[andrewkernel]

What changed

• Replaced the monolithic prototype with the modular Windows Graphics Capture/WASAPI/FFmpeg application architecture.
• Added the consistent Klip dashboard, configurable capture source, desktop/microphone gain controls, recording, replay clipping, settings, and native Klip window/taskbar icon.
• Fixed AAC audio starvation by clocking the mixer continuously and zero-filling unavailable inputs.
• Added bounded queues, shared encoded packets, hardware encoder selection, user-scoped paths, diagnostics, and deterministic core tests.
• Added a per-user Inno Setup installer and portable package with all required FFmpeg runtimes.
• Added mandatory installer EULA acceptance, a privacy notice, third-party notices, SHA-256 checksums, executable version/icon resources, and install/uninstall smoke coverage.
• Added a Win64 release workflow with pinned FFmpeg/vcpkg inputs, source-compliance bundle, optional signed workflow artifacts, and a mandatory code-signing gate for tagged public releases.

Why

Klip needs to be a downloadable Windows application that a normal user can install and run without manually finding FFmpeg DLLs, configuring build tools, or granting administrator access. The release path also needs clear licensing, privacy behavior, reproducible dependencies, and a realistic hardware support boundary.

User impact

Users can install Klip per-user or run the portable ZIP, select a game/window or display, adjust desktop and microphone volume, save a replay, or record a session. Clips, recordings, settings, and logs use documented user folders and remain local.

Validation

• All deterministic Klip core tests passed.
• Clean 32-translation-unit Win64 application build previously passed with warnings enabled.
• Actual 1920x1080/60 Fortnite replay and recording tests produced H.264 + 48 kHz AAC media.
• Actual Klip/OBS resource comparison completed on an RTX 3060.
• Multi-resolution icon generation is deterministic; PE icon and version resources were inspected.
• Portable ZIP assembled with EULA, privacy notice, third-party notices, FFmpeg licenses, and checksums.
• Inno Setup 6.7.3 compiled the installer.
• Interactive installer QA confirmed Next is disabled until “I accept the agreement” is selected.
• Isolated standard-user install, installed-app launch, required-runtime validation, and uninstall all passed.
• Secret scan and git diff --check passed.

Release notes

AMD and Intel encoder paths are implemented but still require the documented hardware checklist before they should be advertised as verified. Tagged public releases intentionally require repository code-signing secrets to avoid distributing an unsigned installer at scale. The EULA/privacy text should receive qualified legal review before broad commercial distribution.