Known Issues - Dkmariolink/ez-streaming GitHub Wiki

Known Issues

Current known issues in EZ Streaming, their workarounds, and planned fixes.

Current Known Issues

High Priority Issues

Issue #1: Windows SmartScreen False Positive

Status: Known Issue
Affects: All Windows users
Severity: Medium (User Experience)

Description: Windows SmartScreen shows a security warning when running EZ Streaming for the first time, stating "Windows protected your PC" with an "Unrecognized app" message.

Root Cause: EZ Streaming executable is not code-signed, which triggers Windows SmartScreen protection for unsigned applications.

Workaround:

  1. Click "More info" in the SmartScreen dialog
  2. Click "Run anyway" to proceed
  3. Windows will remember this choice for future runs

Planned Fix:

  • Code signing certificate acquisition planned for v1.3.0
  • Will eliminate the security warning completely

Impact: Low (one-time inconvenience)

Issue #2: Antivirus False Positives

Status: Known Issue
Affects: Users with certain antivirus software
Severity: Medium (User Experience)

Description: Some antivirus programs (notably Avast, AVG, Windows Defender occasionally) flag EZ Streaming as potentially unwanted software (PUP) or malware.

Root Cause: PyInstaller-built executables often trigger heuristic detection in antivirus software due to their packing method.

Affected Antivirus:

  • Avast (most common)
  • AVG
  • Bitdefender (occasional)
  • Windows Defender (rare)

Workaround:

  1. Add EZ Streaming to antivirus whitelist/exclusions
  2. Download only from official GitHub releases
  3. Verify file integrity using checksums (when available)

Planned Fix:

  • Code signing will reduce false positives significantly
  • Working with antivirus vendors to whitelist the application
  • Exploring alternative packaging methods

Impact: Medium (prevents some users from running the application)

Medium Priority Issues

Issue #3: Process Detection Delays

Status: Under Investigation
Affects: Systems with many running processes
Severity: Low (Performance)

Description: On systems with 100+ running processes, EZ Streaming may take 2-3 seconds to detect when applications are launched externally or to update button states.

Root Cause: Process scanning algorithm needs optimization for systems with high process counts.

Workaround:

  • Close unnecessary background applications
  • Use "Launch All" instead of individual launches for better experience
  • Process detection is eventually consistent (will update within 5 seconds)

Planned Fix:

  • Optimize process scanning algorithm in v1.3.0
  • Implement incremental process detection
  • Add process monitoring caching

Impact: Low (slight delay in UI updates)

Issue #4: Path Updates After Application Updates

Status: Known Limitation
Affects: Users whose applications update frequently
Severity: Low (Maintenance)

Description: When applications like Discord, Spotify, or browsers update, their executable paths may change, causing EZ Streaming to show invalid path errors.

Root Cause: Some applications change their executable location during updates, and EZ Streaming stores absolute paths.

Common Affected Applications:

  • Discord (updates frequently)
  • Spotify (occasional path changes)
  • Chrome/Edge (with automatic updates)
  • Steam games (after updates)

Workaround:

  1. Use "Browse" to relocate the updated executable
  2. Use "Locate App by Name" to re-discover the application
  3. Consider using more stable paths when available

Planned Fix:

  • Implement path validation and auto-correction in v1.3.0
  • Add update detection and path recovery
  • Provide notifications for path changes

Impact: Low (requires occasional maintenance)

Issue #5: Launch Delay UI Inconsistencies

Status: UI Polish Needed
Affects: Users configuring custom delays
Severity: Low (User Experience)

Description: The launch delay UI sometimes shows inconsistent states:

  • Delay controls may briefly flicker during profile switches
  • First application delay controls should be disabled but occasionally remain enabled
  • Custom delay checkbox state may not reflect actual configuration immediately

Root Cause: UI state synchronization timing issues during profile loading and switching.

Workaround:

  • Settings are correctly saved despite UI display issues
  • Switching profiles or restarting EZ Streaming resolves display problems
  • Actual functionality is not affected

Planned Fix:

  • Improve UI state synchronization in v1.2.1
  • Add proper loading states during profile switches
  • Implement more robust UI state management

Impact: Very Low (cosmetic issue only)

Low Priority Issues

Issue #6: High DPI Scaling Minor Issues

Status: Minor Polish Needed
Affects: Users with display scaling >150%
Severity: Very Low (Visual)

Description: On high-DPI displays with scaling above 150%, some UI elements may appear slightly misaligned:

  • Column headers may have minor spacing issues
  • Tooltips may appear slightly offset
  • Button text may be positioned sub-optimally

Root Cause: Qt's high-DPI handling, while generally good, has minor inconsistencies with complex layouts.

Workaround:

  • Functionality is not affected
  • Most scaling levels (100-150%) work perfectly
  • Issues are purely cosmetic

Planned Fix:

  • Fine-tune high-DPI layouts in future UI updates
  • Test on more high-DPI configurations
  • Implement manual DPI override option

Impact: Very Low (minor visual imperfections)

Issue #7: Drag-and-Drop Visual Feedback

Status: Enhancement Needed
Affects: Users reordering applications
Severity: Very Low (User Experience)

Description: When dragging applications to reorder them, the visual feedback could be improved:

  • Drop zones not clearly indicated
  • Drag preview could be more polished
  • Drop animation is basic

Root Cause: Basic drag-and-drop implementation prioritizes functionality over visual polish.

Workaround:

  • Drag-and-drop functionality works correctly
  • Visual feedback is adequate for most users
  • Focus on drag handle (≡) for better control

Planned Fix:

  • Enhance drag-and-drop visual feedback in future UI updates
  • Add better drop zone indicators
  • Improve drag preview appearance

Impact: Very Low (minor user experience improvement)

Resolved Issues (Recent Fixes)

Recently Fixed in v1.2.0

✅ Profile Deletion Data Corruption

Status: Fixed in v1.2.0
Issue: Deleting profiles could occasionally corrupt configuration data Solution: Implemented proper profile deletion with data validation Impact: Configuration stability significantly improved

✅ Process Detection Case Sensitivity

Status: Fixed in v1.2.0
Issue: Process detection failed on case-mismatched paths Solution: Implemented case-insensitive path matching using os.path.normcase Impact: Much more reliable process detection

✅ Launch Button State Inconsistencies

Status: Fixed in v1.2.0
Issue: Launch buttons didn't always reflect actual application status Solution: Improved process detection and UI state synchronization Impact: More accurate and reliable UI status indicators

✅ Column Header Alignment

Status: Fixed in v1.2.0
Issue: Column headers didn't align properly with row content Solution: Redesigned header layout with proper spacers and alignment Impact: Much cleaner and more professional appearance

Recently Fixed in v1.1.0

✅ Default Profile Renaming Protection

Status: Fixed in v1.1.0
Issue: Users could rename or delete the Default profile, causing crashes Solution: Added protection logic for the Default profile Impact: Eliminated crashes related to missing Default profile

✅ Memory Leak in Launch Sequence

Status: Fixed in v1.1.0
Issue: QTimer objects weren't properly cleaned up after launch sequences Solution: Implemented proper timer cleanup and memory management Impact: Reduced memory usage during extended use

Platform-Specific Issues

Windows-Specific Issues

Windows 11 Context Menu Integration

Status: Future Enhancement
Affects: Windows 11 users
Severity: Very Low (Feature Request)

Description: EZ Streaming doesn't integrate with Windows 11's new context menu system for "Add to EZ Streaming" functionality.

Current Status: Not implemented Planned: Possible future feature based on user demand

Windows Startup Integration

Status: Not Yet Implemented
Affects: Users wanting auto-startup
Severity: Low (Feature Request)

Description: No built-in option to start EZ Streaming automatically with Windows.

Workaround:

  • Manually add to Windows Startup folder
  • Use Task Scheduler for advanced startup options

Planned Fix: Built-in Windows startup integration in v1.3.0

Cross-Platform Limitations

macOS Support

Status: Not Available
Affects: macOS users
Severity: Medium (Platform Limitation)

Description: EZ Streaming currently only supports Windows. macOS support is requested by users.

Current Status: In planning phase Planned: macOS port in roadmap for 2025-2026

Linux Support

Status: Not Available
Affects: Linux users
Severity: Low (Platform Limitation)

Description: Linux support requested by some users, particularly those using Linux for streaming.

Current Status: Under consideration Planned: Possible future development based on demand

Workarounds and Best Practices

General Workarounds

For Antivirus Issues

  1. Download from official sources only - GitHub releases page
  2. Add to whitelist immediately after download
  3. Verify checksums when available
  4. Report false positives to antivirus vendors

For Performance Issues

  1. Close background applications before launching profiles
  2. Use SSD storage for better performance
  3. Increase launch delays on slower systems
  4. Monitor system resources during launches

For Path Issues

  1. Use "Locate App by Name" instead of manual browsing when possible
  2. Keep applications updated but be aware paths may change
  3. Create backup profiles before major application updates
  4. Document custom paths for important applications

Best Practices to Avoid Issues

Profile Management

  • Backup configuration files regularly
  • Test new profiles thoroughly before relying on them
  • Keep profile names descriptive and organized
  • Don't overload profiles with too many applications

Application Configuration

  • Verify paths after adding new applications
  • Test individual launches before using "Launch All"
  • Use appropriate delays for your system specifications
  • Monitor for application updates that might change paths

System Maintenance

  • Keep Windows updated for best compatibility
  • Maintain adequate free disk space
  • Monitor system resources during streaming sessions
  • Restart EZ Streaming occasionally to refresh process detection

Reporting New Issues

Before Reporting

  1. Check this list to see if the issue is already known
  2. Search GitHub Issues for existing reports
  3. Try workarounds mentioned in this document
  4. Update to the latest version of EZ Streaming

Information to Include

When reporting a new issue, please include:

System Information

  • Windows version (10/11, build number)
  • System specifications (CPU, RAM, storage type)
  • EZ Streaming version
  • Antivirus software (if relevant)

Issue Details

  • Clear description of the problem
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Expected behavior vs actual behavior
  • Screenshots if applicable
  • Error messages (exact text)

Configuration Information

  • Number of profiles and applications
  • Types of applications being launched
  • Custom settings or unusual configurations

Where to Report

Issue Resolution Timeline

Priority Levels

Critical (Security, Data Loss)

  • Response Time: Within 24 hours
  • Fix Timeline: Emergency release within 1 week
  • Examples: Data corruption, security vulnerabilities

High (Major Functionality)

  • Response Time: Within 48 hours
  • Fix Timeline: Next minor release (2-4 weeks)
  • Examples: Application won't start, major features broken

Medium (User Experience)

  • Response Time: Within 1 week
  • Fix Timeline: Next minor or major release (1-3 months)
  • Examples: UI issues, performance problems

Low (Polish, Enhancement)

  • Response Time: When development time permits
  • Fix Timeline: Future releases based on priority
  • Examples: Visual improvements, convenience features

Development Cycle

  • Patch Releases (1.2.x): Critical and high-priority fixes
  • Minor Releases (1.x.0): Medium-priority fixes and small features
  • Major Releases (2.0.0): Low-priority fixes and significant new features

Contributing to Issue Resolution

How Users Can Help

Testing

  • Test pre-release versions when available
  • Verify bug fixes in new releases
  • Report regression issues if fixes cause new problems

Documentation

  • Contribute to workarounds when you find solutions
  • Improve issue descriptions with additional details
  • Help other users in GitHub Discussions

Development

  • Submit pull requests for fixes you've implemented
  • Contribute to testing infrastructure
  • Help with code review if you're experienced

Community Support

The EZ Streaming community is encouraged to:

  • Help each other with workarounds and solutions
  • Share experiences with different system configurations
  • Contribute to documentation improvements
  • Report when issues are resolved in their environment

Last Updated: June 12, 2025
Version: Covers EZ Streaming v1.2.0 and earlier

For the most current information, check the GitHub Issues page.