Document standalone runtime behavior

README.md

@@ -21,12 +21,16 @@ Public downloads should be attached to GitHub Releases after the checklist is co
 
 ## Build
 
-Requirements:
+End-user requirements for the recommended standalone release:
 
 - Windows 10/11
 - 64-bit Windows (`win-x64`). 32-bit Windows is not supported by the current release package.
-- .NET 8 SDK
 - Administrator privileges when running the app, because route and packet interception features need elevated access
+- No separate .NET Runtime installation is required for the self-contained standalone EXE.
+
+Developer requirements for building from source:
+
+- .NET 8 SDK
 
 ```powershell
 dotnet build AppTunnel.sln -c Release

docs/BUILD.md

@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@
 
 TunnelX currently targets 64-bit Windows only. The project file sets `PlatformTarget` to `x64`, and the bundled native components under `AppTunnel/NativeLibs/x64` are required for the current build.
 
+Building from source requires the .NET 8 SDK. Running a framework-dependent developer build requires the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime or SDK on the machine.
+
 ```powershell
 dotnet build AppTunnel.sln -c Release
 ```
 
 ## Standalone Compressed EXE
 
+This is the recommended public release format. It is self-contained, so users do not need to install .NET 8 separately. Native components are bundled and extracted by the app at runtime when needed.
+
 ```powershell
 dotnet publish AppTunnel\AppTunnel.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained true -p:PublishSingleFile=true -p:EnableCompressionInSingleFile=true -p:IncludeNativeLibrariesForSelfExtract=true -p:DebugType=None -p:DebugSymbols=false -o publish\TunnelX-standalone-compressed-exe
 ```
@@ -30,3 +34,7 @@ TunnelX-v1.2.21-standalone-compressed.exe
 - Confirm third-party license notices are current.
 - Confirm the app version in `AppTunnel/AppTunnel.csproj`.
 - Attach release artifacts only to GitHub Releases; do not commit generated `publish/` or `Releases/` output.
+
+## Missing Runtime Behavior
+
+The app cannot show a custom .NET missing-runtime message if it is built as framework-dependent and the target machine does not have the required .NET Desktop Runtime, because the .NET host fails before TunnelX code starts. For public releases, publish the self-contained standalone EXE instead of relying on runtime installation. If an installer is added in the future, the installer/bootstrapper can check and install prerequisites before launching the app.

docs/PUBLISHING_CHECKLIST.md

@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ Use this checklist before making the repository public or attaching a release bu
 - [ ] Run `dotnet build AppTunnel.sln -c Release`.
 - [ ] Run standalone publish command from `docs/BUILD.md`.
 - [ ] Confirm final file name includes version, for example `TunnelX-v1.2.21-standalone-compressed.exe`.
+- [ ] Confirm public downloads are self-contained standalone builds, not framework-dependent developer builds.
+- [ ] Confirm release notes say the standalone EXE does not require a separate .NET Runtime installation.
 - [ ] Do not publish a 32-bit build unless x86 native dependencies and the full networking test matrix have been verified.
 
 ## Network Test Matrix