imsg/CHANGELOG.md

Changelog

0.8.1 - Unreleased

0.8.0 - 2026-05-08

Linux Read-Only Preview

• feat: add a Linux read-only core build with fixture-backed tests and GitHub CI coverage for copied Messages databases.
• build: add Linux release archive packaging for imsg-linux-x86_64.tar.gz.
• docs: document Linux as read-only support for existing copied Messages databases.

Message Decoding

• fix: strip printable typedstream length bytes from recovered attributedBody text for 32-126 byte messages (#107, thanks @SagarSDagdu).

0.7.3 - 2026-05-06

Private API Bridge

• fix: restore macOS 26 bridge sends, replies, tapbacks, typing/read RPC, and chat/group lifecycle RPC methods after the BlueBubbles-inspired bridge port regressed on Tahoe (#101, thanks @omarshahine).
• fix: stage bridge attachments with the target chat GUID and fall back to the modern IMDPersistence save API when the legacy persistent-path API returns nil (#102, #103, thanks @omarshahine).

Security

• fix: harden bridge IPC queue directories and attachment paths against symlink traversal while preserving trusted macOS system aliases like /tmp (#105, thanks @omarshahine).

0.7.2 - 2026-05-06

Release Packaging

• fix: publish a fresh signed and notarized macOS patch archive with matching Homebrew metadata.

0.7.1 - 2026-05-06

Release Packaging

• fix: ship a signed and notarized macOS release archive and refresh the Homebrew checksum for the patch release.

0.7.0 - 2026-05-06

Private API Bridge

• feat: port the BlueBubbles-inspired private-API bridge surface for rich sends, message mutation, chat management, account/nickname introspection, and live bridge events; add local DB search and v2 concurrent bridge IPC (#100, thanks @omarshahine).
• fix: route default bridge calls over v2 IPC when available and reject unsupported chat-create --service SMS requests instead of reporting a service that was not applied.
• fix: decode typedstream attributed bodies with 0x81/0x82 length prefixes so long fallback message text is preserved in history and watch output (#99, thanks @SagarSDagdu).

Docs And CI

• docs: publish the per-feature docs site at imsg.sh and add syntax-highlighted code examples.
• ci: update GitHub Actions for the Node 24 runtime and quote workflow architecture lookup.

0.6.0 - 2026-05-05

More Reliable Live Streams And History

• fix: keep imsg watch streams alive with a lightweight polling fallback when macOS misses filesystem events (#78).
• fix: dedupe URL preview balloon messages in watch without dropping similar messages from other chats or older database schemas (#64, thanks @lesaai).
• fix: decode UTF-16LE BOM attributed bodies so plain-text history output recovers messages whose text column is empty (#91, thanks @clawbunny).
• fix: speed up JSON history output by batching attachment and reaction metadata lookups (#81, thanks @kacy).
• fix: speed up chat listing by using chat_message_join.message_date when Messages provides it (#76, thanks @tmad4000).
• docs: clarify stale Full Disk Access grants, Terminal.app permissions, and watch fallback polling requirements (#28, #32, #33, #46, #83, thanks @wangran870414).

Better Chat, Group, And Account Diagnostics

• feat: add imsg group --chat-id <id> to inspect a chat's identifier, GUID, service, participants, account metadata, and group/direct status (#88, thanks @mryanb).
• feat: resolve Contacts names in chats, history, watch, and direct sends while preserving raw handles for automation (#75, #77, thanks @regaw-leinad and @jsindy).
• feat: expose read-only account routing hints (account_id, account_login, last_addressed_handle) for multi-number diagnostics (#18).
• fix: include group metadata in CLI JSON history/watch output, not just RPC payloads (#57, thanks @clawbunny).

Sending, RPC, And Automation Fixes

• fix: return best-effort sent message id and guid from RPC send responses when the row can be observed after Messages accepts the send (#85).
• fix: expose RPC watch debounce and default it to 500ms to reduce outbound echo races (#72, #80).
• fix: gate RPC watch reaction metadata on include_reactions, not attachments (#82).
• fix: confirm standard tapback reaction selection in Messages automation before reporting success (#53, thanks @PeterRosdahl).
• fix: reject unsupported custom emoji reaction sends instead of taking a no-op AppleScript path (#55).
• fix: detect Tahoe group-send ghost rows and fail instead of reporting false success (#90, thanks @loop).
• docs: document standard tapback sending and watch reaction events (#66, thanks @safaaleigh).

Attachments, Completions, And Install Polish

• feat: optionally report model-compatible converted receive-side attachment files for CAF audio and GIF images (#73, thanks @mfzeidan).
• feat: add shell completions and an LLM-oriented command reference generator (imsg completions bash|zsh|fish|llm) (#21, thanks @bdmorin).
• fix: publish universal macOS release binaries for Homebrew installs (#68, #79).
• docs: document the Homebrew install path in the README (#61, thanks @joshuayoes).
• docs: clarify that send --file supports regular file and audio attachments through Messages.app (#35, thanks @rock19).
• docs: add a local release helper for dispatching Homebrew tap updates (#97, thanks @dinakars777).

Advanced IMCore / Tahoe Notes

• feat: add advanced IMCore controls for status, launch, read, and typing diagnostics.
• fix: normalize IMCore typing chat lookup across iMessage, SMS, and any prefixes (#51, #54, #56, #58).
• fix: report macOS 26/Tahoe IMCore typing entitlement failures as advanced-feature setup errors instead of misleading chat lookup failures (#60).
• docs: document macOS 26 advanced IMCore injection, library-validation, and private-entitlement limits (#60).

Internal Safety

• refactor: centralize Messages schema detection, row decoding, query assembly, typed row IDs, and attachment/reaction query paths behind smaller MessageStore extensions.
• test: expand release packaging, CLI metadata, schema-compatibility, JSON newline, stdout capture, and live-read coverage.

0.5.0 - 2026-02-16

• feat: add typing indicator command + RPC methods with stricter validation (#41, thanks @kohoj)
• feat: --reactions flag for watch command to include tapback events in stream (#26)
• feat: imsg react command to send tapback reactions via UI automation (#24)
• feat: reaction events include is_reaction, reaction_type, reaction_emoji, is_reaction_add, reacted_to_guid fields
• feat: add include_reactions toggle to watch.subscribe RPC and extend RPC reaction metadata fields
• feat: include thread_originator_guid in message output (#39, thanks @ruthmade)
• feat: expose destination_caller_id in message output (#29, thanks @commander-alexander)
• fix: apply history filters before limit (#20, thanks @tommybananas)
• fix: flush watch output immediately when stdout is buffered (#43, thanks @ccaum)
• fix: prefer handle sends when chat identifier is a direct handle
• fix: detect groups from ;+; prefix in guid/identifier for RPC payloads (#42, thanks @shivshil)
• fix: harden react AppleScript execution and tighten group-handle detection paths
• refactor: consolidate schema detection, stdout writing, and message/RPC payload mapping paths
• test: split command test suites by domain and align group-handle expectations
• docs: update changelog entries as typing/reaction work landed
• chore: bump version marker to 0.5.0

0.4.0 - 2026-01-07

• feat: surface audio message transcriptions (thanks @antons)
• fix: stage message attachments in Messages attachments directory (thanks @antons)
• fix: prefer chat GUID for chat_id sends to avoid 1:1 AppleScript errors (thanks @mshuffett)
• fix: detect python3 in patch-deps script (thanks @visionik)
• build: add universal binary build helper
• ci: switch to make-based lint/test/build
• docs: update build/test/release instructions
• chore: replace pnpm scripts with make targets
• refactor: split message-store query paths for clearer message retrieval internals
• test: keep attachment tests isolated from user attachment directories
• fix: address attachment upload error handling regressions
• docs: refine changelog ordering/notes for patch-deps and 0.4.0 prep
• chore: version housekeeping for the 0.3.1 -> 0.4.0 release transition

0.3.0 - 2026-01-03

• feat: JSON-RPC server over stdin/stdout (imsg rpc) with chats, history, watch, and send
• feat: group chat metadata in JSON/RPC output (participants, chat identifiers, is_group)
• feat: tapback + emoji reaction support in JSON output (#8) — thanks @tylerwince
• enhancement: custom emoji reactions and tapback removal handling
• feat: include guid and reply_to_guid metadata in JSON output
• fix: hide reaction rows from history/watch output and improve reaction matching
• fix: fill missing sender handles from destination_caller_id for outgoing/group messages
• fix: harden reaction detection
• docs: add RPC + group chat notes
• test: expand RPC/command coverage, add reaction fixtures, drop unused stdout helper
• test: add coverage for sender fallback
• feat: add IMCore send mode and IMCore-based reaction send path
• fix: stabilize IMCore send and sender fallback behavior
• change: remove private API send mode in favor of IMCore path
• build: add/harden notarized release script checks
• chore: update copyright year to 2026
• test: split message-store fixtures for more isolated reaction/sender coverage
• docs: maintain unreleased/release changelog staging for 0.2.2/0.3.0
• chore: release/prepare metadata updates for 0.3.0 and 0.3.1

0.2.1 - 2025-12-30

• fix: avoid crash parsing long attributed bodies (>256 bytes) (thanks @tommybananas)
• docs: prepare/backfill changelog notes for 0.2.1
• chore: bump release version metadata to 0.2.1

0.2.0 - 2025-12-28

• feat: Swift 6 rewrite with reusable IMsgCore library target
• feat: Commander-based CLI with SwiftPM build/test workflow
• feat: event-driven watch using filesystem events (no polling)
• feat: SQLite.swift + PhoneNumberKit + NSAppleScript integration
• fix: ship PhoneNumberKit resource bundle for CLI installs
• fix: patch/avoid PhoneNumberKit bundle lookup crashes across install layouts
• fix: embed Info.plist + AppleEvents entitlement for automation prompts
• fix: fall back to osascript when AppleEvents permission is missing
• fix: retry osascript on transient unknown AppleScript errors
• fix: decode length-prefixed attributed bodies for sent messages
• fix: resolve CLI version detection for symlinked/bundle installs
• chore: SwiftLint + swift-format linting
• change: JSON attachment keys now snake_case
• deprecation note: --interval replaced by --debounce (no compatibility)
• docs: add release process documentation
• ci: publish release notes from changelog and harden extraction
• chore: reset release versioning during Swift rewrite stabilization
• chore: version.env + generated version source for --version

0.1.1 - 2025-12-27

• feat: imsg chats --json
• fix: drop sqlite immutable flag so new messages/replies show up (thanks @zleman1593)
• test: add/stabilize live update regression coverage
• docs: add unreleased entry and backfill/prepare changelog history
• chore: update go dependencies

0.1.0 - 2025-12-20

• feat: imsg chats list recent conversations
• feat: imsg history with filters (--participants, --start, --end) + --json
• feat: imsg watch polling stream (--interval, --since-rowid) + filters + --json
• feat: imsg send text and/or one attachment (--service imessage|sms|auto, --region)
• feat: attachment metadata output (--attachments) incl. resolved path + missing flag
• fix: clearer Full Disk Access error for ~/Library/Messages/chat.db
• fix: coerce attachment aliasing in message parsing
• build: add GoReleaser workflow and tag backfill support
• ci: harden Go/lint environment setup and align toolchain/linter installation
• docs: add repository guidelines/package docs and initial README polish
• chore: bootstrap initial project/release scaffolding and dependency baseline