# update_check.lua — beta build changes

The update-check code is identical between channels except for **two
constants** at the top, plus the per-build `PackageVersion` that already lives
in each `.qplug`. Point beta builds at the beta feed and give them their own
Notifications channel so a beta instance and a prod instance never elect each
other (belt-and-suspenders — testers shouldn't be running both anyway).

Change these two lines in the beta build's `update_check.lua`:

```lua
local CH           = "VSI_PacketAV_Versions_Beta"      -- was: VSI_PacketAV_Versions
local VERSIONS_URL = "https://vsplug.in/versions-beta"  -- was: https://vsplug.in/versions
```

Everything else — leader election, gateway check, `applyVersions`, Check Now —
is unchanged.

## PackageVersion

In each beta `.qplug`, set the `PackageVersion` constant to the **beta**
package's version (the beta nuspec `<version>`), not the prod counter. That's
what the update check compares against `versions-beta.json`'s `package` field to
decide "a newer beta exists." Your `stamp_package_version.py` helper does this;
run it against the beta build folder with the beta version.

## versions-beta.json shape

Same schema as prod `versions.json`, hosted at `vsplug.in/versions-beta`:

```json
{"package":"1.0.0","plugins":{"Visionary~Decoder":"5.2.3","Visionary~Encoder":"5.2.3","Visionary~Router":"5.2.3","Visionary~IR Driver":"5.2.3"}}
```

- `package` = beta nuspec `<version>` for the latest beta build.
- `plugins` = each beta plugin's `PluginInfo.Version` (typically ahead of prod).

`annotate_qplugx.py` already emits a `versions.json` from a build folder; for
beta, publish that output as `versions-beta.json` in the assets repo.

## Optional: mark the Help page as beta

Since the plugin IDs match prod, add a small "BETA CHANNEL" tag on the Help page
(and/or set the beta plugins' `PluginInfo.Version` build field distinctly) so a
tester glancing at the schematic always knows which channel is loaded. This is
the same Software Update group from the prod mockup, just with a beta label.