AA-EION · AA-EION · May 15, 2026 · May 15, 2026 · May 15, 2026 · May 15, 2026
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -433,6 +433,67 @@ The `qrc://` handler did `arg.split("login_successful.html?").collect::<Vec<&str
 
 ---
 
+## Open issues being investigated
+
+### v0.2.1 — nothing appears on TF2 launch from Steam (UI/TUI/CLI all invisible)
+
+**Reported 2026-05-14.** User on v0.2.1 (latest, with `AllocConsole` fix in `maxima-cli` and full UI/TUI in installer). When launching TF2 from Steam, no Maxima window appears at all — not the CLI console, not the UI, not the TUI. In earlier versions the CLI window at least popped up. Diagnostics from the user are still pending.
+
+**Code audit conducted 2026-05-14. Findings, in priority order (each independently capable of producing the reported symptom):**
+
+#### Finding 1 — NSIS `SetRegView` chaos (most likely root cause)
+
+[installer/maxima-setup.nsi:173](installer/maxima-setup.nsi:173) sets `SetRegView 64` for the `HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Origin` writes and **never resets it** before the HKCR protocol writes at lines ~186-201 or the `BackupProtocol` calls at lines ~176-178. Consequences:
+
+- 32-bit Wine consumers (TF2, Origin, anything emitting `link2ea://` from a 32-bit process) resolve HKCR through the **32-bit view** (`HKLM\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\...`). They never see the entries v0.2.1 wrote under the 64-bit view.
+- `BackupProtocol` (lines 58-79) and `RestoreProtocol` (lines 83-107) inherit whatever view leaked in from the caller — i.e. they back up the 64-bit view and miss any 32-bit-view registrations entirely. On a v0.2.0→v0.2.1 upgrade this means the v0.2.0 entries (written under whatever view the old `.nsi` used — most likely 32-bit by default for a 32-bit NSIS installer) are never read, never overwritten, never even noticed.
+- Possible end state after upgrade: v0.2.1's "Maxima" entries are in 64-bit view; TF2 still resolves via 32-bit view and finds v0.2.0's stale entries (or nothing at all if the old uninstaller fired). Either way the dispatch is unpredictable and on at least some setups Wine ends up with no working handler.
+
+**Fix:** In [installer/maxima-setup.nsi](installer/maxima-setup.nsi):
+- Add `SetRegView 32` (or `SetRegView default`) immediately before line 186 (HKCR writes) and before line 176-178 (`BackupProtocol` calls).
+- Inside both `BackupProtocol` and `RestoreProtocol` macros, set the view explicitly at entry — ideally back up *both* views and document the choice.
+- In `BackupProtocol`, also guard against backing up Maxima's own values: read the existing `\shell\open\command` first, and if it points at `maxima-bootstrap.exe`, set `_existed=0` (treat as "no prior handler") so the uninstaller will simply delete the keys instead of restoring stale Maxima paths.
+
+#### Finding 2 — `AllocConsole()` does not reattach stdio
+
+[maxima-cli/src/main.rs:140-150](maxima-cli/src/main.rs:140) calls `AllocConsole()` but never reattaches `STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE` / `STD_ERROR_HANDLE` / Rust's stdio FDs. When bootstrap (GUI subsystem) spawns maxima-cli, the child inherits invalid stdio handles. `AllocConsole` creates a window but does NOT redirect existing handles — meaning the console pops up but `println!` and the `log.rs` writer at line 89 write to dead pipes. User sees a blank/silent console, or (depending on timing) no console at all.
+
+**Fix:** After `AllocConsole()` succeeds, do `SetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE, CreateFileW(L"CONOUT$", GENERIC_READ|GENERIC_WRITE, ...))` for stdout and stderr, and call `freopen("CONOUT$", "w", ...)` equivalents for the C runtime (Rust's stdout/stderr are buffered on top of these FDs). Without this, AllocConsole is decorative only.
+
+#### Finding 3 — `#[tokio::main]` runs before `ensure_console_attached`
+
+[maxima-cli/src/main.rs:155](maxima-cli/src/main.rs:155): `#[tokio::main]` desugars to runtime construction *before* user code. Any panic in IOCP/thread-pool init under Wine kills the process before AllocConsole. Same risk applies to `init_logger_named`, which runs after `Args::parse()` at line 246.
+
+**Fix:** Convert `main` to a plain `fn main()` that (1) calls `ensure_console_attached()`, (2) installs a panic hook that writes to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Maxima\Logs\maxima-cli.panic.log`, (3) calls `init_logger_named()`, (4) parses args, (5) builds the tokio runtime manually with `tokio::runtime::Runtime::new()` and `block_on(startup())`. This guarantees console + file logger exist before *anything* fallible runs.
+
+#### Finding 4 — `Args::parse()` before logger init
+
+If clap exits because of a malformed argv (or because the `MAXIMA_LAUNCH_ARGS` env var is mis-encoded), the error message goes to stderr — which is the unattached pipe. User sees nothing, no log line on disk. Init the logger first, then parse args.
+
+#### Finding 5 — Bootstrap swallows non-zero exit codes
+
+[maxima-bootstrap/src/main.rs:271](maxima-bootstrap/src/main.rs:271): `child.spawn()?.wait().await?` only propagates an error on `wait()` itself; a non-zero exit from maxima-cli returns `Ok(ExitStatus)` and bootstrap logs "Result: Success". If maxima-cli crashes or auth fails, bootstrap pretends everything worked. Not the root cause but blinds diagnostics — every other finding becomes invisible because we can't tell whether maxima-cli even ran.
+
+**Fix:** After `wait().await?`, check `status.success()` and log the exit code to `maxima_execution.log` if non-zero.
+
+#### Ruled out
+
+- `is_valid_ea_offer_id("Origin.OFR.50.0002694")` returns `true` — leading zeros are fine.
+- `url::Url::parse("link2ea://launchgame/Origin.OFR.50.0002694?...").path_segments()` correctly yields `["Origin.OFR.50.0002694"]` (the action is the host, not a path segment). `segments[0]` is the offer id, as intended.
+- `LOG_FILE` mutex deadlock — not a realistic failure mode; lock scope is short and not reentrant.
+- `winapi` features `consoleapi` / `wincon` are correctly enabled in [maxima-cli/Cargo.toml:22](maxima-cli/Cargo.toml:22).
+
+#### Recommended order of work when picking this up
+
+1. Ship Finding 5 (bootstrap exit-code logging) first — it's a one-liner and makes every subsequent change debuggable.
+2. Then Finding 1 (NSIS `SetRegView` reset + Maxima-ownership guard in `BackupProtocol`). High likelihood of being the user-facing root cause.
+3. Then Findings 2+3+4 together (rewrite the prologue of `maxima-cli/main.rs`: plain main, panic hook, logger before args, manual tokio runtime, stdio reattach after AllocConsole).
+4. Have the user share the contents of `maxima_execution.log` and `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Maxima\Logs\maxima-cli.log` after the fixes ship — those should now be populated and tell us whether the symptom is gone or whether a new layer is exposed.
+
+Do not delete this section until the user confirms TF2 launches with Maxima visible again.
+
+---
+
 ## Known remaining gaps
 
 - **`maxima-tui` / `maxima-ui`**: The UI crates exist and compile but are not wired into the Draconis flow at all. They are upstream components that may be useful in a future Draconis "standalone mode" but need significant work to be production-ready.

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -102,6 +102,30 @@ bash installer/build.sh
 
 ---
 
+## Northstar online play
+
+Northstar works with Maxima, but requires two things:
+
+**1. Launch via Steam, not via `NorthstarLauncher.exe`.**  
+`NorthstarLauncher.exe` hard-codes a call to `Origin.exe` which doesn't exist in Wine. Pass the `-northstar` flag to Steam instead so it invokes `Titanfall2.exe` directly with the Northstar hooks loaded:
+
+```
+steam.exe -applaunch 1237970 -northstar
+```
+
+Draconis already does this automatically.
+
+**2. Add `-noOriginStartup` to your Northstar launch arguments.**  
+Without it, Northstar tries to start Origin at launch, which hangs forever in Wine since there is no Origin install. The correct set of arguments is:
+
+```
+-noOriginStartup -multiple -northstar
+```
+
+Thanks to [catornot](https://github.com/catornot) for identifying this requirement and for contributing the external LSX connection patch that makes Northstar online play work in this fork. See [catornot/flightcore-ng](https://github.com/catornot/flightcore-ng/blob/221e4444b6f1813c2401deed9f21d95494bad1ed/flightcore-ng-core/src/dev/wine/wine_run.rs#L23-L31) for reference.
+
+---
+
 ## Known limitations
 
 - **Steam-only TF2 owners**: If your TF2 EA license isn't linked to your EA account (it's Steam-only), Maxima will warn and attempt a passthrough. For the cleanest experience, link your accounts at [ea.com](https://www.ea.com). Linking takes about 30 seconds and resolves the warning permanently.
@@ -137,6 +161,9 @@ This fork tracks [ArmchairDevelopers/Maxima](https://github.com/ArmchairDevelope
 
 **This fork used by:** [AA-EION/Draconis](https://github.com/AA-EION/Draconis)
 
+**Contributors to this fork:**
+- [catornot](https://github.com/catornot) — external LSX connection patch enabling Northstar online play, and identifying the `-noOriginStartup` launch argument required for Wine
+
 ---
 
 ## License

diff --git a/installer/maxima-setup.nsi b/installer/maxima-setup.nsi
@@ -54,8 +54,31 @@
 ; Captures the three relevant fields: the default value, "URL Protocol", and
 ; shell\open\command's default value. Anything else (e.g. DefaultIcon) is not
 ; round-tripped, but EA Launcher's protocol entries don't rely on extras.
+;
+; Upgrade guard: if Maxima is already installed (detected via the
+; HKLM\Software\Maxima\InstallPath reg key the prior install wrote), this
+; is an upgrade. We skip the backup phase entirely so that:
+;   - we don't overwrite a real EA-handler backup with Maxima's own values,
+;   - we don't write a brand-new backup that points at a Maxima binary
+;     (which the uninstaller would then "restore" to a deleted path).
+; The first install captures the pre-Maxima state; subsequent upgrades
+; leave that backup untouched.
+;
+; View safety: SetRegView default before HKCR reads so this macro is
+; independent of caller state (the install section sets view 64 for HKLM
+; ops, which would otherwise leak into HKCR).
+;
 ; Usage: !insertmacro BackupProtocol "qrc"
 !macro BackupProtocol PROTOCOL
+    SetRegView default
+
+    ClearErrors
+    ReadRegStr $9 HKLM "Software\Maxima" "InstallPath"
+    ${IfNot} ${Errors}
+        DetailPrint "BackupProtocol(${PROTOCOL}): upgrade detected, preserving original backup"
+        Goto skip_backup_${PROTOCOL}
+    ${EndIf}
+
     ClearErrors
     ReadRegStr $0 HKCR "${PROTOCOL}" ""
     ${If} ${Errors}
@@ -76,11 +99,30 @@
             WriteRegStr HKLM "${BACKUP_ROOT}\Protocol_${PROTOCOL}" "command" "$0"
         ${EndIf}
     ${EndIf}
+    skip_backup_${PROTOCOL}:
+!macroend
+
+; Upgrade-safe wrapper around BackupValue with the same guard as
+; BackupProtocol. Use for HKLM values that must be round-tripped on
+; uninstall (Origin\ClientPath, EA Desktop\InstallSuccessful).
+; Usage: !insertmacro BackupValueUpgradeSafe HKLM "Key" "Name" "BackupId"
+!macro BackupValueUpgradeSafe ROOT KEY VALUENAME BACKUPID
+    ClearErrors
+    ReadRegStr $9 HKLM "Software\Maxima" "InstallPath"
+    ${If} ${Errors}
+        !insertmacro BackupValue ${ROOT} "${KEY}" "${VALUENAME}" "${BACKUPID}"
+    ${Else}
+        DetailPrint "BackupValueUpgradeSafe(${BACKUPID}): upgrade detected, preserving original backup"
+    ${EndIf}
 !macroend
 
 ; Restore (or delete) a URL-protocol handler subtree at uninstall time.
+; Forces view default so HKCR reads/writes match the install-time store
+; (BackupProtocol also runs under view default - they must agree or the
+; uninstaller "restores" nothing and leaves dangling Maxima keys behind).
 ; Usage: !insertmacro RestoreProtocol "qrc"
 !macro RestoreProtocol PROTOCOL
+    SetRegView default
     ClearErrors
     ReadRegStr $0 HKLM "${BACKUP_ROOT}\Protocol_${PROTOCOL}" "_existed"
     ${If} $0 == "1"
@@ -114,7 +156,7 @@
 !define PRODUCT_UNINST_KEY "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${PRODUCT_NAME}"
 !define PRODUCT_UNINST_ROOT_KEY "HKLM"
 
-; Binary directory — override at compile time with /DBIN_DIR="..."
+; Binary directory - override at compile time with /DBIN_DIR="..."
 ; Default is the macOS cross-compilation path (installer/build.sh).
 ; CI Windows native builds pass /DBIN_DIR="..\target\release"
 !ifndef BIN_DIR
@@ -170,20 +212,40 @@ Section "Maxima Core" SEC_CORE
 
     ; Back up any pre-existing values BEFORE we overwrite them, so the
     ; uninstaller can restore the user's previous EA Launcher / Origin setup.
+    ;
+    ; HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\* and HKLM\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\* are
+    ; backed up under the 64-bit view so the values match where EA Desktop
+    ; / Origin writes them on a real 64-bit Windows install.
     SetRegView 64
-    !insertmacro BackupValue    HKLM "SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Origin"             "ClientPath"         "Origin_ClientPath"
-    !insertmacro BackupValue    HKLM "SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop"     "InstallSuccessful"  "EADesktop_InstallSuccessful"
+    !insertmacro BackupValueUpgradeSafe HKLM "SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Origin"             "ClientPath"         "Origin_ClientPath"
+    !insertmacro BackupValueUpgradeSafe HKLM "SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop"     "InstallSuccessful"  "EADesktop_InstallSuccessful"
+
+    ; HKCR protocol handlers are SHARED keys on Windows (not WOW64-redirected
+    ; for URL protocol associations), but NSIS still resolves HKCR through
+    ; whichever view is currently active. Force back to default so the
+    ; backups and the subsequent writes target the same store the OS
+    ; serves to both 32-bit and 64-bit URL-resolving processes.
+    ;
+    ; This is the critical fix for the v0.2.0 -> v0.2.1 upgrade regression
+    ; where view-64 leaked into HKCR writes and left 32-bit consumers
+    ; (Titanfall2.exe, Origin emitting link2ea://) looking at stale or
+    ; missing handlers.
+    SetRegView default
     !insertmacro BackupProtocol "qrc"
     !insertmacro BackupProtocol "link2ea"
     !insertmacro BackupProtocol "origin2"
 
     ; Origin compatibility: Point EA games to maxima-bootstrap.exe
+    ; (back under view 64 - same store as the BackupValue above).
+    SetRegView 64
     WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Origin" "ClientPath" "$INSTDIR\maxima-bootstrap.exe"
 
     ; EA Desktop flag
     WriteRegStr HKLM "SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop" "InstallSuccessful" "true"
 
     ; ---- Protocol Handlers ----
+    ; Reset view for HKCR writes - see comment above the BackupProtocol calls.
+    SetRegView default
 
     ; qrc:// protocol (EA login redirection)
     WriteRegStr HKCR "qrc" "" "URL:Maxima Protocol"
@@ -272,11 +334,14 @@ Section "Uninstall"
     ; (typically EA Desktop / Origin Launcher). If they didn't exist pre-install
     ; the macro just deletes the key, which leaves the system in a clean state
     ; ready for EA Launcher to register itself on its next run.
+    ;
+    ; RestoreProtocol forces SetRegView default internally so HKCR
+    ; operations target the same store the installer's BackupProtocol used.
     !insertmacro RestoreProtocol "qrc"
     !insertmacro RestoreProtocol "link2ea"
     !insertmacro RestoreProtocol "origin2"
 
-    ; Restore Origin compatibility values
+    ; Restore Origin compatibility values (view 64 - matches install-time)
     SetRegView 64
     !insertmacro RestoreValue HKLM "SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Origin"         "ClientPath"        "Origin_ClientPath"
     !insertmacro RestoreValue HKLM "SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Desktop" "InstallSuccessful" "EADesktop_InstallSuccessful"

diff --git a/maxima-bootstrap/src/main.rs b/maxima-bootstrap/src/main.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,20 @@ async fn run(args: &[String]) -> Result<bool, RunError> {
             }
 
             child.args(["launch", offer_id]);
-            child.spawn()?.wait().await?;
+            let status = child.spawn()?.wait().await?;
+
+            // Propagate non-zero exits as errors so handle_launch_args logs
+            // them to maxima_execution.log and maxima_bootstrap_error.log via
+            // the existing centralized error-reporting path. Previously we
+            // logged manually and still returned Ok(true), which made failures
+            // look like successes in the log.
+            if !status.success() {
+                return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::Other,
+                    format!("maxima-cli (link2ea) exited non-zero: code={:?}", status.code()),
+                )
+                .into());
+            }
 
             return Ok(true);
         }
@@ -313,7 +326,15 @@ async fn run(args: &[String]) -> Result<bool, RunError> {
             }
 
             child.args(["launch", offer_id]);
-            child.spawn()?.wait().await?;
+            let status = child.spawn()?.wait().await?;
+
+            if !status.success() {
+                return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::Other,
+                    format!("maxima-cli (origin2) exited non-zero: code={:?}", status.code()),
+                )
+                .into());
+            }
 
             return Ok(true);
         }

diff --git a/maxima-cli/Cargo.toml b/maxima-cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ inquire = "0.6.2"
 futures = "0.3.30"
 
 [target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
-winapi = { version = "0.3.9", features = [ "memoryapi", "handleapi", "synchapi", "wincon", "consoleapi" ] }
+winapi = { version = "0.3.9", features = [ "memoryapi", "handleapi", "synchapi", "wincon", "consoleapi", "processenv", "fileapi", "winbase", "winnt" ] }
 winreg = "0.50.0"
 is_elevated = "0.1.2"