build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB by wukko · Pull Request #4824 · pingdotgg/t3code

wukko · 2026-07-29T09:18:35Z

What Changed

Desktop app builds now:

Omit unused binaries from Claude SDK
Drop unused language packs (T3 Code is en-US only)
Pack dependencies into ASAR on compatible platforms (macOS/Linux) and retain the Windows-only unpacking for WSL

Why

The current version of the T3 Code desktop app is unreasonably huge: ~737 MB on arm64 macOS. This made me wonder why it's this big, and turns out it's pretty trivial to fix.

This PR brings it down to ~424 MB without any functional changes:

UI Changes

None.

Checklist

This PR is small and focused
I explained what changed and why
I included before/after screenshots for any UI changes
I included a video for animation/interaction changes

Note

Medium Risk
Packaging-only change with a behavioral shift on macOS/Linux (no explicit asarUnpack); risk is native/runtime loading if anything still expected unpacked paths outside smart unpack—Windows WSL path remains explicitly unpacked.

Overview
Cuts installed desktop size (~737MB → ~424MB on arm64 macOS) by tightening electron-builder packaging in createBuildConfig, without changing runtime behavior for normal macOS/Linux backends.

Locale and dependency trimming: All platforms now set electronLanguages to en-US and add files exclusions that drop optional @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk-* platform bundles (the app uses the user’s Claude binary, so those ~200MB packages are unused).

Platform-specific ASAR unpacking: asarUnpack is applied only on Windows via WINDOWS_ASAR_UNPACK (apps/server/dist/** and **/node_modules/** for the WSL backend). macOS and Linux builds no longer set asarUnpack; the old global DESKTOP_ASAR_UNPACK for @ff-labs/fff-bin-* is removed, with comments that native libs are handled via smart unpack / app.asar.unpacked (aligned with the fff-node patch).

Tests were updated to assert the new constants and that mac/linux configs omit asarUnpack while Windows keeps the WSL unpack list.

^{Reviewed by Cursor Bugbot for commit f424416. Bugbot is set up for automated code reviews on this repo. Configure here.}

Note

Reduce desktop app installed size by ~300MB

Limits Electron locales to en-US via electronLanguages in createBuildConfig, dropping unused locale files.
Excludes optional Claude SDK platform bundles (@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk-*) from packaged files via new DESKTOP_FILE_EXCLUSIONS constant.
Makes asarUnpack Windows-only using WINDOWS_ASAR_UNPACK; macOS and Linux builds no longer unpack asar contents.
Removes the old DESKTOP_ASAR_UNPACK constant that unconditionally unpacked @ff-labs/fff-bin-* on all platforms.
Behavioral Change: macOS and Linux builds no longer include asarUnpack, which may affect native module loading if any path relied on unpacked asar access.

^{Macroscope summarized f424416.}

coderabbitai · 2026-07-29T09:18:44Z

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- drop extra Electron language packs (~48MB) - drop the Claude Agent SDK's bundled platform executables (~255MB). T3 Code always runs the user's own Claude install - pack dependencies into ASAR on macOS/Linux, retaining Windows-only unpacking for WSL macOS arm64: 737MB -> 424MB installed, 227MB -> 149MB DMG.

macroscopeapp · 2026-07-29T09:24:01Z

Approvability

Verdict: Approved ff0f7ea

Build/packaging optimization changes only - limits Electron locales to en-US, excludes unused SDK executables, and makes asar unpacking Windows-specific. No runtime logic changes, well-documented rationale, and includes test coverage.

^{You can customize Macroscope's approvability policy. Learn more.}

@juliusmarminge

## What's Changed * Simplify files panel header by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4828 * build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB by @wukko in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 * Update model version from claude-opus-4-8 to claude-opus-5 by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4832 * Preserve the thread shell while detail loads by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4830 * Reduce idle work and disk churn with native resource diagnostics by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#2679 ## New Contributors * @wukko made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 **Full Changelog**: pingdotgg/t3code@v0.0.31-nightly.20260729.944...v0.0.31-nightly.20260729.946 Upstream release: https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code/releases/tag/v0.0.31-nightly.20260729.946

LiquidBacn · 2026-07-29T14:07:55Z

I know this is already merged, but build size is something I care about and needed to add my two-cents.

I've dived through electron-builders output semi extensivly before. I've done it before with an extensive deny lists, but a restrictive allow list is simpler.

Node packages include often sourcecode and documentation in their releases. Which isn't really a bad thing, but electron-builder doesn't know any better and takes everything.

I made this change

export const DESKTOP_FILE_EXCLUSIONS = [
  "apps/server/dist/**/*",
  "apps/desktop/dist-electron/**/*",
  // electron-builder takes *everything* in the node_modules folder.
  // which is far too much. So lets filter out the entire folder and
  // use an allow list to add only what we want.
  "!**/node_modules/**/*",

  // We want all JS, node native extensions and json files.
  "**/node_modules/**/{*.js,*.mjs,*.cjs,*.node,*.json}",

  // But not tests or examples.
  "!**/node_modules/*/{test,__tests__,tests,powered-test,example,examples}",
  "!**/node_modules/@*/*/{test,__tests__,tests,powered-test,example,examples}",
] as const;

and reduced the installer size from 146MB to 125MB, and the 'node_modules' folder from 141MB to 71MB.

It should have more testing done, but it does produce an application that launches.

Brings in 20 upstream commits including native resource diagnostics (pingdotgg#2679), event-driven Git ref invalidation (pingdotgg#4727), 300MB installer size reduction (pingdotgg#4824), thread-shell preservation while detail loads (pingdotgg#4830), HTTP compression, and the v0.0.30 release prep. Merge resolutions of note: - vcs.ts / ProcessDiagnostics / EventNdjsonLogger: upstream superseded our polling-interval, WMI, and log-batching fixes with better implementations - build-desktop-artifact: kept fork artifact naming + bundled Codex plugin extraResource on top of upstream's size optimizations - ChatView/ChatComposer: both feature sets kept (send-morph/reveal/hydration + thread-shell loading, sendDisabledReason, ThreadSyncStatusPill) - RpcAuthorization: added fork-only shell.revealPath scope - AGENTS.md: kept fork operational rules, took upstream's product sections - ProjectionPipeline: expiry timestamps via DateTime.nowUnsafe (wall clock) Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

@juliusmarminge

## What's Changed * Fix Connect sign-in settings label by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4806 * fix(desktop): restore T3 Connect sign-in by @PixPMusic in pingdotgg/t3code#4809 * Simplify files panel header by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4828 * build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB by @wukko in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 * Update model version from claude-opus-4-8 to claude-opus-5 by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4832 * Preserve the thread shell while detail loads by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4830 * Reduce idle work and disk churn with native resource diagnostics by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#2679 * fix(server): detect repositories after initialization by @StiensWout in pingdotgg/t3code#4848 * perf(server): merge separate staged/unstaged numstat calls into single diff HEAD --numstat by @UtkarshUsername in pingdotgg/t3code#4843 * fix(git): disable external diff for review diff previews by @ohbentos in pingdotgg/t3code#4854 * Fix editable file focus and live syntax highlighting by @jakeleventhal in pingdotgg/t3code#3979 * fix(web): remember the rendered-markdown choice across threads by @Sy-D in pingdotgg/t3code#4853 ## New Contributors * @wukko made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 * @ohbentos made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4854 * @Sy-D made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4853 **Full Changelog**: pingdotgg/t3code@v0.0.30...v0.0.31 ## What's Changed * Fix Connect sign-in settings label by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4806 * fix(desktop): restore T3 Connect sign-in by @PixPMusic in pingdotgg/t3code#4809 * Simplify files panel header by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4828 * build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB by @wukko in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 * Update model version from claude-opus-4-8 to claude-opus-5 by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4832 * Preserve the thread shell while detail loads by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#4830 * Reduce idle work and disk churn with native resource diagnostics by @juliusmarminge in pingdotgg/t3code#2679 * fix(server): detect repositories after initialization by @StiensWout in pingdotgg/t3code#4848 * perf(server): merge separate staged/unstaged numstat calls into single diff HEAD --numstat by @UtkarshUsername in pingdotgg/t3code#4843 * fix(git): disable external diff for review diff previews by @ohbentos in pingdotgg/t3code#4854 * Fix editable file focus and live syntax highlighting by @jakeleventhal in pingdotgg/t3code#3979 * fix(web): remember the rendered-markdown choice across threads by @Sy-D in pingdotgg/t3code#4853 ## New Contributors * @wukko made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4824 * @ohbentos made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4854 * @Sy-D made their first contribution in pingdotgg/t3code#4853 **Full Changelog**: pingdotgg/t3code@v0.0.30...v0.0.31 Upstream release: https://github.com/pingdotgg/t3code/releases/tag/v0.0.31

* fix(desktop): restore T3 Connect sign-in (pingdotgg#4809) Co-authored-by: Julius Marminge <julius0216@outlook.com> Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * Simplify files panel header (pingdotgg#4828) * build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB (pingdotgg#4824) * Update model version from claude-opus-4-8 to claude-opus-5 (pingdotgg#4832) * Preserve the thread shell while detail loads (pingdotgg#4830) * Reduce idle work and disk churn with native resource diagnostics (pingdotgg#2679) Co-authored-by: codex <codex@users.noreply.github.com> * fix(server): detect repositories after initialization (pingdotgg#4848) * perf(server): merge separate staged/unstaged numstat calls into single diff HEAD --numstat (pingdotgg#4843) * fix(git): disable external diff for review diff previews (pingdotgg#4854) * Fix editable file focus and live syntax highlighting (pingdotgg#3979) * fix(web): remember the rendered-markdown choice across threads (pingdotgg#4853) Co-authored-by: Simon Doba <simon.doba@orbit.de> Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * chore(release): prepare v0.0.31 * fix(mobile): reduce thread feed scroll jank (pingdotgg#4874) * fix(web): restore sidebar v2 thread actions and terminal icon (pingdotgg#4712) * fix(web): settle button now works on hover, not just right-click (pingdotgg#4905) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(clients): disable add project while disconnected (pingdotgg#4834) * fix(composer): hide default Codex service tier (pingdotgg#4784) * docs: link iOS and Android app store downloads (pingdotgg#4902) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(web): align remote server update action (pingdotgg#4731) * fix(connect): suggest a serve command that matches how you ran connect (pingdotgg#4897) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(mobile): stop shared content errors in Personal Team builds (pingdotgg#4943) * perf(mobile): sends respond instantly, thread opens stop freezing (pingdotgg#4882) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(web): show Codex fast mode as a bolt (pingdotgg#4947) * docs: seed worktrees with a copy of real userdata instead of banning it (pingdotgg#4949) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(mobile): support dragged images in the composer (pingdotgg#4953) * fix(mobile): stop long iOS threads from jumping while scrolling up (pingdotgg#4867) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * fix(web): keep worktree default when switching a draft's machine (pingdotgg#4964) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * perf(mobile): reconnect environments immediately on resume (pingdotgg#4878) * feat(web): pasting a huge screenshot now compresses it instead of erroring (pingdotgg#4967) Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> * feat(web): regenerate thread titles from sidebar (pingdotgg#4810) * fix(web): show server update progress through reconnect (pingdotgg#4903) --------- Co-authored-by: Alex <me@pixp.cc> Co-authored-by: Julius Marminge <julius0216@outlook.com> Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Co-authored-by: wukko <me@wukko.me> Co-authored-by: codex <codex@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Wout Stiens <71498452+StiensWout@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Utkarsh Patil <73941998+UtkarshUsername@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: ohbentos <72638975+ohbentos@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Jake Leventhal <jakeleventhal@me.com> Co-authored-by: Simon Doba <simon.doba@hotmail.de> Co-authored-by: Simon Doba <simon.doba@orbit.de> Co-authored-by: t3-code[bot] <269035359+t3-code[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Gabriel De Andrade <30420087+gabrielelpidio@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Jono Kemball <Noojuno@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Theo Browne <me@t3.gg> Co-authored-by: Max Katz <me@maxkatz.me>

github-actions Bot added vouch:unvouched PR author is not yet trusted in the VOUCHED list. size:M 30-99 changed lines (additions + deletions). labels Jul 29, 2026

wukko force-pushed the shrink-builds branch from ff0f7ea to f424416 Compare July 29, 2026 09:21

macroscopeapp Bot approved these changes Jul 29, 2026

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juliusmarminge merged commit 72b960f into pingdotgg:main Jul 29, 2026
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wukko deleted the shrink-builds branch July 29, 2026 10:47

ohbentos pushed a commit to ohbentos/t3code that referenced this pull request Jul 29, 2026

build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB (pingdotgg#4824)

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t3code-tarik02 Bot mentioned this pull request Jul 30, 2026

prepare stable release 2026.7.3000 tarik02-org/t3code#95

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NoahHendrickson mentioned this pull request Jul 30, 2026

sync: absorb upstream v0.0.31 (34 commits) NoahHendrickson/t3code#38

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build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB - #4824

build(desktop): reduce installed app size by ~300MB#4824
juliusmarminge merged 1 commit into
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Reduce desktop app installed size by ~300MB

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