Progress update: Fiber Studio v0.1.9 — upgrade when you can
Hi everyone,
Following the Milestone 2 post and the smaller fix release — this is not an M3 completion report. It’s a mid-milestone update on what shipped since then, and a nudge to move to the latest build.
Latest tag: v0.1.9
Website: https://www.getfiberstudio.com/
Releases: Releases · chukwuma619/fiber-studio · GitHub
You can learn more about the project and download the app from the website (OS-aware installers), or grab builds from GitHub. Builds remain unsigned for now (Apple/Windows signing still planned for M3). If you already have Fiber Studio installed, check Settings → Updates, or install fresh from the site / GitHub.
What’s new since M2 (v0.1.7)
1. Full app visual revamp (why the UI looks different)
A lot of testers said the previous design system was hard to read — low contrast, unclear hierarchy, and generally tough to scan day to day. That feedback was consistent enough that we didn’t just tweak colors.
We revamped the whole app UI into what you see now: clearer contrast, updated typography (Geist), cleaner layout across Home / Wallet / Channels / Network / Settings, page transitions, and smoother setup-wizard motion. Same Fiber flows — much easier on the eyes.
If you last opened v0.1.7, expect the app to feel like a new coat of paint, not a different product.
2. Bundled node: fnn 0.8.1 → 0.9.0-rc7
Fiber Studio now ships with official fnn v0.9.0-rc7 (was v0.8.1 through M2).
That upgrade can require a one-time database migration. The app now handles that in the UI instead of leaving you at a terminal prompt:
- Detects “Database migration required” from node logs
- Shows a Migration required dialog (with a stronger warning when upstream reports breaking changes)
- On confirm: creates a timestamped backup of your data directory, then starts fnn with migration allowed
- You can cancel and keep your current data untouched
If you see the migration dialog after updating: read it carefully, especially if it mentions breaking changes (close channels / verify backup first).
3. Clearer Fiber errors (started in v0.1.8, still in v0.1.9)
Payment and RPC failures are easier to act on. Instead of raw node text, you get short summaries for common cases, for example:
- No route / failed to build route → open a channel, keep peers connected, wait for graph sync
- Not enough outbound liquidity → fund / open channel capacity
- Payment session already exists → already succeeded, failed, or still in progress
Error banners across Wallet, Channels, Network, and dialogs use the same cleaner message path.
4. Network & channels UX polish
- Disconnect on saved / connected peers (not only connect)
- Open channel only lists connected saved peers, with clear empty states (“connect a peer on Network first”)
- Home / wallet / channels layout tightened for readability on smaller windows
5. Settings: easier peer sharing
Node pubkey and on-chain address live under Settings → CKB wallet, each with a Copy button (pubkey moved off the Wallet page so sharing for LAN / multi-hop setup is in one place).
6. Website is live
The marketing site is up at getfiberstudio.com:
- What Fiber Studio is
- How it works (setup → channel → pay)
- Get started / FAQ
- Download page with installers for macOS, Windows, and Linux
Custom domain + public launch packaging for M3 continue (signing, tray, etc.) — but you can already use the site to explore the product and download the current build.
How this relates to the grant
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| M1 shell / dashboard / setup | Done (earlier) |
| M2 wallet / channels / network / E2E payments | Done (earlier) |
| Mid-M3: full UI readability revamp (from tester feedback) | In this release |
| Mid-M3: fnn bump + in-app migration + backup | In this release |
| Mid-M3: error UX, peer disconnect | In this release |
| Mid-M3: website live at getfiberstudio.com | Done (early) |
| M3: signing / notarization, tray & auto-start, v1.0.0 | Still ahead |
So: keep using testnet builds, please upgrade — M3 launch work continues.
Please upgrade
- Visit https://www.getfiberstudio.com/ → Download, or open Settings → Updates / grab v0.1.9 from GitHub
- Start the node — if migration is required, follow the dialog (backup runs before migrate)
- Re-check Network → Channels → Wallet as usual on testnet
Feedback welcome here or on GitHub issues: readability of the new UI, setup after the fnn bump, migration dialog clarity, payment error copy, anything confusing on your OS.
If you want to run a payment test with me, ping me — happy to help.
Thanks for testing.