fix

src/components/ActionPanel.svelte

@@ -209,6 +209,14 @@
     <p class="secondary">
       ODIAN <strong>{s?.available}</strong> from {site}, into <span class="mono path">{s?.install_dir}</span>.
     </p>
+    <!-- A licensed PC with nothing installed should be running from its checkout against the
+         DHP. When it cannot, say which single thing is in the way - this screen used to give
+         no clue at all, which sent people looking at the install folder every time. -->
+    {#if s?.dhp_blocked}
+      <p class="secondary small">
+        <strong>Dev mode:</strong> a run straight against {site} needs no install, but {s.dhp_blocked}
+      </p>
+    {/if}
     {@render driveLink("Have an ODIAN drive?")}
   {:else if action === "offline_unavailable"}
     {@render primary("Connect to your DHP to install", "globe", () => {}, true)}
@@ -229,6 +237,14 @@
     <p class="secondary">
       {#if checking}
         Checking {site}…
+      {:else if !s?.installed}
+        Nothing is installed here: the client comes from your checkout and runs on
+        <strong>{site}</strong>'s data. You sign in inside ODIAN, not here.
+      {:else if s?.update_required}
+        <!-- Only reachable on a dev run: any other PC would be on the "update" action. -->
+        ODIAN <strong>{s.installed}</strong> is installed, <strong>{s.available}</strong> is on {site}. A dev run starts
+        your checkout, so it does not need it.
+        <button class="btn-link" disabled={blocked} onclick={() => launcher.install()}>Update anyway</button>
       {:else if s?.online}
         ODIAN <strong>{s.installed}</strong> is up to date.
       {:else}

src/lib/launcher.svelte.ts

@@ -72,10 +72,16 @@ export function deriveAction(s: Status | null): ActionKind {
   }
   // idle or checking
   if (s.installed === null) {
+    // Nothing installed, but a dev checkout and a reachable DHP are enough on their own:
+    // the client runs against the DHP and signs itself in, so neither an install nor a
+    // launcher sign-in stands in the way.
+    if (s.dhp_direct) return "launch";
     if (!s.online) return "offline_unavailable";
     return s.signed_in ? "install" : "sign_in";
   }
-  if (s.update_required) return s.signed_in ? "update" : "sign_in";
+  // A dev run starts the checkout, so a newer pack is worth saying but not worth
+  // stopping for; the hub keeps Launch and mentions the update beside it.
+  if (s.update_required && !s.dev_run) return s.signed_in ? "update" : "sign_in";
   // Launching runs ODIAN as the remembered operator; after Sign out there is none.
   if (s.operator === null) return s.online ? "sign_in" : "signed_out_offline";
   return "launch";

src/lib/mock.ts

@@ -226,7 +226,8 @@ function derive(s: Status): Status {
     available,
     signed_in: s.online && s.signed_in,
     update_required,
-    can_launch: s.installed !== null && !update_required && s.phase === "idle",
+    // A dev run launches the checkout, so an available pack does not hold it back.
+    can_launch: (s.installed !== null || s.dhp_direct) && (!update_required || s.dev_run) && s.phase === "idle",
   };
 }
 
@@ -240,6 +241,9 @@ function initialStatus(scenario: MockScenario): Status {
     available: CURRENT,
     update_required: false,
     can_launch: false,
+    dev_run: false,
+    dhp_direct: false,
+    dhp_blocked: null,
     phase: "idle",
     error: null,
     install_dir: DEFAULT_DIR,
@@ -285,9 +289,25 @@ function initialStatus(scenario: MockScenario): Status {
       // A licensed PC, already set up to run from a checkout, so the Dev section and the
       // dev-run marker can be seen without a licence file.
       Object.assign(s, {
-        installed: CURRENT,
+        // Deliberately BEHIND what the DHP has: this is the case that used to refuse to
+        // launch at all, so the scenario should show it working.
+        installed: "0.71.0",
         operator: OPERATOR,
         signed_in: true,
+        dev_run: true,
+        dev: { machine: "ODIAN-DEV-01", install_id: null, expires_at: "2027-01-31", note: "test kit" },
+      });
+      break;
+    case "dev-dhp":
+      // A licensed dev PC with NOTHING installed, on a reachable DHP: the case that used to
+      // offer only Install.
+      Object.assign(s, {
+        installed: null,
+        operator: OPERATOR,
+        signed_in: true,
+        dev_run: true,
+        dhp_direct: true,
+        dhp_blocked: null,
         dev: { machine: "ODIAN-DEV-01", install_id: null, expires_at: "2027-01-31", note: "test kit" },
       });
       break;
@@ -349,7 +369,7 @@ class MockBackend implements Backend {
     this.settings = { site_url: SITE_URL, mcp_url: MCP_URL, ai_url: "", install_dir: DEFAULT_DIR, dev_root: "", dev_mode: false, dev_user: "", dev_build: false, dev_target: "client" };
     // Already pointed at a checkout and switched on, so the dev controls and the dev-run
     // marker show as they do on the real thing.
-    if (scenario === "dev") Object.assign(this.settings, { dev_root: "E:" + String.fromCharCode(92) + "ODIAN_Dev", dev_mode: true });
+    if (scenario === "dev" || scenario === "dev-dhp") Object.assign(this.settings, { dev_root: "E:" + String.fromCharCode(92) + "ODIAN_Dev", dev_mode: true });
     if (this.status.installed) {
       // An installed mock PC has the basemap, Dark V2 and a stopped satellite download.
       for (const item of MOCK_MARKET) if (item.required) this.marketPresent.set(item.key, "installed");

src/lib/types.ts

@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ export interface Status {
   update_required: boolean;
   /** installed && !update_required && phase is idle. */
   can_launch: boolean;
+  /** This launch would come from the dev checkout, so an available pack does not gate it. */
+  dev_run: boolean;
+  /** Nothing is installed, but a dev run can still start the client against the DHP. */
+  dhp_direct: boolean;
+  /** On a licensed PC with nothing installed, why a DHP run is not on offer. */
+  dhp_blocked: string | null;
   phase: Phase;
   /** Last error, human readable. */
   error: string | null;
@@ -331,6 +337,7 @@ export const MOCK_SCENARIOS = [
   "sync-conflicts",
   "error",
   "dev",
+  "dev-dhp",
 ] as const;
 
 export type MockScenario = (typeof MOCK_SCENARIOS)[number];