feat: notify user their version of dbc is out of date

.goreleaser.yaml

@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ builds:
         goarch: arm64
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
     hooks:
-      post: # sign the windows binaries
+      post: # sign the windows binaries in-place with smctl, which is required
+            # for the Microsoft Store. We don't produce detached signatures for
+            # windows binaries since that's not really a thing on windows and smctl doesn't support it.
         - if: '{{ and (eq .Os "windows") (isEnvSet "SM_API_KEY") }}'
           cmd: >-
             smctl sign --keypair-alias "{{ .Env.SM_KEYPAIR_ALIAS }}" --input "{{ .Path }}" --config-file "{{ .Env.PKCS11_CONFIG }}"

cmd/dbc/latest.go

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"charm.land/lipgloss/v2"
+	"github.com/Masterminds/semver/v3"
+	"github.com/cli/safeexec"
+	"github.com/columnar-tech/dbc"
+	"github.com/columnar-tech/dbc/internal"
+)
+
+func isUnderHomebrew(bin string) bool {
+	brewExe, err := safeexec.LookPath("brew")
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	brewPrefixBytes, err := exec.Command(brewExe, "--prefix").Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	brewBinPrefix := filepath.Join(strings.TrimSpace(
+		string(brewPrefixBytes)), "bin") + string(filepath.Separator)
+	return strings.HasPrefix(bin, brewBinPrefix)
+}
+
+func isPkgMgrInstall() bool {
+	exe, err := os.Executable()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if isUnderHomebrew(exe) {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	exe, err = filepath.EvalSymlinks(exe)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if isManaged(exe) {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if strings.Contains(exe, "conda") || strings.Contains(exe, "venv") || strings.Contains(exe, "miniforge") {
+		// likely a conda or virtual environment install
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func writeLastUpdateCheck(configDir string) {
+	// file doesn't exist, create it with current timestamp and skip update check
+	_ = os.MkdirAll(configDir, 0o700)
+	_ = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, ".last-update-check"), []byte(time.Now().Format(time.DateOnly)), 0o600)
+}
+
+func notifyLatest() {
+	configDir, err := internal.GetUserConfigPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// skip notifying if $dbc_config_home/.no-update exists
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(configDir, ".no-update"))
+	if err == nil {
+		return // file exists, skip update check
+	}
+
+	lastUpdate, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(configDir, ".last-update-check"))
+	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		writeLastUpdateCheck(configDir)
+	} else if err == nil {
+		lastCheckTime, err := time.Parse(time.DateOnly, string(lastUpdate))
+		if err != nil {
+			// if the file is corrupted, reset it
+			_ = os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(configDir, ".last-update-check"), []byte(time.Now().Format(time.DateOnly)), 0o600)
+		} else if time.Since(lastCheckTime) > 24*time.Hour {
+			writeLastUpdateCheck(configDir)
+		} else {
+			return // last check was within 24 hours, skip update check
+		}
+	}
+
+	if isPkgMgrInstall() {
+		// skip notifying if installed via package manager,
+		// since they likely have their own update mechanism
+		return
+	}
+
+	latestVer, err := dbc.GetLatestDbcVersion()
+	if dbc.Version != "(devel)" && err == nil {
+		if semver.MustParse(dbc.Version).LessThan(latestVer) {
+			lipgloss.Fprintf(os.Stderr, descStyle.Render("Update available: A new version of dbc is available. You're running v%s and v%s is available. Please upgrade.\nChangelog: %s. Docs: %s"),
+				dbc.Version, latestVer, "https://github.com/columnar-tech/dbc/releases/tag/v"+latestVer.String(), "https://docs.columnar.tech/dbc/getting_started/installation/")
+			lipgloss.Fprintln(os.Stderr)
+		}
+	}
+}

cmd/dbc/latest_darwin.go

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package main
+
+import "path/filepath"
+
+func isManaged(exe string) bool {
+	if filepath.Dir(exe) == "/usr/local/bin" {
+		// system-wide pip install
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}

cmd/dbc/latest_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+func isManaged(exe string) bool {
+	// check if we're a deb install
+	dpkgExe, err := exec.LookPath("dpkg")
+	if err == nil {
+		if err = exec.Command(dpkgExe, "-S", exe).Run(); err == nil {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	// check if we're an rpm install
+	rpmExe, err := exec.LookPath("rpm")
+	if err == nil {
+		if err = exec.Command(rpmExe, "-qf", exe).Run(); err == nil {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	if filepath.Dir(exe) == "/usr/local/bin" {
+		// pip installs here on linux
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}

cmd/dbc/latest_windows.go

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Columnar Technologies Inc.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/registry"
+)
+
+func isManaged(exe string) bool {
+	const packedUpgradeCode = `F0742CB3EE450F7479C37A9886B49FE5`
+	const registryPath = `SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\` + packedUpgradeCode
+
+	k, err := registry.OpenKey(registry.LOCAL_MACHINE, registryPath, registry.QUERY_VALUE)
+	if err == nil {
+		// If we can open the key, check if our executable is listed as an installed product under this upgrade code
+		// this means dbc is installed via MSI.
+		defer k.Close()
+
+		// so check if we're running from the location where dbc.msi installs to
+		return strings.Contains(exe, `AppData\Roaming\Columnar\dbc`)
+	}
+
+	if strings.HasSuffix(filepath.Dir(exe), "\\Scripts") {
+		// likely a pip install
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}

cmd/dbc/main.go

@@ -291,6 +291,10 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if !args.Quiet {
+		notifyLatest()
+	}
+
 	if m, err = prog.Run(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error running program:", err)
 		os.Exit(1)

docs/getting_started/installation.md

@@ -211,6 +211,23 @@ dbc can generate shell completions for a number of common shells.
 
     You can use the `dbc completion` subcommand to print extended instructions for your shell, including how to enable your shell's completion mechanism. For example, to print setup instructions for Bash, run `dbc completion bash --help`.
 
+## Updating
+
+{{ since_version('v0.2.0') }}
+
+If you installed dbc using the [Standalone Installer](#standalone-installer) or manually through [GitHub Releases](#github-releases), dbc will automatically notify you if your version is out of date and will provide instructions for updating.
+
+For other installation methods, dbc won't automatically notify of updates and you should upgrade dbc in whatever way is standard for your installation method.
+
+!!! note
+    To silence update notifications, create an empty file called `.no-update` in the dbc configuration directory for your operating system:
+
+    - Linux: `~/.config/columnar/dbc/.no-update`
+    - macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Columnar/dbc/.no-update`
+    - Windows: `%AppData%/Columnar/dbc/.no-update`
+
+    If you use a custom `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME`, use `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/columnar/dbc/.no-update`.
+
 ## Uninstallation
 
 To remove dbc from your system, run the uninstall command corresponding to your installation method.

drivers.go

@@ -527,3 +527,17 @@ func SignedByColumnar(lib, sig io.Reader) error {
 
 	return result.SignatureError()
 }
+
+func GetLatestDbcVersion() (*semver.Version, error) {
+	resp, err := makereq("https://dbc.columnar.tech")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch latest dbc version: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusNoContent {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch latest dbc version: %s", resp.Status)
+	}
+
+	return semver.NewVersion(resp.Header.Get("x-dbc-latest"))
+}

go.mod

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/term v0.2.2 // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/termios v0.1.1 // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/windows v0.2.2 // indirect
+	github.com/cli/safeexec v1.0.1 // indirect
 	github.com/clipperhouse/displaywidth v0.11.0 // indirect
 	github.com/clipperhouse/uax29/v2 v2.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/cloudflare/circl v1.6.3 // indirect

go.sum

@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ github.com/cli/browser v1.3.0/go.mod h1:HH8s+fOAxjhQoBUAsKuPCbqUuxZDhQ2/aD+SzsEf
 github.com/cli/oauth v1.2.1 h1:9+vketSVuBCbEIpx4XPHHDlTX2R9MbLnM79sfA2Ac+4=
 github.com/cli/oauth v1.2.1/go.mod h1:qd/FX8ZBD6n1sVNQO3aIdRxeu5LGw9WhKnYhIIoC2A4=
 github.com/cli/safeexec v1.0.0/go.mod h1:Z/D4tTN8Vs5gXYHDCbaM1S/anmEDnJb1iW0+EJ5zx3Q=
+github.com/cli/safeexec v1.0.1 h1:e/C79PbXF4yYTN/wauC4tviMxEV13BwljGj0N9j+N00=
+github.com/cli/safeexec v1.0.1/go.mod h1:Z/D4tTN8Vs5gXYHDCbaM1S/anmEDnJb1iW0+EJ5zx3Q=
 github.com/clipperhouse/displaywidth v0.11.0 h1:lBc6kY44VFw+TDx4I8opi/EtL9m20WSEFgwIwO+UVM8=
 github.com/clipperhouse/displaywidth v0.11.0/go.mod h1:bkrFNkf81G8HyVqmKGxsPufD3JhNl3dSqnGhOoSD/o0=
 github.com/clipperhouse/uax29/v2 v2.7.0 h1:+gs4oBZ2gPfVrKPthwbMzWZDaAFPGYK72F0NJv2v7Vk=