI/CD:

  • Updated GitHub Actions and AppVeyor workflows to upload both package types as separate artifacts
  • Both package types included in release deployments

Documentation:

  • Updated README installation section with framework-dependent package links

Technical notes

Framework-dependent packages require .NET 9.0 runtime pre-installed on target systems. Build process handles nupkg naming conflicts by appending -FD suffix before Squirrel releasify step.

Original prompt

This section details on the original issue you should resolve

<issue_title>FEATURE REQUEST: provide an installation package that does not include the .NET runtime.</issue_title>
<issue_description>Provides an installation package that does not include the .NET runtime to reduce the package size.</issue_description>

Comments on the Issue (you are @copilot in this section)


✨ Let Copilot coding agent set things up for you — coding agent works faster and does higher quality work when set up for your repo.

@prlabeler prlabeler bot added bug Something isn't working enhancement New feature or request labels Jan 27, 2026
Co-authored-by: VictoriousRaptor <10308169+VictoriousRaptor@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: VictoriousRaptor <10308169+VictoriousRaptor@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: VictoriousRaptor <10308169+VictoriousRaptor@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: VictoriousRaptor <10308169+VictoriousRaptor@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] Add installation package without .NET runtime Add framework-dependent deployment packages without bundled .NET runtime Jan 27, 2026
@jjw24
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jjw24 commented Feb 3, 2026

In the modern day and age is 150mb really worth shaving off? My main concern is this is another option a non-technical user will need to understand- why another installation file and what's the difference between this and standard.

If they move the framework free version to a computer without .Net 9 it's going fail and we might end up with another request to provide an option to install .Net 9.

I think a better solution is to use Velopack and let the single setup file install the missing framework, so we don't need to pack and publish this additional one- https://docs.velopack.io/packaging/bootstrapping

@VictoriousRaptor
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In the modern day and age is 150mb really worth shaving off? My main concern is this is another option a non-technical user will need to understand- why another installation file and what's the difference between this and standard.

If they move the framework free version to a computer without .Net 9 it's going fail and we might end up with another request to provide an option to install .Net 9.

I think a better solution is to use Velopack and let the single setup file install the missing framework, so we don't need to pack and publish this additional one- https://docs.velopack.io/packaging/bootstrapping

Nah this PR is only a try for Copliot. Not a serious PR and currently I am not really into this feature.

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FEATURE REQUEST: provide an installation package that does not include the .NET runtime.

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