Alpha Software Notice - UNITRONIX/BetterDesk GitHub Wiki

⚠️ Alpha Software Notice

Last updated: 2026-04-15

Both the BetterDesk MGMT Client and BetterDesk Agent Client are in early alpha (v1.0.0). They are under active development and should not be used in production environments.

Component Readiness Matrix

Component Version Status Production Use
Go Server v2.4.0 ✅ Stable ✅ Recommended
Web Console (Node.js) v2.4.0 ✅ Stable ✅ Recommended
Native CDAP Agent (Go) v1.0.0 ✅ Stable ✅ OK for deployment
MGMT Client (Tauri) v1.0.0-alpha ⚠️ Alpha ❌ Do NOT use in production
Agent Client (Tauri) v1.0.0-alpha ⚠️ Alpha ❌ Do NOT use in production

BetterDesk MGMT Client — Known Limitations

The MGMT Client is an operator/admin desktop app (Tauri v2 + SolidJS + Rust). The following features are incomplete or unstable:

  • Remote desktop — Basic streaming works but the H.264/VP9 codec pipeline is not stable in all network conditions
  • Token management — JWT refresh may fail on long sessions, requiring re-login
  • Device management — Bulk actions, advanced filtering, and some context menu operations are not yet implemented
  • Chat — E2E encryption is implemented but the connection may drop in certain network scenarios
  • File transfer — The UI exists but large file transfer via the binary protocol is incomplete
  • CDAP integration — Widget rendering and command execution work but are not fully tested across all device types
  • Cross-platform — Only Windows builds (MSI/NSIS) are currently available; Linux and macOS are planned but not yet built
  • Server panel — Admin operations work but may not reflect changes in real-time

What works well

  • Server connection and operator authentication (including TOTP 2FA)
  • Device list with live status indicators
  • Help request management (inbox, accept & connect)
  • Server management panel (admin only)
  • Notification center with type filtering
  • mDNS LAN server discovery
  • Session history viewing

BetterDesk Agent Client — Known Limitations

The Agent Client is a lightweight endpoint agent (Tauri v2 + SolidJS + Rust). The following features are incomplete or unstable:

  • Remote access support — Screen sharing and remote control input injection are not yet implemented
  • Administrative automation — Script execution, policy deployment, and operator-tasked jobs are in early stages
  • Security hardening — Mutual auth, certificate pinning, and advanced process hardening are not yet complete
  • Cross-platform — Only Windows installer (NSIS) is available; Linux and macOS builds are planned
  • Service mode — Background service via NSSM works but may not survive all upgrade scenarios gracefully
  • Config sync — Server-pushed configuration updates may not apply until agent restart

What works well

  • Setup wizard with 5-step server validation and registration
  • Device identity generation with OS keyring storage
  • System info collection and heartbeat reporting
  • Tray icon with autostart on login
  • Help request submission (4-state flow)
  • Basic chat with operators
  • Settings panel (connection, privacy, general, about)

What to Use in Production

For production environments, the recommended stack is:

  1. BetterDesk Go Server — Fully production-ready signal/relay/API server
  2. BetterDesk Web Console (Node.js) — Stable admin panel with full device management, RBAC, organizations, TOTP 2FA
  3. Standard RustDesk Client — For remote desktop connections (fully compatible with BetterDesk server)
  4. Native CDAP Agent (Go) (optional) — For headless servers and IoT devices that need telemetry and remote commands

This combination provides full functionality without relying on any alpha components.

When Will These Clients Be Production-Ready?

There is no fixed timeline. Both clients are being actively developed. Progress is tracked in the GitHub Issues and the project's copilot-instructions.md changelog.

When the clients reach beta status, this notice will be updated accordingly.

Reporting Issues

If you test the alpha clients and encounter bugs, please report via GitHub Issues with:

  • Client name and version (e.g., "MGMT Client 1.0.0-alpha")
  • Operating system and version
  • Steps to reproduce the issue
  • Screenshots or error logs
  • Server version (Go server + Node.js console)