Release Notes - v1.4.0

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Overview

Version 1.4.0 is a feature release focused on improving file upload capabilities, enabling offline deployments, and enhancing the user onboarding experience. This release includes a major Next.js upgrade (15 → 16) that resolves large file upload issues, plus several important bug fixes for documentation, workflow automation, and file cleanup.

✨ Features

Next.js 16 Upgrade (#423)

• Upgraded Next.js from 15.4.10 to 16.1.1
  • Enables proxyClientMaxBodySize configuration for large file uploads
  • Upgraded React from 19.1.0 to 19.2.3
  • Renamed middleware.ts → proxy.ts (required by Next.js 16)
  • Users can now upload files larger than 10MB (up to 100MB)
  • Resolves "Unrecognized key" warnings from Next.js 15

Offline Deployment Support (#414)

• Improved Dockerfile for offline/airgapped deployments
  • Prevents uv from attempting to sync libraries at runtime
  • Enables deployment in isolated networks without internet access
  • Contributed by @thesohamdatta

Better Onboarding Experience (#408)

• Added CTA button to empty notebook list
  • Prominent "Create Notebook" button when notebook list is empty
  • Improves new user onboarding flow
  • Context-aware: only appears on active notebook list, not during searches
  • Contributed by @thesohamdatta

🐛 Bug Fixes

File Management

• Fixed orphaned uploaded files (#421)
  • Uploaded files are now properly deleted when sources are removed
  • Prevents accumulation of orphaned files consuming disk space
  • Added comprehensive test coverage for file cleanup scenarios
  • Fixes #420

Documentation

• Fixed broken documentation links (#419)

  • Updated all references from non-existent docs/features/ai-models.md
  • Corrected path to docs/5-CONFIGURATION/ai-providers.md
  • Removed outdated setup_guide/ directory
  • Fixes #412

• Removed ZIP support indication (#418)

  • Updated file upload UI to remove "Archives (ZIP)" from supported formats
  • Aligns UI with actual backend capabilities
  • Fixes #415

CI/CD & Workflow Improvements

• Prevented duplicate Claude Code workflow runs (#417)

  • Fixed duplicate workflow runs from both pull_request and pull_request_target triggers
  • Fork PRs now only use pull_request_target (has OIDC tokens)
  • Same-repo PRs now only use pull_request (faster, uses PR workflow version)
  • Eliminates wasted CI resources and confusing duplicate checks

• Claude Code review workflow now supports forks (#416)

  • Changed trigger from pull_request to pull_request_target
  • External contributors can now get AI-powered code reviews
  • Resolves OIDC token authentication errors for fork PRs
  • Fixes #414 workflow failures

🔧 Technical Changes

Frontend

• Next.js: 15.4.10 → 16.1.1
• React: 19.1.0 → 19.2.3
• react-dom: 19.1.0 → 19.2.3
• middleware.ts renamed to proxy.ts (Next.js 16 requirement)
• Added proxyClientMaxBodySize: '100mb' configuration

Backend

• Improved Dockerfile with proper uv dependency installation
• Added file cleanup logic in Source.delete() method

Documentation

• Updated reverse proxy documentation with version requirements
• Fixed multiple broken internal links
• Removed outdated setup guides

🙏 Contributors

Thank you to our contributors for this release:

• @lfnovo
• @thesohamdatta

Upgrade Notes

This release includes a major Next.js upgrade (15 → 16). While we've tested thoroughly, please review the following:

Breaking Changes

None - this release is backward compatible with v1.3.1.

Recommended Actions After Upgrade

1. Large file uploads now work: Files up to 100MB can be uploaded (previously limited to 10MB)
2. If deploying offline: Review the updated Dockerfile to ensure your airgapped deployment works correctly
3. If using reverse proxy: Verify your reverse proxy configuration allows 100MB request bodies (see docs/5-CONFIGURATION/reverse-proxy.md)

Known Issues

• Standalone server mode in Next.js 16 is being used for Docker deployments
• Current branch fix/nextjs-standalone-server may have additional fixes pending

Full Changelog

All merged PRs since v1.3.1:

• #423: feat: upgrade Next.js 15 → 16 to fix large file uploads
• #421: fix: delete uploaded files when sources are removed
• #419: fix: update broken documentation links to ai-providers.md
• #418: fix: remove zip support indication
• #417: fix: prevent duplicate Claude Code workflow runs
• #416: fix: allow claude code review workflow to run on PRs from forks
• #414: feat: improve dockerfile to support offline deployments
• #408: feat: add CTA button to empty state list

For more information, visit:

• Documentation: https://open-notebook.ai
• Discord: https://discord.gg/37XJPXfz2w
• GitHub: https://github.com/lfnovo/open-notebook