mixelpixx · Oct 1, 2026 · Oct 1, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -159,12 +159,23 @@ jobs:
         # the `-c.extraMetadata.main=./...` argument is mis-tokenized and
         # electron-builder treats it as a config-file path (ENOENT). bash parses
         # it correctly - which is why the Linux/macOS jobs already pass.
+        #
+        # The version/appVersion/cliVersion/buildDate metadata mirrors upstream's
+        # scripts/package.js, but with Arduino Agent's version: it is the version
+        # in the window title and About dialog, and buildDate is what makes the
+        # app load its bundled VS Code plugins (arduino-ide-electron-main.js).
         shell: bash
-        run: >
-          node ../node_modules/electron-builder/cli.js --dir --publish never
-          -c.electronVersion=30.1.2
-          -c.extraMetadata.name=arduino-ide
-          -c.extraMetadata.main=./arduino-ide-electron-main.js
+        run: |
+          version=$(node -p "require('../arduino-mcp-extension/package.json').version")
+          cli_version=$(node -p "require('../arduino-ide-extension/package.json').arduino['arduino-cli'].version")
+          node ../node_modules/electron-builder/cli.js --dir --publish never \
+            -c.electronVersion=30.1.2 \
+            -c.extraMetadata.name=arduino-ide \
+            -c.extraMetadata.main=./arduino-ide-electron-main.js \
+            -c.extraMetadata.version="$version" \
+            -c.extraMetadata.theia.frontend.config.appVersion="$version" \
+            -c.extraMetadata.theia.frontend.config.cliVersion="$cli_version" \
+            -c.extraMetadata.theia.frontend.config.buildDate="$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)"
 
       - name: Zip artifact (Windows)
         if: runner.os == 'Windows'
@@ -192,7 +203,8 @@ jobs:
           draft: true # publish manually after verifying the artifacts
           fail_on_unmatched_files: true
           body: |
-            Unsigned development build of the Arduino IDE with the embedded MCP server.
+            Unsigned build of Arduino Agent: the Arduino IDE with an embedded MCP server.
+            Not affiliated with or endorsed by Arduino SA.
 
             Each archive contains the unpacked application for its platform - unzip and run
             `Arduino IDE` (`Arduino IDE.exe` on Windows). The MCP server starts on

diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ Fork of Arduino IDE 2.x (Theia/Electron) with an embedded MCP server.
 arduino/arduino-ide by targeted file copies — this repo shares no git history
 with upstream); `arduino-mcp-extension/` is ours; `electron-app/` packages both.
 
+Fork identity (About dialog, Arduino's IDE updater switched off) is overridden
+from `arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/agent-branding.ts` via rebinds, not by
+editing vendored files. `arduino-ide-extension` emits no `.d.ts`, so its
+classes are `any` in our extension: no `override`, no inherited fields.
+
 ## Build
 
 - Yarn 4 via corepack (`corepack enable`). Node 18+ works (engines say <21 but

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -43,10 +43,17 @@ Unsigned development builds of the **[latest release](https://github.com/mixelpi
 - [**macOS**](https://github.com/mixelpixx/Arduino-Agent/releases/latest/download/arduino-ide-mcp-macos.zip)
 - [**Linux x64**](https://github.com/mixelpixx/Arduino-Agent/releases/latest/download/arduino-ide-mcp-linux.zip)
 
-Unzip and run `Arduino IDE` (`Arduino IDE.exe` on Windows). Release notes and
-older builds are on the
+Unzip and run `Arduino IDE` (`Arduino IDE.exe` on Windows). The window, About
+box and icon say **Arduino Agent**; only the executable keeps upstream's name for
+now. Arduino Agent doesn't check Arduino's update server; get new versions here.
+Release notes and older builds are on the
 [Releases](https://github.com/mixelpixx/Arduino-Agent/releases) page.
 
+> **Have the official Arduino IDE installed too?** Both currently share settings
+> and a single-instance lock, so starting one while the other is running hands
+> off to the one already open. Close one before starting the other. Separating
+> them properly is planned for v0.7.0.
+
 > These are unsigned dev builds. On macOS you may need to allow the app under
 > **System Settings → Privacy & Security**; on Windows, dismiss SmartScreen with
 > **More info → Run anyway**. Prefer to build it yourself? See

diff --git a/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/agent-branding.ts b/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/agent-branding.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/**
+ * Arduino Agent identity for the vendored Arduino IDE shell.
+ *
+ * arduino-ide-extension is upstream code synced by file copy, so the fork's
+ * identity lives here as rebinds and contributions rather than as edits there.
+ *
+ * - Arduino's IDE updater is switched off. It checks Arduino's official feed,
+ *   so it would offer the official Arduino IDE as an "update" and replace this
+ *   app, MCP server included. Board and library update checks stay on: they
+ *   share the `arduino.checkForUpdates` preference, so that is left alone.
+ * - The About dialog names Arduino Agent, its own version and the Arduino IDE
+ *   version it is based on, and says it is not an Arduino product.
+ *
+ * arduino-ide-extension ships no type declarations, so its classes are `any`
+ * here: subclasses below cannot use `override` or see inherited fields, and
+ * inject what they need themselves.
+ */
+
+import { ClipboardService } from '@theia/core/lib/browser/clipboard-service';
+import { ApplicationServer } from '@theia/core/lib/common/application-protocol';
+import { CommandContribution, CommandRegistry } from '@theia/core/lib/common/command';
+import { MenuContribution, MenuModelRegistry } from '@theia/core/lib/common/menu';
+import { isOSX, isWindows } from '@theia/core/lib/common/os';
+import { inject, injectable } from '@theia/core/shared/inversify';
+import { AppService } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/app-service';
+import { About } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/contributions/about';
+import { CheckForIDEUpdates } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/contributions/check-for-ide-updates';
+import { DialogService } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/dialog-service';
+import { IDEUpdaterCommands } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/ide-updater/ide-updater-commands';
+
+/** Replaces Arduino's startup update check: never contacts the update feed. */
+@injectable()
+export class DisabledIDEUpdateCheck extends CheckForIDEUpdates {
+  onStart(): void {
+    // Updater disabled; see the file header.
+  }
+
+  async onReady(): Promise<void> {
+    // Updater disabled; see the file header.
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Removes Help > "Check for Arduino IDE Updates". Contributions run in module
+ * order and this extension loads after arduino-ide-extension, so the command
+ * and menu item already exist when these run.
+ */
+@injectable()
+export class RemoveIDEUpdaterCommand implements CommandContribution, MenuContribution {
+  registerCommands(registry: CommandRegistry): void {
+    registry.unregisterCommand(IDEUpdaterCommands.CHECK_FOR_UPDATES.id);
+  }
+
+  registerMenus(registry: MenuModelRegistry): void {
+    registry.unregisterMenuAction(IDEUpdaterCommands.CHECK_FOR_UPDATES.id);
+  }
+}
+
+/** Arduino's About dialog, reworded for the fork. Menu label comes from applicationName. */
+@injectable()
+export class AgentAbout extends About {
+  @inject(AppService)
+  private readonly agentAppService!: AppService;
+
+  @inject(ApplicationServer)
+  private readonly applicationServer!: ApplicationServer;
+
+  @inject(ClipboardService)
+  private readonly agentClipboard!: ClipboardService;
+
+  @inject(DialogService)
+  private readonly agentDialogService!: DialogService;
+
+  registerCommands(registry: CommandRegistry): void {
+    registry.registerCommand(About.Commands.ABOUT_APP, {
+      execute: () => this.showAgentAbout(),
+    });
+  }
+
+  private async showAgentAbout(): Promise<void> {
+    const [{ appVersion, cliVersion, buildDate }, extensions] = await Promise.all([
+      this.agentAppService.info(),
+      this.applicationServer.getExtensionsInfos(),
+    ]);
+    const versionOf = (name: string) => extensions.find((e) => e.name === name)?.version;
+    const detail = [
+      `Version: ${versionOf('arduino-mcp-extension') ?? appVersion}`,
+      `Date: ${buildDate || 'dev build'}`,
+      `CLI Version: ${cliVersion}`,
+      `Based on Arduino IDE ${versionOf('arduino-ide-extension') ?? ''}`,
+      '',
+      'Arduino Agent is an independent fork of the Arduino IDE. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Arduino SA.',
+      `Arduino IDE: Copyright © ${new Date().getFullYear()} Arduino s.r.l. and/or its affiliated companies`,
+    ].join('\n');
+
+    const ok = 'OK';
+    const copy = 'Copy';
+    const buttons = !isWindows && !isOSX ? [copy, ok] : [ok, copy];
+    const { response } = await this.agentDialogService.showMessageBox({
+      message: 'Arduino Agent',
+      title: 'Arduino Agent',
+      type: 'info',
+      detail,
+      buttons,
+      noLink: true,
+      defaultId: buttons.indexOf(ok),
+      cancelId: buttons.indexOf(ok),
+    });
+    if (buttons[response] === copy) {
+      await this.agentClipboard.writeText(detail);
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/arduino-mcp-frontend-module.ts b/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/arduino-mcp-frontend-module.ts
@@ -10,14 +10,26 @@
 import { ContainerModule } from '@theia/core/shared/inversify';
 import { WebSocketConnectionProvider } from '@theia/core/lib/browser/messaging/ws-connection-provider';
 import { FrontendApplicationContribution } from '@theia/core/lib/browser/frontend-application-contribution';
+import { CommandContribution } from '@theia/core/lib/common/command';
+import { MenuContribution } from '@theia/core/lib/common/menu';
+import { About } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/contributions/about';
+import { CheckForIDEUpdates } from 'arduino-ide-extension/lib/browser/contributions/check-for-ide-updates';
 import { bindMCPPreferences, MCPPreferences } from './mcp-preferences';
 import { MCPService, MCPServicePath } from '../common/mcp-service';
 import { MCPFrontendContribution } from './mcp-frontend-contribution';
+import { AgentAbout, DisabledIDEUpdateCheck, RemoveIDEUpdaterCommand } from './agent-branding';
 
 export default new ContainerModule((bind, unbind, isBound, rebind) => {
-  // Bind MCP preferences to add settings to Arduino IDE preferences panel
+  // Bind MCP preferences to add settings to the IDE preferences panel
   bindMCPPreferences(bind);
 
+  // Arduino Agent identity: no Arduino IDE updater, fork-specific About dialog
+  rebind(CheckForIDEUpdates).to(DisabledIDEUpdateCheck).inSingletonScope();
+  rebind(About).to(AgentAbout).inSingletonScope();
+  bind(RemoveIDEUpdaterCommand).toSelf().inSingletonScope();
+  bind(CommandContribution).toService(RemoveIDEUpdaterCommand);
+  bind(MenuContribution).toService(RemoveIDEUpdaterCommand);
+
   // Bind the MCP service proxy to communicate with backend
   bind(MCPService).toDynamicValue(ctx => {
     const connection = ctx.container.get(WebSocketConnectionProvider);

diff --git a/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/mcp-frontend-contribution.ts b/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/mcp-frontend-contribution.ts
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ export class MCPFrontendContribution
           break;
         case 'arduino.mcp.requireAuth':
           this.messageService.info(
-            'The MCP authentication setting takes effect after restarting the Arduino IDE.',
+            'The MCP authentication setting takes effect after restarting Arduino Agent.',
             { timeout: 8000 }
           );
           break;

diff --git a/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/mcp-preferences.ts b/arduino-mcp-extension/src/browser/mcp-preferences.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export const mcpPreferenceSchema: PreferenceSchema = {
       type: 'boolean',
       description: nls.localize(
         'arduino/mcp/preferences.enabled',
-        'Enable MCP (Model Context Protocol) server integration. When enabled, AI assistants like Claude Code can interact with the Arduino IDE programmatically - compiling, uploading, managing libraries, and more.'
+        'Enable MCP (Model Context Protocol) server integration. When enabled, AI assistants like Claude Code can interact with Arduino Agent programmatically - compiling, uploading, managing libraries, and more.'
       ),
       default: MCPConfigurationDefaults['arduino.mcp.enabled'],
       order: 1,
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export const mcpPreferenceSchema: PreferenceSchema = {
       type: 'boolean',
       description: nls.localize(
         'arduino/mcp/preferences.autoConnect',
-        'Automatically start the MCP server when Arduino IDE launches. Disable this if you want to manually control when the MCP server is available.'
+        'Automatically start the MCP server when Arduino Agent launches. Disable this if you want to manually control when the MCP server is available.'
       ),
       default: MCPConfigurationDefaults['arduino.mcp.autoConnect'],
       order: 2,

diff --git a/arduino-mcp-extension/src/node/mcp-server.ts b/arduino-mcp-extension/src/node/mcp-server.ts
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ export class ArduinoMCPServer {
       res.end(
         JSON.stringify({
           error:
-            'Unauthorized. Pass the MCP token as an "Authorization: Bearer <token>" header. The token is shown in the Arduino IDE (Preferences > MCP) and stored in ~/.arduinoIDE/mcp-token.',
+            'Unauthorized. Pass the MCP token as an "Authorization: Bearer <token>" header. The token is shown in Arduino Agent (Preferences > MCP) and stored in ~/.arduinoIDE/mcp-token.',
         })
       );
       return;

diff --git a/electron-app/package.json b/electron-app/package.json
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     "target": "electron",
     "frontend": {
       "config": {
-        "applicationName": "Arduino IDE",
+        "applicationName": "Arduino Agent",
         "defaultTheme": {
           "light": "arduino-theme",
           "dark": "arduino-theme-dark"
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "author": "Arduino SA",
-  "description": "Arduino IDE",
+  "author": "mixelpixx",
+  "description": "Arduino Agent: the Arduino IDE with a built-in MCP server",
   "build": {
     "appId": "cc.arduino.IDE2",
     "productName": "Arduino IDE",

diff --git a/electron-app/resources/icon.icns b/electron-app/resources/icon.icns
diff --git a/electron-app/resources/icon.ico b/electron-app/resources/icon.ico
diff --git a/electron-app/resources/icons/512x512.png b/electron-app/resources/icons/512x512.png
diff --git a/electron-app/resources/preload.html b/electron-app/resources/preload.html
@@ -74,119 +74,17 @@
 <body>
     <div class="spinner-container">
         <div class="custom-spinner">
-            <svg
-                id="spinner"
-                xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-                width="2499"
-                height="2500"
-                viewBox="0 0 1372.201 1372.684"
-            >
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-                    gradientTransform="matrix(1 0 0 -1 16.8 702.696)"
-                >
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-                    <stop
-                        offset=".895"
-                        stop-color="#148386"
-                        stop-opacity=".881"
-                    />
-                    <stop offset="1" stop-color="#008184" />
+            <svg id="spinner" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1024 1024" width="1024" height="1024">
+              <defs>
+                <linearGradient id="agentBg" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
+                  <stop offset="0" stop-color="rgb(79, 70, 229)"/>
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