diff --git a/START-HERE.md b/START-HERE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb63938
--- /dev/null
+++ b/START-HERE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+## RAM Verification
+
+### System Memory Configuration
+
+Before proceeding, verify that the system has sufficient memory for running Hermes and all intended plugins:
+
+```bash
+# Check total available physical memory (KB)
+free -m | head -10
+
+# Recommended minimum specifications:
+#   ≥ 8GB recommended minimum for stable operation
+#   Optimal runtime requires free RAM buffer space (~25% of system memory should remain unused)
+```
+
+### Memory Usage Monitoring
+
+Monitor real-time memory usage during plugin initialization and startup operations:
+
+| Timepoint | Check Point | Expected Status |
+|-----------|-------------|-----------------|
+| T+0s | Plugin module detection complete | Ready to instantiate RAM modules |
+| T+124.538ms (± 4%) | Module instantiation & validation complete | `Status:` **ready** with all RAM modules operational; no pending initialisations or incomplete state retrievals recorded in plugin metadata |
+
+### Verification Results Summary
+
+Upon confirming adequate system memory allocation, the verification procedure will produce:
+- All required plugins successfully loaded into active runtime environment
+- Memory management APIs functioning as expected for subsequent operations
+- No resource conflicts detected during initialization phase
diff --git a/Things to have changed for the App b/Things to have changed for the App
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/electron-builder.yml b/electron-builder.yml
index 4abacd6..d8f3b67 100644
--- a/electron-builder.yml
+++ b/electron-builder.yml
@@ -21,11 +21,6 @@ linux:
   target:
     - AppImage
     - deb
-    # tar.gz is what the in-app updater installs (pickAsset looks for a
-    # linux x86_64/amd64 tarball); arch must be x64 so the asset name ends
-    # in -linux-x86_64 like every published release.
-    - target: tar.gz
-      arch: x64
 
 # OS file associations: double-click / "Open with Folio" on Markdown and
 # plain-text files imports them as books (see folio:openPathOrImport and
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 6b4b766..ffd7318 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "folio",
-  "version": "0.1.17",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "folio",
-      "version": "0.1.17",
+      "version": "0.1.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@tiptap/core": "^2.27.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3ffd369..f9cde75 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "folio",
-  "version": "0.1.17",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "A simple, local, open-source desktop writing app.",
   "productName": "Folio",
   "author": "Folio Contributors",
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
     "dev": "concurrently -k \"npm run build:watch\" \"wait-on dist/main.js && npm run electron\"",
     "start": "npm run build && npm run electron",
     "lint": "tsc --noEmit",
-    "prepackage": "npm run build",
     "test": "node tests/run-project-test.mjs && node tests/run-chapters-test.mjs && node tests/run-wikilinks-test.mjs && node tests/run-office-export-test.mjs && node tests/run-migration-test.mjs && node tests/run-editor-test.mjs && node tests/run-fullbook-test.mjs && node tests/run-print-test.mjs && node tests/run-update-import-test.mjs && node tests/run-update-installer-test.mjs && node tests/run-snapshots-test.mjs && node tests/run-search-test.mjs",
     "package": "electron-builder"
   },
diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index c9557a1..050b10f 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
   saveMeta,
   Recent,
 } from "./project.js";
-import { listRecents, addRecent, removeRecent, renameRecent, hideRecent, unhideRecent, migrateLegacyRecents } from "./recents.js";
+import { listRecents, addRecent, removeRecent, migrateLegacyRecents } from "./recents.js";
 import { buildMenu } from "./menu.js";
 import {
   createChapter,
@@ -56,8 +56,6 @@ import {
   UPDATE_REPO,
   buildInstallerScript,
   isTrustedDownloadUrl,
-  looksTruncated,
-  verifyArchiveGzip,
   isNewer,
   parseRelease,
   pickAsset,
@@ -246,30 +244,13 @@ async function openBookAt(p: string): Promise<BookResult | ErrResult> {
   }
 }
 
-// Create a new book as a dedicated folder <name>/ inside the user's chosen
-// storage folder (Settings → Folder), falling back to Documents when none is
-// set or the stored one no longer exists, then open it. The folder name is
-// the sanitized book title; if a folder with that name already exists we
-// append a numeric suffix.
-function getBooksDir(): string {
-  // One storage folder drives everything (snapshots, recovery, new books).
-  // snapshotLocation is the one the Settings modal writes; backupLocation is
-  // the older key — honor both so an existing choice keeps working.
-  for (const key of ["snapshotLocation", "backupLocation"]) {
-    const v = String(getSetting<string>(key, "") || "").trim();
-    try {
-      if (v && fs.statSync(v).isDirectory()) return v;
-    } catch {
-      // stale or unreadable path — fall through to the next candidate
-    }
-  }
-  return app.getPath("documents");
-}
-
+// Create a new book as a dedicated folder <name>/ inside the user's Documents
+// directory, then open it. The folder name is the sanitized book title; if a
+// folder with that name already exists we append a numeric suffix.
 handleIpc("folio:newBookNamed", async (_e, name: string) => {
   const title = (name || "").trim();
   if (!title) return { error: "Please provide a book name." };
-  const base = getBooksDir();
+  const base = app.getPath("documents");
   const folder = sanitizeBookFolderName(title) || "Untitled";
   let target = path.join(base, folder);
   let n = 2;
@@ -357,107 +338,6 @@ handleIpc("folio:pickBackupFolder", async () => {
 
 handleIpc("folio:getRecents", (): Recent[] => listRecents());
 
-// ---- recents right-click menu ----
-// The renderer claims a right-click on a recents row synchronously
-// (ipcRenderer.sendSync) before the main-process context-menu event fires,
-// so the generic spelling/edit popup is skipped for that target and a
-// dedicated book menu is shown instead. Menu actions are sent back to the
-// renderer (folio:recents-menu) and executed by the same handlers the row
-// buttons use — one code path, consistent behavior.
-interface RecentsMenuEntry {
-  path: string;
-  title: string;
-  hidden?: boolean;
-  missing?: boolean;
-}
-let recentsMenuClaimedAt = 0;
-
-ipcMain.on(
-  "folio:recents-contextmenu-sync",
-  (event, entry: RecentsMenuEntry, vx: number, vy: number) => {
-    if (!entry || typeof entry.path !== "string") {
-      event.returnValue = false;
-      return;
-    }
-    const win = getWindow();
-    if (!win) {
-      event.returnValue = false;
-      return;
-    }
-    recentsMenuClaimedAt = Date.now();
-    // Convert viewport coords to screen coords for the popup.
-    const [ox, oy] = win.getContentBounds
-      ? [win.getContentBounds().x, win.getContentBounds().y]
-      : [0, 0];
-    const x = Number.isFinite(vx) ? ox + Math.round(vx) : undefined;
-    const y = Number.isFinite(vy) ? oy + Math.round(vy) : undefined;
-    const exists = hasBook(entry.path);
-    const send = (action: string) =>
-      win.webContents.send("folio:recents-menu", { action, entry });
-    const items: Electron.MenuItemConstructorOptions[] = [];
-    if (exists) {
-      items.push({ label: "Open", click: () => send("open") });
-      items.push({ label: "Rename…", click: () => send("rename") });
-      items.push({ label: "Show in Folder", click: () => send("reveal") });
-      items.push({ type: "separator" });
-    }
-    items.push(
-      entry.hidden
-        ? { label: "Unhide in Recents", click: () => send("unhide") }
-        : {
-            label: "Hide from Recents",
-            toolTip:
-              "Removes the entry from the list only — the book on disk is untouched",
-            click: () => send("hide"),
-          }
-    );
-    items.push({ type: "separator" });
-    items.push({
-      label: exists ? "Delete Book (to Trash)…" : "Remove from List",
-      click: () => send(exists ? "delete" : "remove"),
-    });
-    Menu.buildFromTemplate(items).popup({ window: win, x, y });
-    event.returnValue = true;
-  }
-);
-
-// Rename a book's display title (folio.json + matching recents entry). The
-// folder on disk keeps its name: renaming the directory would invalidate
-// every other recents/menu path that points at it, so the title is the only
-// stable rename surface.
-handleIpc("folio:renameBook", (_e, p: string, rawTitle: string) => {
-  const title = typeof rawTitle === "string" ? rawTitle.trim() : "";
-  if (!title) return { error: "Book name cannot be empty." };
-  if (!hasBook(p)) return { error: `Not a Folio book: ${p}` };
-  try {
-    const meta = loadBook(p);
-    meta.title = title;
-    saveMeta(p, meta);
-  } catch (err) {
-    return { error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
-  }
-  renameRecent(p, title);
-  if (bookPath === p) {
-    mainWindow?.setTitle(`${title} — Folio`);
-    refreshMenu();
-  }
-  return { ok: true, title };
-});
-
-// Hide/unhide a recents entry. List-only: the book folder on disk is never
-// touched, and opening the book again un-hides it (addRecent clears the flag).
-handleIpc("folio:hideRecent", (_e, p: string) => {
-  hideRecent(p);
-  refreshMenu();
-  return { ok: true };
-});
-
-handleIpc("folio:unhideRecent", (_e, p: string) => {
-  unhideRecent(p);
-  refreshMenu();
-  return { ok: true };
-});
-
 handleIpc("folio:closeBook", () => {
   bookPath = null;
   mainWindow?.setTitle("Folio");
@@ -599,36 +479,14 @@ function currentBookTitle(): string {
   }
 }
 
-// GTK save dialogs started with a bare filename (no directory) re-synthesize
-// the name from the last-browsed folder when the user navigates, producing
-// names like "Some Folder/.odt". Always hand them an absolute path. The last
-// export folder is remembered so exports reopen where the user left them.
-function exportDefaultPath(filename: string): string {
-  const last = getSetting<string>("lastExportDir", "");
-  const dir =
-    last && fs.existsSync(last) && fs.statSync(last).isDirectory()
-      ? last
-      : getBooksDir();
-  return path.join(dir, filename);
-}
-
-function rememberExportDir(filePath: string): void {
-  try {
-    setSetting("lastExportDir", path.dirname(filePath));
-  } catch {
-    // best-effort only
-  }
-}
-
 handleIpc("folio:exportMarkdown", async () => {
   const bp = requireBook();
   const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
     title: "Export combined Markdown",
-    defaultPath: exportDefaultPath(`${currentBookTitle()}.md`),
+    defaultPath: `${currentBookTitle()}.md`,
     filters: [{ name: "Markdown", extensions: ["md"] }],
   });
   if (canceled || !filePath) return { canceled: true } as const;
-  rememberExportDir(filePath);
   fs.writeFileSync(filePath, combineMarkdown(bp), "utf-8");
   return { ok: true, filePath };
 });
@@ -637,11 +495,10 @@ handleIpc("folio:exportZip", async () => {
   const bp = requireBook();
   const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
     title: "Export book bundle (ZIP)",
-    defaultPath: exportDefaultPath(`${currentBookTitle()}.zip`),
+    defaultPath: `${currentBookTitle()}.zip`,
     filters: [{ name: "ZIP Archive", extensions: ["zip"] }],
   });
   if (canceled || !filePath) return { canceled: true } as const;
-  rememberExportDir(filePath);
   const buf = await buildZip(bp);
   fs.writeFileSync(filePath, buf);
   return { ok: true, filePath };
@@ -669,12 +526,11 @@ requireBook();
   } else {
     const { canceled, filePath: chosen } = await showSaveDialog({
       title: "Export as PDF",
-      defaultPath: exportDefaultPath(`${base}${suffix}.pdf`),
+      defaultPath: `${base}${suffix}.pdf`,
       filters: [{ name: "PDF Document", extensions: ["pdf"] }],
     });
     if (canceled || !chosen) return { canceled: true } as const;
     filePath = chosen.endsWith(".pdf") ? chosen : `${chosen}.pdf`;
-    rememberExportDir(filePath);
   }
   const win = getWindow();
   if (!win) return { error: "No window is open." };
@@ -711,7 +567,7 @@ async function exportOffice(format: "docx" | "odt", chapterIds?: string[] | null
     } else {
       const { canceled, filePath: chosen } = await showSaveDialog({
         title: `Export${selected ? " Selected Chapters" : " Full Book"} as ${format.toUpperCase()}`,
-        defaultPath: exportDefaultPath(`${base}${suffix}.${ext}`),
+        defaultPath: `${base}${suffix}.${ext}`,
         filters: [
           {
             name: format === "docx" ? "Word Document" : "OpenDocument Text",
@@ -721,7 +577,6 @@ async function exportOffice(format: "docx" | "odt", chapterIds?: string[] | null
       });
       if (canceled || !chosen) return { canceled: true } as const;
       filePath = chosen.endsWith(`.${ext}`) ? chosen : `${chosen}.${ext}`;
-      rememberExportDir(filePath);
     }
     const meta = loadBook(bp);
     const chapters = selected
@@ -753,11 +608,10 @@ handleIpc("folio:saveChapterAs", async (_e, id: string) => {
   if (!entry) return { error: "Chapter not found" };
   const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
     title: "Save Chapter As",
-    defaultPath: exportDefaultPath(`${entry.title}.md`),
+    defaultPath: `${entry.title}.md`,
     filters: [{ name: "Markdown", extensions: ["md"] }],
   });
   if (canceled || !filePath) return { canceled: true } as const;
-  rememberExportDir(filePath);
   const content = getChapterContent(bp, id);
   fs.writeFileSync(filePath, content, "utf-8");
   return { ok: true, filePath };
@@ -876,12 +730,6 @@ function wireContextMenu(win: BrowserWindow) {
   win.webContents.on("context-menu", (_e, params) => {
     const target = getWindow();
     if (!target) return;
-    // A recents row claimed this right-click (see the
-    // folio:recents-contextmenu-sync handler): its dedicated book menu was
-    // already popped up, so skip the generic spelling/edit popup. The claim
-    // is only honored within a short window so it can never suppress later
-    // right-clicks elsewhere in the app.
-    if (Date.now() - recentsMenuClaimedAt < 250) return;
     const items: Electron.MenuItemConstructorOptions[] = [];
     if (params.misspelledWord) {
       const sugs = (params.dictionarySuggestions || []).slice(0, 5);
@@ -989,7 +837,6 @@ function snapshotSettingsSnapshot() {
     keep: clampInt(getSetting("snapshotKeep", SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep), SNAPSHOT_DEFAULTS.keep, 0, 200),
     location,
     resolvedRoot: resolved,
-    booksDir: getBooksDir(),
     snapshotCount: snaps.length,
     lastSnapshot: snaps.length ? snaps[snaps.length - 1] : null,
   };
@@ -1026,7 +873,7 @@ handleIpc("folio:setSnapshotSettings", (_e, patch: unknown) => {
 handleIpc("folio:pickSnapshotFolder", async () => {
   const { canceled, filePaths } = await showOpenDialog({
     properties: ["openDirectory"],
-    title: "Choose storage folder (new books + snapshots)",
+    title: "Choose snapshot folder",
   });
   return { canceled, filePaths };
 });
@@ -1107,14 +954,14 @@ handleIpc("folio:importMarkdown", async () => {
     filters: [{ name: "Markdown and text", extensions: ["md", "markdown", "txt"] }],
   });
   if (canceled || !filePaths.length) return { canceled: true } as const;
-  return importMarkdownFiles(filePaths, getBooksDir());
+  return importMarkdownFiles(filePaths, app.getPath("documents"));
 });
 
 // Open a path that may be either a Folio book directory or a Markdown file
 // (the desktop launcher can be handed either via file associations).
 handleIpc("folio:openPathOrImport", async (_e, p: string) => {
   if (p && isImportableMarkdown(p)) {
-    const results = importMarkdownFiles([p], getBooksDir());
+    const results = importMarkdownFiles([p], app.getPath("documents"));
     const r = results[0];
     if (!r.ok) return { error: r.error };
     return openBookAt(r.bookPath as string);
@@ -1220,115 +1067,47 @@ handleIpc("folio:performUpdate", async () => {
       app.getPath("temp"),
       `folio-update-${Date.now()}.tar.gz`
     );
-    // Downloads go through curl, not Chromium's network stack: on flaky Wi-Fi
-    // the Electron net stack restarts requests mid-stream, producing a
-    // right-sized but corrupt gzip ("100% three times, then failed"). curl
-    // resumes with HTTP Range (-C -) so a dropped connection continues where
-    // it left off instead of restarting, and retries internally. We still
-    // verify the exact byte count and gunzip the whole file before handoff.
-    const total = Number(asset.size) || 0;
-    let lastError = "";
-    let downloaded = false;
-    const { spawn } = await import("child_process");
-    const haveCurl = await new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
-      const p = spawn("curl", ["--version"], { stdio: "ignore" });
-      p.on("error", () => resolve(false));
-      p.on("close", (code) => resolve(code === 0));
+    const res = await fetch(asset.browser_download_url, {
+      redirect: "follow",
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10 * 60 * 1000),
     });
-    if (haveCurl) {
-      for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= 3 && !downloaded; attempt++) {
-        const code = await new Promise<number>((resolve) => {
-          const c = spawn(
-            "curl",
-            [
-              "-fsSL",
-              "-C", "-", // resume a partial file
-              "--max-time", "900",
-              "--retry", "5", "--retry-delay", "2", "--retry-all-errors",
-              "--connect-timeout", "15",
-              "-o", tarball,
-              asset.browser_download_url,
-            ],
-            { stdio: "ignore" }
-          );
-          const timer = setInterval(() => {
-            try {
-              getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:update-progress", {
-                received: fs.statSync(tarball).size,
-                total,
-              });
-            } catch {
-              /* file not created yet */
-            }
-          }, 1000);
-          c.on("error", () => { clearInterval(timer); resolve(-1); });
-          c.on("close", (rc) => { clearInterval(timer); resolve(rc ?? -1); });
-        });
-        if (code !== 0) {
-          lastError = `Download failed (curl exit ${code}).`;
-          continue;
-        }
-        const size = fs.existsSync(tarball) ? fs.statSync(tarball).size : 0;
-        if (looksTruncated(size, total)) {
-          lastError = `Download truncated (${size}/${total} bytes).`;
-          continue;
-        }
-        if (!(await verifyArchiveGzip(tarball))) {
-          lastError = "Downloaded archive is corrupt (gzip stream incomplete).";
-          fs.rmSync(tarball, { force: true }); // corrupted resume file must not poison the next attempt
-          continue;
-        }
-        downloaded = true;
-      }
-    } else {
-      // No curl on PATH: fall back to the in-process fetch pipeline.
-      const { Readable } = await import("stream");
-      const { createWriteStream } = await import("fs");
-      const { pipeline } = await import("stream/promises");
-      for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= 3 && !downloaded; attempt++) {
-        try {
-          const res = await fetch(asset.browser_download_url, {
-            redirect: "follow",
-            signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10 * 60 * 1000),
-          });
-          if (!res.ok || !res.body) {
-            lastError = `Download failed (HTTP ${res.status}).`;
-            continue;
-          }
-          let received = 0;
-          const source = Readable.fromWeb(res.body as never);
-          source.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
-            received += chunk.length;
-            getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:update-progress", { received, total });
-          });
-          await pipeline(source, createWriteStream(tarball));
-          if (looksTruncated(received, total)) {
-            lastError = `Download truncated (${received}/${total} bytes).`;
-            continue;
-          }
-          if (!(await verifyArchiveGzip(tarball))) {
-            lastError = "Downloaded archive is corrupt (gzip stream incomplete).";
-            continue;
-          }
-          downloaded = true;
-        } catch (e) {
-          lastError = `Download failed: ${(e as Error).message}`;
-        }
-      }
+    if (!res.ok || !res.body) {
+      return { error: `Download failed (HTTP ${res.status}).` };
     }
-    if (!downloaded) {
+    const total = Number(res.headers.get("content-length")) || asset.size || 0;
+    const { Readable } = await import("stream");
+    const { createWriteStream } = await import("fs");
+    const { pipeline } = await import("stream/promises");
+    let received = 0;
+    const source = Readable.fromWeb(res.body as never);
+    source.on("data", (chunk: Buffer) => {
+      received += chunk.length;
+      getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:update-progress", { received, total });
+    });
+    await pipeline(source, createWriteStream(tarball));
+    // Verify the gzip magic (2 bytes) without loading a ~100MB tarball into
+    // memory. Anything else means a truncated download or an HTML error page.
+    let head = Buffer.alloc(0);
+    try {
+      const fd = fs.openSync(tarball, "r");
+      try {
+        const buf = Buffer.alloc(2);
+        const n = fs.readSync(fd, buf, 0, 2, 0);
+        head = buf.subarray(0, n);
+      } finally {
+        fs.closeSync(fd);
+      }
+    } catch {
+      head = Buffer.alloc(0);
+    }
+    if (head.length < 2 || head[0] !== 0x1f || head[1] !== 0x8b) {
       fs.rmSync(tarball, { force: true });
-      return {
-        error: `${lastError || "Download failed."} The update was aborted; your current version is unchanged.`,
-      };
+      return { error: "Downloaded file is not a valid archive; update aborted." };
     }
     const script = path.join(
       app.getPath("temp"),
       `folio-update-${process.pid}.sh`
     );
-    // Persistent, append-only handoff log: survives the swap and tells us
-    // exactly where a failed update stopped (temp files can vanish).
-    const updateLog = path.join(app.getPath("userData"), "update.log");
     fs.writeFileSync(
       script,
       buildInstallerScript({
@@ -1336,48 +1115,15 @@ handleIpc("folio:performUpdate", async () => {
         tarball,
         installDir: cfg.installDir,
         relaunch: cfg.launcher,
-        log: updateLog,
       }),
       { mode: 0o700 }
     );
-    // IMPORTANT: on systemd desktops (Hyprland/uwsm) the app runs inside a
-    // systemd scope cgroup, and a plain detached child stays in that cgroup —
-    // when the app quits, systemd sweeps the scope and kills the swap script
-    // mid-run (root cause of the "update failed" reports: the handoff died
-    // before swapping, and the app was relaunched from the old tree).
-    // systemd-run puts the script in its own transient unit that outlives us;
-    // verified to survive on this machine. Fall back to a detached spawn for
-    // non-systemd sessions.
-    let handedOff = false;
-    try {
-      const { execFileSync } = await import("child_process");
-      execFileSync("systemd-run", [
-        "--user", "--quiet", "--collect",
-        `--description=Folio updater handoff`,
-        // Default KillMode=control-group means the unit's cgroup is swept
-        // when the script exits — that killed the backgrounded relaunch
-        // before Electron got to start (v0.1.15 update: swap OK, app died).
-        // KillMode=process lets the script exit while its child app lives.
-        "--property=KillMode=process",
-        "/bin/sh", script,
-      ], { timeout: 10_000, stdio: "ignore" });
-      handedOff = true;
-    } catch {
-      try {
-        const child = spawn("/bin/sh", [script], { detached: true, stdio: "ignore" });
-        child.on("error", (err) => {
-          console.error("[folio] updater spawn failed:", err.message);
-        });
-        child.unref();
-        handedOff = true;
-      } catch (e) {
-        void e;
-      }
-    }
-    if (!handedOff) {
-      try { fs.appendFileSync(updateLog, new Date().toISOString() + " FAIL: could not start swap script\n"); } catch { /* ignore */ }
-      return { error: "Could not start the installer. Your current version is unchanged." };
-    }
+    const { spawn } = await import("child_process");
+    const child = spawn("/bin/sh", [script], { detached: true, stdio: "ignore" });
+    child.on("error", (err) => {
+      console.error("[folio] updater spawn failed:", err.message);
+    });
+    child.unref();
     // Quit so the swap script can replace the app directory.
     setTimeout(() => app.quit(), 300);
     return { ok: true, version: rel.version };
@@ -1404,7 +1150,7 @@ function fileArgFrom(argv: string[]): string | null {
 
 function openFromArg(p: string): void {
   if (isImportableMarkdown(p)) {
-    const results = importMarkdownFiles([p], getBooksDir());
+    const results = importMarkdownFiles([p], app.getPath("documents"));
     const r = results[0];
     if (r.ok) {
       openBookAt(r.bookPath as string);
@@ -1428,8 +1174,4 @@ if (app.requestSingleInstanceLock()) {
     }
     if (f) openFromArg(f);
   });
-} else {
-  // Lost the lock: another Folio is already running. Without this quit the
-  // second process falls through to whenReady() and opens a duplicate window.
-  app.quit();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/menu.ts b/src/main/menu.ts
index 52c3951..7964a22 100644
--- a/src/main/menu.ts
+++ b/src/main/menu.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import path from "path";
 import { app, Menu, BrowserWindow } from "electron";
-import { listVisibleRecents } from "./recents.js";
+import { listRecents } from "./recents.js";
 import type { Recent } from "./recents.js";
 
 type MenuItem = Electron.MenuItemConstructorOptions;
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function buildMenu(
   onRequestOpen: () => void
 ) {
   const isMac = process.platform === "darwin";
-  const recents = listVisibleRecents();
+  const recents = listRecents();
 
   const recentItems: MenuItem[] = recents.length
     ? recents.map((r: Recent) => {
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ export function buildMenu(
         accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+R",
         // Always usable: falls back to the most recent valid book when none
         // is currently open, so the item never looks clickable yet do nothing.
-        enabled: !!getState().bookPath || listVisibleRecents().some((r) => !r.missing),
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath || listRecents().some((r) => !r.missing),
         click: () => {
           const target =
             getState().bookPath ??
-            listVisibleRecents().find((r) => !r.missing)?.path ??
+            listRecents().find((r) => !r.missing)?.path ??
             null;
           if (!target) return;
           getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:reveal-requested", target);
@@ -80,33 +80,31 @@ export function buildMenu(
       },
       { type: "separator" },
       {
-        label: "Export",
+        label: "Export Markdown…",
+        accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+Shift+E",
         enabled: !!getState().bookPath,
-        submenu: [
-          {
-            label: "Markdown…",
-            accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+Shift+E",
-            click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-markdown-requested"),
-          },
-          {
-            label: "Bundle (ZIP)…",
-            click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-zip-requested"),
-          },
-          { type: "separator" },
-          {
-            label: "Full Book (PDF)…",
-            accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+Shift+P",
-            click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-pdf-requested"),
-          },
-          {
-            label: "Full Book (DOCX)…",
-            click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-docx-requested"),
-          },
-          {
-            label: "Full Book (ODT)…",
-            click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-odt-requested"),
-          },
-        ],
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-markdown-requested"),
+      },
+      {
+        label: "Export Bundle (ZIP)…",
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath,
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-zip-requested"),
+      },
+      {
+        label: "Export Full Book (PDF)…",
+        accelerator: "CmdOrCtrl+Shift+P",
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath,
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-pdf-requested"),
+      },
+      {
+        label: "Export Full Book (DOCX)…",
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath,
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-docx-requested"),
+      },
+      {
+        label: "Export Full Book (ODT)…",
+        enabled: !!getState().bookPath,
+        click: () => getWindow()?.webContents.send("folio:export-odt-requested"),
       },
       { type: "separator" },
       {
diff --git a/src/main/preload.ts b/src/main/preload.ts
index 1eba3e0..5b36446 100644
--- a/src/main/preload.ts
+++ b/src/main/preload.ts
@@ -4,23 +4,6 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("folio", {
   // book / project
   newBookNamed: (name: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:newBookNamed", name),
   deleteBook: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:deleteBook", p),
-  renameBook: (p: string, title: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:renameBook", p, title),
-  hideRecent: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:hideRecent", p),
-  unhideRecent: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:unhideRecent", p),
-  // Synchronously claim a right-click on a recents row so the main process
-  // pops the dedicated book menu instead of the generic edit menu.
-  claimRecentsContext: (
-    p: string,
-    title: string,
-    hidden?: boolean,
-    missing?: boolean,
-    x?: number,
-    y?: number
-  ): boolean =>
-    ipcRenderer.sendSync("folio:recents-contextmenu-sync", { path: p, title, hidden, missing }, x, y) === true,
-  onRecentsMenu: (
-    cb: (msg: { action: string; entry: { path: string; title: string; hidden?: boolean; missing?: boolean } }) => void
-  ) => ipcRenderer.on("folio:recents-menu", (_e, msg) => cb(msg)),
   restoreBook: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:restoreBook", p),
   openBook: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:openBook"),
   openBookPath: (p: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke("folio:openPath", p),
diff --git a/src/main/project.ts b/src/main/project.ts
index 4c310e9..bcfc2c3 100644
--- a/src/main/project.ts
+++ b/src/main/project.ts
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ export interface Recent {
   path: string;
   title: string;
   lastOpened: string;
-  // Hidden entries stay in the recents file (and the book on disk is
-  // untouched) but are omitted from the visible recents list and menu.
-  hidden?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface BookResult {
@@ -124,10 +121,8 @@ export function listRecents(filePath: string): Recent[] {
 }
 
 export function addRecent(filePath: string, recent: Recent): Recent[] {
-  // Opening a book always surfaces it: a previously hidden entry is
-  // un-hidden here, so re-opening is the natural way back.
   const recents = listRecents(filePath).filter((r) => r.path !== recent.path);
-  recents.unshift({ ...recent, hidden: false });
+  recents.unshift(recent);
   writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
   return recents;
 }
@@ -137,30 +132,3 @@ export function removeRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string): Recent[] {
   writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
   return recents;
 }
-
-export function renameRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string, title: string): Recent[] {
-  const recents = listRecents(filePath).map((r) =>
-    r.path === recentPath ? { ...r, title } : r
-  );
-  writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
-  return recents;
-}
-
-// Hide/unhide are list-only operations: the entry stays in the recents file
-// and the book directory on disk is never touched. Hiding a path that is not
-// in the list is a no-op (there is nothing to hide).
-export function hideRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string): Recent[] {
-  const recents = listRecents(filePath).map((r) =>
-    r.path === recentPath ? { ...r, hidden: true } : r
-  );
-  writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
-  return recents;
-}
-
-export function unhideRecent(filePath: string, recentPath: string): Recent[] {
-  const recents = listRecents(filePath).map((r) =>
-    r.path === recentPath ? { ...r, hidden: false } : r
-  );
-  writeJsonFile(filePath, recents);
-  return recents;
-}
diff --git a/src/main/recents.ts b/src/main/recents.ts
index 7f7a6f8..06b2496 100644
--- a/src/main/recents.ts
+++ b/src/main/recents.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ import { APP_ID, hasBook } from "./project.js";
 import {
   addRecent as _addRecent,
   removeRecent as _removeRecent,
-  renameRecent as _renameRecent,
-  hideRecent as _hideRecent,
-  unhideRecent as _unhideRecent,
 } from "./project.js";
 import { readJsonArray, writeJsonFile } from "./json-store.js";
 import type { Recent } from "./project.js";
@@ -62,8 +59,6 @@ export function listRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
   // Keep every saved entry so a book never "disappears" from the list just
   // because its folder moved or was renamed. Mark entries whose book can't be
   // found so the UI can show them as missing instead of hiding them.
-  // Hidden entries are returned too (flagged) — the UI decides visibility so
-  // it can offer a "Hidden (n)" disclosure to bring them back.
   // Dedupe by PATH: keying on title used to hide genuinely distinct books
   // that happened to share a display name ("Untitled"), making one of them
   // unreachable from the recents menu.
@@ -78,12 +73,6 @@ export function listRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
   return deduped;
 }
 
-// Entries shown in the Open Recent menu and the welcome Recents list:
-// everything except explicitly hidden ones.
-export function listVisibleRecents(): (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[] {
-  return listRecents().filter((r) => !r.hidden);
-}
-
 export function addRecent(recent: Recent): Recent[] {
   return _addRecent(recentsFilePath(), recent);
 }
@@ -91,15 +80,3 @@ export function addRecent(recent: Recent): Recent[] {
 export function removeRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
   return _removeRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath);
 }
-
-export function renameRecent(recentPath: string, title: string): Recent[] {
-  return _renameRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath, title);
-}
-
-export function hideRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
-  return _hideRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath);
-}
-
-export function unhideRecent(recentPath: string): Recent[] {
-  return _unhideRecent(recentsFilePath(), recentPath);
-}
diff --git a/src/main/update.ts b/src/main/update.ts
index 9493643..0ea6423 100644
--- a/src/main/update.ts
+++ b/src/main/update.ts
@@ -116,43 +116,6 @@ export function isTrustedDownloadUrl(url: string, base: string): boolean {
   }
 }
 
-// Archive-integrity checks for the updater, as pure functions so they are
-// unit-testable without network or an app instance.
-//
-// A gzip stream is only provably complete when the decompressor reaches its
-// end without error: a download truncated near the end still carries the
-// 1f 8b magic, so magic-byte checks alone let corrupt updates through (this
-// bit us twice: 0.1.2 and 0.1.3 both downloaded truncated and the detached
-// installer silently kept the old app). verifyArchiveGzip streams the file
-// through a real gunzip and requires the stream to finish cleanly.
-import { createReadStream } from "fs";
-import { createGunzip } from "zlib";
-
-export function verifyArchiveGzip(file: string): Promise<boolean> {
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const rs = createReadStream(file);
-    const gz = createGunzip();
-    let settled = false;
-    const done = (v: boolean) => {
-      if (!settled) {
-        settled = true;
-        resolve(v);
-      }
-    };
-    rs.on("error", () => done(false));
-    gz.on("error", () => done(false));
-    gz.on("end", () => done(true));
-    // Discard output; we only care whether the stream completes.
-    gz.resume();
-    rs.pipe(gz);
-  });
-}
-
-// True when a byte-count is known and the download fell short of it.
-export function looksTruncated(received: number, total: number): boolean {
-  return total > 0 && received < total;
-}
-
 // Single-quote a path for safe interpolation into /bin/sh scripts.
 export function shQuote(p: string): string {
   return `'${String(p).replace(/'/g, `'\\''`)}'`;
@@ -163,8 +126,6 @@ export interface InstallerSpec {
   tarball: string;
   installDir: string;
   relaunch: string;
-  /** Optional append-only log; the script narrates every step into it. */
-  log?: string;
 }
 
 // The handoff script. Deliberately forgiving (no set -e): on any failure it
@@ -172,10 +133,7 @@ export interface InstallerSpec {
 // user without an app. The old tree is kept as .old.<pid> and pruned only
 // after a successful swap.
 export function buildInstallerScript(spec: InstallerSpec): string {
-  const { pid, tarball, installDir, relaunch, log } = spec;
-  const logLine = log
-    ? `say() { echo "$(date '+%F %T') $*" >> ${shQuote(log)} 2>/dev/null; }`
-    : "say() { :; }";
+  const { pid, tarball, installDir, relaunch } = spec;
   return [
     "#!/bin/sh",
     "# Folio updater — waits for the app to exit, swaps in the new version,",
@@ -186,52 +144,30 @@ export function buildInstallerScript(spec: InstallerSpec): string {
     `RELAUNCH=${shQuote(relaunch)}`,
     `NEW="$INSTALL.update-new.$$"`,
     `OLD="$INSTALL.old.$$"`,
-    logLine,
-    'say "handoff start pid=$PID tarball=$TARBALL"',
     "# Wait (bounded to ~2 minutes) for the app process to exit.",
     "i=0",
     'while [ "$PID" -gt 0 ] 2>/dev/null && kill -0 "$PID" 2>/dev/null && [ "$i" -lt 400 ]; do sleep 0.3; i=$((i+1)); done',
-    'kill -0 "$PID" 2>/dev/null && say "WARN: app still alive after wait window" || say "app exited after ${i} polls"',
     'rm -rf "$NEW"',
-    'mkdir -p "$NEW" || { say "FAIL: mkdir $NEW"; "$RELAUNCH" >/dev/null 2>&1 & exit 1; }',
+    'mkdir -p "$NEW"',
     'if tar -xzf "$TARBALL" -C "$NEW"; then',
-    '  say "extracted ok"',
-    '  # electron-builder nests everything under a top-level dir; flatten it',
-    "  # by adopting the nested dir itself (mv of the dir, not a glob — globs",
-    "  # miss dotfiles and a partial mv leaves a broken tree).",
+    '  # electron-builder nests everything under a top-level dir; flatten it.',
     '  if [ ! -e "$NEW/folio" ]; then',
     '    ONLY=$(find "$NEW" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d | head -n 1)',
-    '    REST=$(find "$NEW" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 | wc -l)',
-    '    if [ -n "$ONLY" ] && [ "$REST" -eq 1 ]; then',
-    '      mv "$ONLY" "$NEW.new" && rm -rf "$NEW" && mv "$NEW.new" "$NEW" && say "flattened nested dir"',
-    "    fi",
+    '    [ -n "$ONLY" ] && mv "$ONLY"/* "$NEW"/ 2>/dev/null',
     "  fi",
-    "else",
-    '  say "FAIL: tar extract failed"',
     "fi",
     'if [ -x "$NEW/folio" ]; then',
-    '  [ -e "$INSTALL" ] && mv "$INSTALL" "$OLD" && say "moved old install aside"',
+    '  [ -e "$INSTALL" ] && mv "$INSTALL" "$OLD"',
     '  if mv "$NEW" "$INSTALL"; then',
-    '    say "SWAP OK — new version installed"',
     '    rm -rf "$OLD" "$INSTALL.update-new".* "$INSTALL.old".* 2>/dev/null',
     '    rm -f "$TARBALL"',
     "  else",
-    '    say "FAIL: mv NEW->INSTALL; restoring old"',
     '    [ -e "$OLD" ] && mv "$OLD" "$INSTALL"',
     "  fi",
     "else",
-    '  say "FAIL: no executable at $NEW/folio; keeping old install"',
     '  rm -rf "$NEW"',
     "fi",
-    'say "relaunching"',
-    // Detach fully: setsid moves the relaunch into its own session so it
-    // survives this script's exit and any cgroup sweep of the transient
-    // unit (systemd KillMode). Fallback chain for missing setsid.
-    'if command -v setsid >/dev/null 2>&1; then',
-    '  setsid "$RELAUNCH" >/dev/null 2>&1 < /dev/null &',
-    'else',
-    '  nohup "$RELAUNCH" >/dev/null 2>&1 < /dev/null &',
-    "fi",
+    '"$RELAUNCH" >/dev/null 2>&1 &',
     "",
   ].join("\n");
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/index.ts b/src/renderer/book/index.ts
index cc2bbfd..1cf79ed 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/index.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/index.ts
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ export function initBook(api: FolioAPI) {
   api.onOpenRecent((p) => void welcome.openPath(p));
   api.onOpenMarkdownRequested(() => void welcome.openMarkdown());
   api.onCheckUpdateRequested(() => void checkForUpdates());
-  hooks.checkForUpdates = () => void checkForUpdates();
+  $("welcomeUpdate")?.addEventListener("click", () => void checkForUpdates());
   api.onRevealRequested(async (p) => {
     const ok = await api.revealInFolder(p);
     showToast(
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/search.ts b/src/renderer/book/search.ts
index e6295c5..c19c9da 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/search.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/search.ts
@@ -95,40 +95,27 @@ export function createSearchFeature(ctx: BookCtx, editor: Editor): SearchFeature
     void (async () => {
       const list = await api.getChapterList();
       const chapters = Array.isArray(list) ? list : [];
-      const byChapter: { id: string; title: string; plain: string; positions: number[]; titleHits: number }[] = [];
+      const byChapter: { id: string; title: string; plain: string; positions: number[] }[] = [];
       let total = 0;
       for (const ch of chapters) {
         if (total >= 200) break;
-        // Chapter titles count as matches too: a title hit links to the
-        // chapter itself (no in-body scroll position).
-        const title = ch.title || ch.id;
-        const titleHits = findMatches(title, term, matchCase).length;
         const res = await api.getChapterContent(ch.id);
         const md = typeof res === "string" ? res : "";
         const plain = markdownToPlain(md);
         const positions = findMatches(plain, term, matchCase);
-        if (positions.length || titleHits) {
-          byChapter.push({ id: ch.id, title, plain, positions, titleHits });
-          total += positions.length + titleHits;
+        if (positions.length) {
+          byChapter.push({ id: ch.id, title: ch.title || ch.id, plain, positions });
+          total += positions.length;
         }
       }
       searchMeta.textContent = total
         ? `${total} match${total === 1 ? "" : "es"} in ${byChapter.length} chapter${byChapter.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}`
         : "No matches.";
-    for (const r of byChapter) {
-      const head = document.createElement("li");
-      head.className = "search-chapter-head";
-      const counts = [
-        r.titleHits ? `title: ${r.titleHits}` : "",
-        r.positions.length ? `text: ${r.positions.length}` : "",
-      ].filter(Boolean).join(", ");
-      head.textContent = `${r.title} (${counts})`;
-      if (r.titleHits) {
-        head.classList.add("search-result");
-        head.title = "Open chapter";
-        head.addEventListener("click", () => void goToResult(r.id, 0, term, matchCase));
-      }
-      searchResults.appendChild(head);
+      for (const r of byChapter) {
+        const head = document.createElement("li");
+        head.className = "search-chapter-head";
+        head.textContent = `${r.title} (${r.positions.length})`;
+        searchResults.appendChild(head);
         for (const pos of r.positions) {
           const li = document.createElement("li");
           li.className = "search-result";
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/settings.ts b/src/renderer/book/settings.ts
index 9cb3949..0344849 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/settings.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/settings.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ interface SnapshotSettings {
   keep: number;
   location: string;
   resolvedRoot: string;
-  /** Where new books are saved (Settings → Storage folder). */
-  booksDir?: string;
   snapshotCount: number;
   lastSnapshot: string | null;
 }
@@ -61,10 +59,8 @@ export function createSettingsFeature(ctx: BookCtx): SettingsFeature {
     intervalInput.value = String(s.intervalMin ?? 5);
     keepInput.value = String(s.keep ?? 20);
     locationInput.value = s.location || "";
-    locationInput.placeholder = "Default: Documents (books) · <book>/Folio-Backups (snapshots)";
-    resolvedEl.textContent = s.booksDir
-      ? `New books save to: ${shortPath(s.booksDir)}`
-      : `Saving to: ${shortPath(s.resolvedRoot || "—")}`;
+    locationInput.placeholder = "Default: <book>/Folio-Backups";
+    resolvedEl.textContent = `Saving to: ${shortPath(s.resolvedRoot || "—")}`;
     lastSnapEl.textContent = s.lastSnapshot
       ? `${s.snapshotCount} snapshot${s.snapshotCount === 1 ? "" : "s"} · latest ${s.lastSnapshot.split("/").pop()}`
       : "No snapshots yet.";
@@ -168,8 +164,8 @@ export function createSettingsFeature(ctx: BookCtx): SettingsFeature {
     if (e.key === "Escape" && !modal.classList.contains("hidden")) closeSettings();
   });
 
-  // File-menu entry point (the redundant sidebar button was removed Sep 22).
-  $("settingCheckUpdate")?.addEventListener("click", () => hooks.checkForUpdates());
+  // Sidebar + File-menu entry points.
+  $("settingsBtn")?.addEventListener("click", openSettings);
   api.onSettingsRequested(() => openSettings());
 
   // Refresh the resolved-path line whenever a book opens (the default root
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/types.ts b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
index 29eb99a..93c9abc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/types.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/types.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ export interface Recent {
   path: string;
   title: string;
   lastOpened: string;
-  hidden?: boolean;
-  missing?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface OpenedBook {
@@ -40,20 +38,6 @@ export type FolioAPI = {
   openBookPath: (p: string) => Promise<any>;
   revealInFolder: (p: string) => Promise<boolean>;
   getRecents: () => Promise<any[]>;
-  renameBook: (p: string, title: string) => Promise<any>;
-  hideRecent: (p: string) => Promise<any>;
-  unhideRecent: (p: string) => Promise<any>;
-  claimRecentsContext: (
-    p: string,
-    title: string,
-    hidden?: boolean,
-    missing?: boolean,
-    x?: number,
-    y?: number
-  ) => boolean;
-  onRecentsMenu: (
-    cb: (msg: { action: string; entry: { path: string; title: string; hidden?: boolean; missing?: boolean } }) => void
-  ) => void;
   closeBook: () => Promise<boolean>;
   getSpellcheck: () => Promise<boolean>;
   setSpellcheck: (on: boolean) => Promise<any>;
@@ -154,8 +138,6 @@ export interface BookHooks {
   isTypewriterEnabled(): boolean;
   // settings feature
   openSettings(): void;
-  // update flow (orchestrator)
-  checkForUpdates(): void;
   // session coordinators (orchestrator)
   refreshMeta(): Promise<void>;
   showPlaceholder(): void;
diff --git a/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts b/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
index a5baa0c..31eec94 100644
--- a/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/book/welcome.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import type { BookCtx } from "./types.js";
 import type { ChapterEntry, Recent } from "./types.js";
 import type { BookMeta } from "../../main/project.js";
-import { alertMessage, confirmMessage, promptInput } from "../dialog.js";
+import { alertMessage, promptInput } from "../dialog.js";
 import { $, showUndoToast, showView } from "./ui.js";
 
 export interface WelcomeFeature {
@@ -185,189 +185,60 @@ export function createWelcomeFeature(ctx: BookCtx): WelcomeFeature {
     try {
       const recents = await api.getRecents();
       recentList.innerHTML = "";
-      const visible = (recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]).filter(
-        (r) => !r.hidden
-      );
-      const hidden = (recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]).filter(
-        (r) => r.hidden
-      );
-      if (!visible.length && !hidden.length) {
+      if (!recents.length) {
         const li = document.createElement("li");
         li.className = "muted";
         li.textContent = "No recent books.";
         recentList.appendChild(li);
         return;
       }
-      for (const r of visible) {
-        recentList.appendChild(recentRow(r, false));
-      }
-      if (hidden.length) {
-        recentList.appendChild(hiddenDisclosure(hidden));
+      for (const r of recents as (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]) {
+        const li = document.createElement("li");
+        li.className = "recent-item";
+        const label = document.createElement("span");
+        label.className = "recent-title";
+        label.textContent = (r.title || r.path) + (r.missing ? " (missing)" : "");
+        label.title = r.path;
+        label.addEventListener("mousedown", (e) => {
+          e.preventDefault();
+          void openPath(r.path);
+        });
+        const del = document.createElement("button");
+        del.className = "recent-delete icon-button";
+        del.type = "button";
+        del.title = "Delete book";
+        del.setAttribute("aria-label", "Delete book");
+        del.textContent = "×";
+        del.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
+          e.stopPropagation();
+          const res = await api.deleteBook(r.path);
+          if (res && "error" in res) {
+            await alertMessage("Could not delete", (res as { error: string }).error);
+            return;
+          }
+          await renderRecents();
+          // Only promise an in-app Undo where restore actually works (Linux
+          // home trash). Elsewhere the book sits in the OS trash, which the
+          // user can restore manually — no false "Undo" button.
+          if (!(res as { canUndoRestore?: boolean }).canUndoRestore) return;
+          showUndoToast(`Deleted "${r.title || r.path}"`, async () => {
+            const rr = await api.restoreBook(r.path);
+            if (rr && "error" in rr) {
+              await alertMessage("Could not restore", (rr as { error: string }).error);
+              return;
+            }
+            await renderRecents();
+          });
+        });
+        li.appendChild(label);
+        li.appendChild(del);
+        recentList.appendChild(li);
       }
     } catch {
       // Recents are best-effort; never block the welcome screen.
     }
   }
 
-  function recentRow(r: Recent & { missing?: boolean }, isHidden: boolean): HTMLLIElement {
-    const li = document.createElement("li");
-    li.className = "recent-item" + (isHidden ? " recent-hidden-entry" : "");
-    li.tabIndex = 0;
-    const label = document.createElement("span");
-    label.className = "recent-title";
-    label.textContent = (r.title || r.path) + (r.missing ? " (missing)" : "");
-    label.title = r.path;
-    // Single click selects the row (reveals Rename/Hide/Delete actions);
-    // double-click or Enter opens the book. Replaces the old always-on
-    // "×" button, which deleted on a mis-click.
-    label.addEventListener("click", () => selectRecent(li));
-    // Right-click (two-finger tap) on a recents row opens a dedicated
-    // context menu (Open / Rename / Hide / Delete / Show in Folder). The
-    // renderer claims the event synchronously (sendSync) so the main
-    // process skips the generic spelling/edit menu for this target; if the
-    // claim ever fails, fall back to selecting the row inline.
-    li.addEventListener("contextmenu", (e) => {
-      e.preventDefault();
-      try {
-        const claimed = api.claimRecentsContext(
-          r.path,
-          r.title || r.path,
-          !!r.hidden,
-          !!r.missing,
-          e.clientX,
-          e.clientY
-        );
-        if (claimed) return;
-      } catch {
-        /* fall through to inline selection */
-      }
-      selectRecent(li);
-    });
-    li.addEventListener("dblclick", () => void openPath(r.path));
-    li.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
-      if (e.key === "Enter") void openPath(r.path);
-      else if (e.key === "Escape" && li.classList.contains("selected")) deselectRecent(li);
-    });
-    const actions = document.createElement("span");
-    actions.className = "recent-actions";
-    if (!r.missing) {
-      const ren = document.createElement("button");
-      ren.className = "recent-action icon-button";
-      ren.type = "button";
-      ren.title = "Rename book";
-      ren.setAttribute("aria-label", "Rename book");
-      ren.textContent = "✎";
-      ren.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-        e.stopPropagation();
-        const name = await promptInput("Rename book", r.title || "");
-        if (name === null) return;
-        const trimmed = name.trim();
-        if (!trimmed || trimmed === r.title) return;
-        const res = await api.renameBook(r.path, trimmed);
-        if (res && "error" in res) {
-          await alertMessage("Could not rename", (res as { error: string }).error);
-          return;
-        }
-        await renderRecents();
-      });
-      actions.appendChild(ren);
-    }
-    if (isHidden) {
-      const unhide = document.createElement("button");
-      unhide.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-hide";
-      unhide.type = "button";
-      unhide.title = "Show in recents (book on disk is untouched)";
-      unhide.setAttribute("aria-label", "Unhide book in recents");
-      unhide.textContent = "Unhide";
-      unhide.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-        e.stopPropagation();
-        await api.unhideRecent(r.path);
-        await renderRecents();
-      });
-      actions.appendChild(unhide);
-    } else {
-      // Hide is list-only — safe by design, so it needs no confirmation and
-      // sits BEFORE the destructive Delete so a mis-click lands on the safe one.
-      const hide = document.createElement("button");
-      hide.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-hide";
-      hide.type = "button";
-      hide.title = "Hide from recents (book on disk is untouched)";
-      hide.setAttribute("aria-label", "Hide from recents");
-      hide.textContent = "Hide";
-      hide.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-        e.stopPropagation();
-        await api.hideRecent(r.path);
-        await renderRecents();
-      });
-      actions.appendChild(hide);
-    }
-    const del = document.createElement("button");
-    del.className = "recent-action icon-button recent-delete";
-    del.type = "button";
-    del.title = "Delete book";
-    del.setAttribute("aria-label", "Delete book");
-    del.textContent = "Delete";
-    del.addEventListener("click", async (e) => {
-      e.stopPropagation();
-      const res = await api.deleteBook(r.path);
-      if (res && "error" in res) {
-        await alertMessage("Could not delete", (res as { error: string }).error);
-        return;
-      }
-      await renderRecents();
-      // Only promise an in-app Undo where restore actually works (Linux
-      // home trash). Elsewhere the book sits in the OS trash, which the
-      // user can restore manually — no false "Undo" button.
-      if (!(res as { canUndoRestore?: boolean }).canUndoRestore) return;
-      showUndoToast(`Deleted "${r.title || r.path}"`, async () => {
-        const rr = await api.restoreBook(r.path);
-        if (rr && "error" in rr) {
-          await alertMessage("Could not restore", (rr as { error: string }).error);
-          return;
-        }
-        await renderRecents();
-      });
-    });
-    actions.appendChild(del);
-    li.appendChild(label);
-    li.appendChild(actions);
-    return li;
-  }
-
-  // Collapsible "Hidden (n)" row: click to expand the hidden entries inline,
-  // each offering Unhide. Hidden books stay reachable without polluting the
-  // main list.
-  function hiddenDisclosure(hidden: (Recent & { missing?: boolean })[]): HTMLLIElement {
-    const wrap = document.createElement("li");
-    wrap.className = "recent-hidden-group";
-    const toggle = document.createElement("button");
-    toggle.type = "button";
-    toggle.className = "recent-hidden-toggle";
-    toggle.textContent = `Hidden (${hidden.length})`;
-    const sub = document.createElement("ul");
-    sub.className = "recent-list recent-hidden-items hidden";
-    for (const r of hidden) sub.appendChild(recentRow(r, true));
-    toggle.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      sub.classList.toggle("hidden");
-      toggle.classList.toggle("open");
-    });
-    wrap.appendChild(toggle);
-    wrap.appendChild(sub);
-    return wrap;
-  }
-
-  // At most one recents row is selected at a time; selection reveals the
-  // row's action buttons (see .recent-actions CSS).
-  function deselectRecent(li: HTMLElement) {
-    li.classList.remove("selected");
-  }
-  function selectRecent(li: HTMLElement) {
-    recentList
-      .querySelectorAll("li.recent-item.selected")
-      .forEach((el) => el !== li && el.classList.remove("selected"));
-    li.classList.add("selected");
-  }
-
   // ---- wiring (bind once at construction) ----
   $("welcomeNewBook").addEventListener("click", () => void startNewBook());
   $("welcomeOpenBook").addEventListener("click", () => void startOpenBook());
@@ -385,61 +256,6 @@ export function createWelcomeFeature(ctx: BookCtx): WelcomeFeature {
     if (state.currentBook) void api.revealInFolder(state.currentBook.path);
   });
 
-  // Right-click menu actions (popped by the main process; see
-  // folio:recents-contextmenu-sync). Runs the same operations as the row
-  // buttons so behavior is identical from either surface.
-  api.onRecentsMenu(async ({ action, entry }) => {
-    switch (action) {
-      case "open":
-        await openPath(entry.path);
-        return;
-      case "rename": {
-        const name = await promptInput("Rename book", entry.title || "");
-        if (name === null) return;
-        const trimmed = name.trim();
-        if (!trimmed || trimmed === entry.title) return;
-        const res = await api.renameBook(entry.path, trimmed);
-        if (res && "error" in res) {
-          await alertMessage("Could not rename", (res as { error: string }).error);
-          return;
-        }
-        await renderRecents();
-        return;
-      }
-      case "reveal":
-        await api.revealInFolder(entry.path);
-        return;
-      case "hide":
-        await api.hideRecent(entry.path);
-        await renderRecents();
-        return;
-      case "unhide":
-        await api.unhideRecent(entry.path);
-        await renderRecents();
-        return;
-      case "remove":
-        // Stale entry (book gone): no confirmation needed, nothing to lose.
-        await api.deleteBook(entry.path);
-        await renderRecents();
-        return;
-      case "delete": {
-        const yes = await confirmMessage(
-          `Delete "${entry.title}"?`,
-          "The whole book folder moves to the system trash. Hide from Recents removes it from the list without touching the disk.",
-          "Move to Trash"
-        );
-        if (!yes) return;
-        const res = await api.deleteBook(entry.path);
-        if (res && "error" in res) {
-          await alertMessage("Could not delete", (res as { error: string }).error);
-          return;
-        }
-        await renderRecents();
-        return;
-      }
-    }
-  });
-
   return {
     showWelcome,
     showPlaceholder,
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.css b/src/renderer/index.css
index 54d9612..9495beb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.css
+++ b/src/renderer/index.css
@@ -188,13 +188,6 @@ html, body {
   margin-bottom: 10px;
 }
 
-.update-control {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 6px;
-  margin-bottom: 10px;
-}
-
 .backup-label {
   font-size: 0.72rem;
   font-weight: 700;
@@ -288,24 +281,11 @@ html, body {
   word-break: break-all;
 }
 
-/* ---- sidebar nav row (Search / Full Book, under the Home bar) ---- */
-.sidebar-nav {
-  display: flex;
-  gap: 8px;
-  margin-bottom: var(--gap);
-}
-
-.sidebar-nav .nav-btn {
-  flex: 1;
-  min-width: 0;
-  width: auto;
-}
-
 /* ---- full book nav ---- */
 .full-book-nav {
-  display: flex;
-  flex: 1;
-  min-width: 0;
+  margin-top: var(--gap);
+  padding-top: var(--gap);
+  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-border);
 }
 
 .full-book-btn {
@@ -321,8 +301,7 @@ html, body {
   padding: 6px 12px;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: background 0.12s ease, color 0.12s ease, border-color 0.12s ease;
-  min-width: 0;
-  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 100px;
 }
 
 .full-book-btn:hover {
@@ -609,47 +588,6 @@ html, body {
   color: var(--color-on-accent);
 }
 
-.recent-list li.recent-item.selected {
-  background: var(--color-accent);
-  color: var(--color-on-accent);
-  outline: 1px solid var(--color-accent);
-}
-
-.recent-list li.recent-item:focus-visible {
-  outline: 2px solid var(--color-accent);
-  outline-offset: -2px;
-}
-
-/* Row actions appear only when the row is selected. */
-.recent-item .recent-actions {
-  flex: 0 0 auto;
-  display: none;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 4px;
-}
-
-.recent-item.selected .recent-actions {
-  display: flex;
-}
-
-.recent-item .recent-action {
-  height: 20px;
-  line-height: 1;
-  font-size: 0.72rem;
-  padding: 0 6px;
-  border: none;
-  background: transparent;
-  color: inherit;
-  cursor: pointer;
-  border-radius: var(--radius);
-  opacity: 0.85;
-}
-
-.recent-item .recent-action:hover {
-  opacity: 1;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
-}
-
 .recent-item .recent-title {
   flex: 1 1 auto;
   min-width: 0;
@@ -659,54 +597,25 @@ html, body {
   user-select: none;
 }
 
-.recent-item .recent-delete:hover {
-  opacity: 1;
-  background: rgba(220, 53, 69, 0.35);
-  color: #ff6b6b;
-}
-
-/* Hide is list-only, so it reads quieter than the destructive Delete. */
-.recent-item .recent-hide:hover {
-  opacity: 1;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.22);
-}
-
-/* "Hidden (n)" disclosure at the bottom of the recents list. */
-.recent-hidden-group {
-  list-style: none;
-  margin-top: 4px;
-}
-
-.recent-hidden-toggle {
+.recent-item .recent-delete {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
+  line-height: 1;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  padding: 0;
   border: none;
   background: transparent;
   color: inherit;
-  opacity: 0.6;
   cursor: pointer;
-  font-size: 0.72rem;
-  padding: 2px 6px;
   border-radius: var(--radius);
+  opacity: 0.6;
 }
 
-.recent-hidden-toggle:hover {
+.recent-item .recent-delete:hover {
   opacity: 1;
-  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
-}
-
-.recent-hidden-toggle::before {
-  content: "▸ ";
-}
-
-.recent-hidden-toggle.open::before {
-  content: "▾ ";
-}
-
-.recent-hidden-items {
-  margin-left: 6px;
-}
-
-.recent-hidden-items .recent-title {
-  opacity: 0.75;
+  background: rgba(220, 53, 69, 0.18);
+  color: #ff6b6b;
 }
 
 .muted {
diff --git a/src/renderer/index.html b/src/renderer/index.html
index 8bb16c8..f935365 100644
--- a/src/renderer/index.html
+++ b/src/renderer/index.html
@@ -24,14 +24,13 @@
           <span class="book-title" id="bookTitle"></span>
           <span class="book-path" id="bookPath" title=""></span>
         </div>
-        <div class="sidebar-nav">
-          <button class="button button-ghost nav-btn" id="searchBtn" title="Search chapter titles and text (Ctrl+F)">Search</button>
-          <div class="full-book-nav hidden" id="fullBookNav">
-            <button class="full-book-btn nav-btn" id="fullBookBtn" title="View the entire book as one continuous manuscript">Full Book</button>
-          </div>
-        </div>
         <ul class="chapter-list" id="chapterList"></ul>
+        <div class="full-book-nav hidden" id="fullBookNav">
+          <button class="full-book-btn" id="fullBookBtn" title="View the entire book as one continuous manuscript">Full Book</button>
+        </div>
         <div class="sidebar-footer">
+          <button class="button button-ghost" id="searchBtn" title="Search all chapters (Ctrl+F)">Search</button>
+          <button class="button button-ghost" id="settingsBtn" title="Settings (autosave, backups)">Settings</button>
           <div class="theme-control">
             <label class="theme-label" for="themeSelect">Theme</label>
             <select id="themeSelect" class="theme-select" title="Interface theme">
@@ -58,6 +57,8 @@
           <div class="welcome-actions">
             <button class="button" id="welcomeNewBook">New</button>
             <button class="button button-ghost" id="welcomeOpenBook">Open</button>
+            <button class="button button-ghost" id="welcomeOpenMd" title="Open a Markdown or text file as a new book">Open file</button>
+            <button class="button button-ghost" id="welcomeUpdate" title="Check for a new version of Folio">Update</button>
           </div>
           <div class="recents-block">
             <div class="recents-title">Recent</div>
@@ -343,17 +344,13 @@
           <label>Keep last <input type="number" id="settingKeep" class="modal-input setting-num" min="0" max="200" value="20" /></label>
         </div>
         <div class="backup-control">
-          <span class="backup-label">Storage folder</span>
-          <input type="text" id="settingLocation" class="backup-input" readonly placeholder="Default: Documents" title="Where new books and snapshots are saved (empty = Documents / &lt;book&gt;/Folio-Backups)" />
-          <button type="button" class="button button-ghost backup-browse" id="settingBrowse" title="Choose storage folder">…</button>
+          <span class="backup-label">Folder</span>
+          <input type="text" id="settingLocation" class="backup-input" readonly placeholder="Default: <book>/Folio-Backups" title="Snapshot folder (empty = default)" />
+          <button type="button" class="button button-ghost backup-browse" id="settingBrowse" title="Choose snapshot folder">…</button>
           <button type="button" class="button button-ghost" id="settingResetLoc" title="Back to the default folder">Reset</button>
         </div>
         <p class="setting-meta" id="settingResolved"></p>
         <p class="setting-meta" id="settingLastSnap"></p>
-        <div class="update-control">
-          <span class="backup-label">Updates</span>
-          <button type="button" class="button button-ghost" id="settingCheckUpdate" title="Check for a new version of Folio">Check now</button>
-        </div>
         <div class="modal-actions">
           <button class="button button-ghost" id="settingSnapNow" title="Take a snapshot right now">Snapshot now</button>
           <button class="button" id="settingsClose">Close</button>
diff --git a/tests/run-project-test.mjs b/tests/run-project-test.mjs
index 67fba72..1ff5a34 100644
--- a/tests/run-project-test.mjs
+++ b/tests/run-project-test.mjs
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ const {
   hasBook,
   listRecents,
   addRecent,
-  hideRecent,
-  unhideRecent,
   makeChapterId,
   chapterFileName,
 } = mod;
@@ -67,19 +65,6 @@ ok(r2.length === 2 && r2[0].path === "/other", "second recent added to top");
 const r3 = addRecent(rf, { path: dir, title: "My Novel", lastOpened: "2026-03-03T00:00:00Z" });
 ok(r3.length === 2 && r3[0].path === dir, "duplicate path deduped + moved to top");
 
-// Hide/unhide: list-only — entry stays in the file, disk untouched.
-const h1 = hideRecent(rf, "/other");
-ok(h1.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === true, "hide marks entry hidden");
-ok(h1.length === 2, "hide keeps the entry in the file");
-ok(fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, "folio.json")), "hide leaves book on disk intact");
-const h2 = addRecent(rf, { path: "/other", title: "Other", lastOpened: "2026-04-04T00:00:00Z" });
-ok(h2.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === false, "re-opening un-hides");
-const h3 = hideRecent(rf, "/other");
-const h4 = unhideRecent(rf, "/other");
-ok(h4.find((r) => r.path === "/other")?.hidden === false, "unhide clears the flag");
-ok(h3.length === 2 && h4.length === 2, "hide/unhide never drop entries");
-ok(hideRecent(rf, "/nowhere").length === 2, "hide of unknown path is a no-op");
-
 const id = makeChapterId("Chapter One");
 ok(id.startsWith("chapter-one-"), "chapter id slugified: " + id);
 ok(chapterFileName(id) === `${id}.md`, "filename is <id>.md");
diff --git a/tests/run-update-installer-test.mjs b/tests/run-update-installer-test.mjs
index 0f3b771..c53d984 100644
--- a/tests/run-update-installer-test.mjs
+++ b/tests/run-update-installer-test.mjs
@@ -118,32 +118,6 @@ function writeScript(box, spec) {
   fs.rmSync(box, { recursive: true, force: true });
 }
 
-// --- archive integrity: verifyArchiveGzip + looksTruncated ---
-{
-  const box = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "folio-upd-gz-"));
-  const good = path.join(box, "good.tar.gz");
-  const zlib = await import("zlib");
-  fs.writeFileSync(good, zlib.gzipSync(Buffer.from("hello folio updater ".repeat(1000))));
-  ok(await u.verifyArchiveGzip(good), "complete gzip verifies");
-
-  // Truncate the good archive mid-stream: magic bytes present, payload short.
-  const full = fs.readFileSync(good);
-  const trunc = path.join(box, "trunc.tar.gz");
-  fs.writeFileSync(trunc, full.subarray(0, full.length - 50));
-  ok(!(await u.verifyArchiveGzip(trunc)), "truncated gzip REJECTED (the 0.1.2/0.1.3 bug)");
-
-  const notgz = path.join(box, "notgz.tar.gz");
-  fs.writeFileSync(notgz, "<html>error page</html>");
-  ok(!(await u.verifyArchiveGzip(notgz)), "non-gzip content rejected");
-  ok(!(await u.verifyArchiveGzip(path.join(box, "missing.tar.gz"))), "missing file rejected");
-
-  ok(u.looksTruncated(50, 100), "short byte count flagged");
-  ok(!u.looksTruncated(100, 100), "exact byte count passes");
-  ok(!u.looksTruncated(120, 100), "over-long passes");
-  ok(!u.looksTruncated(7, 0), "unknown total not flagged");
-  fs.rmSync(box, { recursive: true, force: true });
-}
-
 cleanupBundle();
 if (fails) { console.error(`${fails} installer check(s) FAILED`); process.exit(1); }
 console.log("All installer checks passed.");