For Developers

Tester Guide

Goal: Install the app, use it like you would for real work, then tell us what breaks or feels confusing. No coding and no command line required (optional Linux tip below).

At a glance

Links: Downloads (GitHub Releases) · E2E Walkthrough (stills + how-to clip) · Install Guide (detailed install help) · Report a bug · All issues

Who this is for

You’re a good fit if you can install software, use StratoSort for normal file tasks, and describe what went wrong in a few clear steps.

Personal/noncommercial use is free, with no trial and nothing to activate. Commercial use needs a key, entered in Settings → Application → License.

No sign-up is needed: download the public release and send feedback through GitHub Issues.

1. Download one installer

1. Open GitHub Releases.
2. Pick the newest release and find the assets for your OS (current product version is 5.0.0).
3. Download exactly one app installer/package for your OS (do not download checksum or .yml files unless asked).

What is happening

• You are selecting the correct build for your operating system so install and updates behave as expected.

What you should see

• App installers/packages attached to the release (.exe, .dmg, .AppImage) plus separate checksum/update files.

Always take the newest installer for your OS, not one from an older release.

Notes

• Windows: Prefer StratoSortStack-Setup-….exe for normal installs.
• Mac: Apple Silicon and Intel builds both ship. Prefer the arm64 DMG on M1–M4.
• Linux: Use the .AppImage build (it updates itself; the .deb does not).
• Do not install: checksums-*.sha256, latest*.yml, or .blockmap files (these are update metadata/integrity files, not installers).

2. Install and open the app

What is happening

• You are installing the desktop app and running it for the first time on your OS.

What you should see

• An OS install/open flow (installer window, drag-to-Applications, or executable permission prompt) followed by the StratoSort launch screen.

Windows

1. Double-click StratoSortStack-Setup-….exe.
2. If Windows SmartScreen warns you: click More info → Run anyway (common for new apps).
3. Finish the installer, then start StratoSort Stack from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

macOS

1. Open the .dmg, drag StratoSort Stack into Applications.
2. Open the app from Applications. If macOS says it can’t be opened: Control-click the app → Open → Open again in the dialog.

Linux (AppImage)

1. If double-click doesn’t run the app: Right-click the file → Properties → Permissions → turn on Allow executing file as program (wording varies by distro). Then double-click again.
2. Optional (terminal): chmod +x StratoSortStack-*.AppImage then run it.

More detail: Install Guide.

3. First launch (AI setup)

The first time you open StratoSort, an AI Model Setup wizard runs.

1. Pick a profile:
   • Base (Small & Fast) — smaller download, works on most PCs.
   • Better Quality (Larger) — larger download; best if you have plenty of RAM and a GPU.
2. Click Download models and wait until downloads finish (progress is shown in the app).
3. Click Continue, then Get started when it’s ready.

What is happening

• Local AI models are being configured so analysis/search can run fully on-device.

What you should see

• A setup wizard, download progress, and a completion action when model initialization finishes.

Models stay on your device; nothing is sent to the cloud for this step. You can change models later under Settings → AI Configuration (model choice and per-model downloads need Advanced mode; switch at the top of Settings).

Test checklist (one session)

Use this in order. Check items off mentally or on paper. Real folders (Downloads, projects, photos) give better feedback than empty test folders.

For screens and the how-to clip, use the E2E Walkthrough while you work through this checklist.

Welcome

• App launches without a blocked UI. Welcome actions and phase tabs are visible.
• See the full workflow opens “How StratoSort works”, listing Setup → Discover → Organize → Complete.
• Try both working styles once: Guided (step by step) and Dashboard (single overview), using the toggle in the top bar.
• You should see: Search, Knowledge OS, and Settings reachable from the header.

Setup (Smart Folders)

• Create 3–5 Smart Folders with clear names and descriptions.
• Notice: Is it obvious how to add, edit, and remove folders? Anything confusing?
• You should see: Saved folders listed clearly with working add/edit/remove controls.

Discover (analyze files)

• Add a mix of files: PDFs, images, screenshots, Office-style docs if you have them.
• Start analysis and let it run.
• Notice: Do results make sense? Reasonable categories? Acceptable speed?
• You should see: Analysis progress updates and completed items with AI-generated suggestions.

Organize

• Accept some move suggestions and reject others; try rename options if shown.
• Notice: Are destinations correct? Do renames match what you expected?
• You should see: Review queue items changing state after approve/reject, and files landing in expected folders.

Complete

• After a batch move, check moved / analyzed counts against what you approved.
• Notice: Is undo still available? Does “open organized folder” land in the right place?
• You should see: Counts that match the session, with undo still reachable.

Knowledge OS (search, chat, graph)

• Open search (Ctrl+K on Windows/Linux, ⌘K on Mac), or use the header search control.
• Try a few natural-language questions about your files.
• In Chat, ask a question about a file you just analyzed.
• Open Relate (graph) and Atlas if files are indexed.
• Notice: Useful results? Chat cites local files? Graph/map load without freezing?
• You should see: Relevant search matches, a cited chat answer, and a graph or map that responds to click/select.

Settings

• Open Settings and skim each main area (AI, performance, locations, application). Try both Simple and Advanced under Experience level; Advanced reveals the model, retrieval and diagnostics panels.
• Notice: Do toggles work? Any label you don’t understand?
• You should see: Changes save/apply cleanly and remain after closing/reopening settings.

Undo / redo

• After organizing, use undo, then redo, then undo again.
• Notice: Do files actually return to the right places? Any mistakes in history?
• You should see: File locations and history entries update correctly with each undo/redo action.

Tip: When something feels wrong, stop and note what you clicked and what you expected — that becomes your bug report.

Report a bug

Open a bug report on GitHub. Do not attach documents or logs that contain private information; GitHub issues are public.

Always include

1. Short title — what broke + where (e.g. “Organize: undo doesn’t restore PDF to original folder”).
2. Steps — numbered list from app launch to the problem (someone else should repeat them).
3. Expected — what you thought would happen.
4. Actual — what happened instead.
5. Your setup:
   • OS (e.g. Windows 11, macOS 15, Ubuntu 24.04)
   • App version (Settings → Application → About or the app title area)
   • Installer vs portable (if you know)
   • For AI/speed issues: rough RAM and GPU model

Add if you can

• Screenshot or short screen recording.
• Exported logs (strongly helps us fix crashes and “nothing happens” bugs).

Export logs (in the app)

1. Open Settings and switch Experience level to Advanced (the Diagnostics section is hidden in Simple mode)
2. Open Diagnostics and, under Troubleshooting logs, click Export logs
3. Save the file (Desktop is fine)
4. Attach it to the GitHub issue and write one line of context, e.g. “Crashed right after clicking Organize.”

If you prefer manual files

• Windows: %APPDATA%\StratoSort Stack\logs\
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/StratoSort Stack/logs/
• Linux: ~/.config/StratoSort Stack/logs/

Example (good bug report)

Title: Search returns no results after changing embedding model

Steps:

1. Settings (Advanced mode) → AI Configuration → Default AI models
2. Change the embedding model, save
3. Open Knowledge OS and search for a phrase you know exists

Expected: Results appear, or the app asks to rebuild the index.

Actual: Empty results and a warning about model mismatch.

Environment: Windows 11, StratoSort Stack 5.0.0 (installer), 32 GB RAM, RTX 3060.

Attachment: Exported logs from Settings → Diagnostics → Export logs.

Other ways to help (no code)

• Confirm someone else’s bug on your OS and version (“Reproduced on macOS 15 / app 5.0.0”).
• Test each new release and note regressions (things that used to work).
• Suggest UX improvements with screenshots and short before/after notes.

Want to contribute code later?

See Contributing. Testing today still helps a lot.

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