I managed to get PyInstaller working well for Windows CPU-only builds, which feels like a solid step forward for packaging. On the Mac side, though, I’m running into compatibility issues when importing PyTorch and pyannote at runtime on Intel hardware. This is a bit frustrating since it complicates testing and deployment there. I’m planning to do more thorough Mac testing soon, especially on Metal-equipped machines, but that’s still in preparation. I’m reviewing dependencies, visual elements, AI settings, VRAM usage, and setting up a virtual environment to make sure Torch imports correctly. The recording function on Macs is also tricky because of permission issues on both Intel and Apple Silicon machines. I want to test recording on my wife’s Mac soon, but the details are still fuzzy.

I decided not to bundle FFmpeg or ffprobe with the app due to licensing problems—there aren’t any suitable non-GPL versions—so users will have to handle those dependencies themselves. I made Faster Whisper the default transcription engine in most cases since it seems to offer the best balance right now. To improve stability, I added checkpoints before exposing certain app features, which should help avoid crashes or unexpected behavior.

The app size is still pretty large, mainly because of Torch, and I don’t see an easy way to shrink that without losing functionality. The app has gone through three rewrites so far: starting with a backend config and terminal interface, then a Tkinter GUI, and now the current PySide 6 rewrite that integrates diarization, Whisper, and Torch. It’s been a bit of a slog, but I think the current architecture is more solid.

On the documentation front, I reorganized the website structure into smaller folders and subdirectories to make it easier to navigate. Most of the major panels are documented, but I still need to finalize captions for the menus. I collected annotated screenshots for a how-to guide and plan to clean those up using GPT to improve clarity. I also started working on animations and summarization demos to better illustrate what the app does, but I’m still figuring out the best approach there.

Looking ahead, I want to get Mac testing wrapped up within the next two weeks and then move into beta testing. My brother will be the first beta tester to provide objective feedback before opening it up more broadly. I’m still debating which features should go into the free version versus the pro version, especially around diarization—it’s not clear yet what the best split is. I’m also thinking about adding a statistics page showing development metrics, but I haven’t nailed down what exactly to include there. Once beta testing is done, I plan to recognize testers on the app’s about page or within the app itself.

Overall, I’m juggling a lot of moving pieces with Mac compatibility, packaging, documentation, and feature decisions. Some parts feel stable, but others—especially Mac recording and feature tiering—still need more work and clarity.

Two-Line Takeaway

Key step forward

The most important forward progress step is successfully getting PyInstaller working well for Windows CPU-only builds, improving packaging stability.

Significant barrier or risk

The most important barrier or risk is the compatibility issues and permission problems on Mac, especially with importing PyTorch and pyannote on Intel hardware and handling recording functions.

Keynotes

Decisions & Observations

• Decided to use PyInstaller for Windows CPU-only builds to improve packaging stability.
• Decided not to bundle FFmpeg/ffprobe due to licensing constraints; users must manage these dependencies themselves.
• Added checkpoints before exposing app features to improve stability and prevent crashes.
• Considering adding a development metrics statistics page but has not finalized content.

Issues & Next Steps

• Needs to resolve Mac compatibility issues with PyTorch and pyannote imports on Intel hardware.
• Will conduct more thorough Mac testing soon, focusing on Metal-equipped machines and recording functionality.
• Needs to finalize menu captions and clean up annotated screenshots for documentation using GPT.
• Will complete Mac testing within two weeks, then begin beta testing starting with a family member for initial feedback.
• Plans to acknowledge beta testers within the app after testing concludes.

Uncategorized Notes

• Made Faster Whisper the default transcription engine for better performance balance.
• Still debating feature allocation between free and pro versions, particularly regarding diarization.

Generated with Nucleate by Watchlight Studio — distilled from full transcription.