fix: alt-space not firing keydown event

* feat: add `ELECTRON_INSTALL_` env vars

* add tip for available arches

* clarify!

* use `arm` instead of `armv7l`

CLAUDE.md

@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ gh label list --repo electron/electron --search target/ --json name,color --jq '
 ```bash
 npm run lint              # Run all linters
 npm run lint:clang-format # C++ formatting
+npm run lint:api-history  # Validate API history YAML blocks in docs
 ```
 
 ## Key Files

docs/CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Electron Documentation Guide
+
+## API History Migration
+
+Guide: `docs/development/api-history-migration-guide.md`
+Style rules: `docs/development/style-guide.md` (see "API History" section)
+Schema: `docs/api-history.schema.json`
+Lint: `npm run lint:api-history`
+
+### Format
+
+Place YAML history block directly after the Markdown header, before parameters:
+
+````md
+### `module.method(args)`
+
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/XXXXX
+```
+-->
+
+* `arg` type - Description.
+````
+
+### Finding when an API was added
+
+- `git log --all --reverse --oneline -S "methodName" -- docs/api/file.md` — find first commit adding a method name
+- `git log --reverse -L :FunctionName:path/to/source.cc` — trace C++ implementation history
+- `git log --grep="keyword" --oneline` — find merge commits referencing PRs
+- `gh pr view <number> --repo electron/electron --json baseRefName` — verify PR targets main (not a backport)
+- Always use the main-branch PR URL in history blocks, not backport PRs
+
+### Cross-referencing breaking changes
+
+- Search `docs/breaking-changes.md` for the API name to find deprecations/removals
+- Use `git blame` on the breaking-changes entry to find the associated PR
+- Add `breaking-changes-header` field using the heading ID from breaking-changes.md
+
+### Placement rules
+
+- Only add blocks to actual API entries (methods, events, properties with backtick signatures)
+- Do NOT add blocks to section headers like `## Methods`, `### Instance Methods`, `## Events`
+- Module-level blocks go after the `# moduleName` heading, before the module description quote
+- For changes affecting multiple APIs, add a block under each affected top-level heading (see style guide "Change affecting multiple APIs")
+
+### Key details
+
+- `added` and `deprecated` arrays have `maxItems: 1`; `changes` can have multiple items
+- `changes` entries require a `description` field; `added`/`deprecated` do not
+- Wrap descriptions in double quotes to avoid YAML parsing issues with special characters
+- Early Electron APIs (pre-2015) use merge-commit PRs (e.g., `Merge pull request #534`)
+- Very early APIs (2013-2014, e.g., `ipcMain.on`, `ipcRenderer.send`) predate GitHub PRs — skip history blocks for these
+- When multiple APIs were added in the same PR, they all reference the same PR URL
+- Promisification PRs (e.g., #17355) count as `changes` entries with a description
+  - These PRs are breaking changes and should have their notes as "This method now returns a Promise instead of using a callback function."
+- APIs that were deprecated and then removed from docs don't need history blocks (the removal is in `breaking-changes.md`)

docs/api/global-shortcut.md

@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ The `globalShortcut` module has the following methods:
 
 ### `globalShortcut.register(accelerator, callback)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/534
+```
+-->
+
 * `accelerator` string - An [accelerator](../tutorial/keyboard-shortcuts.md#accelerators) shortcut.
 * `callback` Function
 
@@ -77,6 +84,13 @@ the app has been authorized as a [trusted accessibility client](https://develope
 
 ### `globalShortcut.registerAll(accelerators, callback)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/15542
+```
+-->
+
 * `accelerators` string[] - An array of [accelerator](../tutorial/keyboard-shortcuts.md#accelerators) shortcuts.
 * `callback` Function
 
@@ -96,6 +110,13 @@ the app has been authorized as a [trusted accessibility client](https://develope
 
 ### `globalShortcut.isRegistered(accelerator)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/534
+```
+-->
+
 * `accelerator` string - An [accelerator](../tutorial/keyboard-shortcuts.md#accelerators) shortcut.
 
 Returns `boolean` - Whether this application has registered `accelerator`.
@@ -106,10 +127,24 @@ don't want applications to fight for global shortcuts.
 
 ### `globalShortcut.unregister(accelerator)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/534
+```
+-->
+
 * `accelerator` string - An [accelerator](../tutorial/keyboard-shortcuts.md#accelerators) shortcut.
 
 Unregisters the global shortcut of `accelerator`.
 
 ### `globalShortcut.unregisterAll()`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/534
+```
+-->
+
 Unregisters all of the global shortcuts.

docs/api/image-view.md

@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ webContentsView.webContents.loadURL('https://electronjs.org')
 
 ## Class: ImageView extends `View`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/46760
+```
+-->
+
 > A View that displays an image.
 
 Process: [Main](../glossary.md#main-process)
@@ -49,6 +56,13 @@ Process: [Main](../glossary.md#main-process)
 
 ### `new ImageView()` _Experimental_
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/46760
+```
+-->
+
 Creates an ImageView.
 
 ### Instance Methods
@@ -58,6 +72,13 @@ addition to those inherited from [View](view.md):
 
 #### `image.setImage(image)` _Experimental_
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/46760
+```
+-->
+
 * `image` NativeImage
 
 Sets the image for this `ImageView`. Note that only image formats supported by

docs/api/in-app-purchase.md

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # inAppPurchase
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/11292
+```
+-->
+
 > In-app purchases on Mac App Store.
 
 Process: [Main](../glossary.md#main-process)
@@ -10,6 +17,13 @@ The `inAppPurchase` module emits the following events:
 
 ### Event: 'transactions-updated'
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/11292
+```
+-->
+
 Returns:
 
 * `event` Event
@@ -23,6 +37,19 @@ The `inAppPurchase` module has the following methods:
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.purchaseProduct(productID[, opts])`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/11292
+changes:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/17355
+    description: "This method now returns a Promise instead of using a callback function."
+    breaking-changes-header: api-changed-callback-based-versions-of-promisified-apis
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/35902
+    description: "Added `username` option to `opts` parameter."
+```
+-->
+
 * `productID` string
 * `opts` Integer | Object (optional) - If specified as an integer, defines the quantity.
   * `quantity` Integer (optional) - The number of items the user wants to purchase.
@@ -34,6 +61,17 @@ You should listen for the `transactions-updated` event as soon as possible and c
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.getProducts(productIDs)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/12464
+changes:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/17355
+    description: "This method now returns a Promise instead of using a callback function."
+    breaking-changes-header: api-changed-callback-based-versions-of-promisified-apis
+```
+-->
+
 * `productIDs` string[] - The identifiers of the products to get.
 
 Returns `Promise<Product[]>` - Resolves with an array of [`Product`](structures/product.md) objects.
@@ -42,24 +80,59 @@ Retrieves the product descriptions.
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.canMakePayments()`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/11292
+```
+-->
+
 Returns `boolean` - whether a user can make a payment.
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.restoreCompletedTransactions()`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/21461
+```
+-->
+
 Restores finished transactions. This method can be called either to install purchases on additional devices, or to restore purchases for an application that the user deleted and reinstalled.
 
 [The payment queue](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/storekit/skpaymentqueue?language=objc) delivers a new transaction for each previously completed transaction that can be restored. Each transaction includes a copy of the original transaction.
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.getReceiptURL()`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/11292
+```
+-->
+
 Returns `string` - the path to the receipt.
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.finishAllTransactions()`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/12464
+```
+-->
+
 Completes all pending transactions.
 
 ### `inAppPurchase.finishTransactionByDate(date)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/12464
+```
+-->
+
 * `date` string - The ISO formatted date of the transaction to finish.
 
 Completes the pending transactions corresponding to the date.

docs/api/ipc-main.md

@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ Listens to `channel`, when a new message arrives `listener` would be called with
 
 ### `ipcMain.off(channel, listener)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/44651
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `listener` Function
   * `event` [IpcMainEvent][ipc-main-event]
@@ -89,6 +96,13 @@ Removes all listeners from the specified `channel`. Removes all listeners from a
 
 ### `ipcMain.handle(channel, listener)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/18449
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `listener` Function\<Promise\<any\> | any\>
   * `event` [IpcMainInvokeEvent][ipc-main-invoke-event]
@@ -126,6 +140,13 @@ provided to the renderer process. Please refer to
 
 ### `ipcMain.handleOnce(channel, listener)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/18449
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `listener` Function\<Promise\<any\> | any\>
   * `event` [IpcMainInvokeEvent][ipc-main-invoke-event]
@@ -136,6 +157,13 @@ Handles a single `invoke`able IPC message, then removes the listener. See
 
 ### `ipcMain.removeHandler(channel)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/18449
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 
 Removes any handler for `channel`, if present.

docs/api/ipc-renderer.md

@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ for more info.
 
 ### `ipcRenderer.off(channel, listener)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/39816
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `listener` Function
   * `event` [IpcRendererEvent][ipc-renderer-event]
@@ -79,6 +86,13 @@ only the next time a message is sent to `channel`, after which it is removed.
 
 ### `ipcRenderer.addListener(channel, listener)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/39816
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `listener` Function
   * `event` [IpcRendererEvent][ipc-renderer-event]
@@ -129,6 +143,13 @@ If you want to receive a single response from the main process, like the result
 
 ### `ipcRenderer.invoke(channel, ...args)`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/18449
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `...args` any[]
 
@@ -209,6 +230,13 @@ and replies by setting `event.returnValue`.
 
 ### `ipcRenderer.postMessage(channel, message, [transfer])`
 
+<!--
+```YAML history
+added:
+  - pr-url: https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/22404
+```
+-->
+
 * `channel` string
 * `message` any
 * `transfer` MessagePort[] (optional)

docs/breaking-changes.md

@@ -59,6 +59,17 @@ npm install electron --save-dev --ignore-scripts
 npx install-electron --no
 ```
 
+If you need to test changes across platforms or architectures, you should now use the
+`ELECTRON_INSTALL_ARCH` and `ELECTRON_INSTALL_PLATFORM` environment variables.
+
+```sh
+# before: pass npm config flag on install command
+npm install --platform=mas electron --save-dev
+# after: add env var when you first run the Electron command
+npm install electron --save-dev
+ELECTRON_INSTALL_PLATFORM=mas npx electron . --no
+```
+
 ### Removed: `quotas` object from `Session.clearStorageData(options)`
 
 When calling `Session.clearStorageData(options)`, the `options.quotas` object is no longer supported because it has been

docs/tutorial/installation.md

@@ -51,20 +51,40 @@ any dependencies in your app will not be installed.
 ## Customization
 
 If you want to change the architecture that is downloaded (e.g., `x64` on an
-`arm64` machine), you can use the `--arch` flag with npm install or set the
-`npm_config_arch` environment variable:
+`arm64` machine), you can set the `ELECTRON_INSTALL_ARCH` environment variable:
 
-```shell
-npm install --arch=x64 electron
+```sh
+# Inside an npm script or with npx
+ELECTRON_INSTALL_ARCH=x64 electron .
 ```
 
+Supported architectures are a subset of Node.js [`process.arch`](https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#processarch)
+values, and include:
+
+* `x64` (Intel Mac and 64-bit Windows)
+* `ia32` (32-bit Windows)
+* `arm64` (Apple silicon, Windows on ARM, ARM64 Linux)
+* `arm` (32-bit ARM)
+
 In addition to changing the architecture, you can also specify the platform
 (e.g., `win32`, `linux`, etc.) using the `--platform` flag:
 
-```shell
-npm install --platform=win32 electron
+```sh
+# Inside an npm script or with npx
+ELECTRON_INSTALL_PLATFORM=mas electron .
 ```
 
+Supported platforms are Node-like [platform strings](https://nodejs.org/api/process.html#processplatform):
+
+* `darwin`
+* `mas` ([Mac App Store](./mac-app-store-submission-guide.md))
+* `win32`
+* `linux`
+
+> [!TIP]
+> To see all available platform/architecture combinations for a particular release, see the artifacts
+> on [Electron's GitHub Releases](https://github.com/electron/electron/releases).
+
 ## Proxies
 
 If you need to use an HTTP proxy, you need to set the `ELECTRON_GET_USE_PROXY` variable to any

filenames.auto.gni

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ auto_filenames = {
     "docs/api/web-utils.md",
     "docs/api/webview-tag.md",
     "docs/api/window-open.md",
+    "docs/api/structures/activation-arguments.md",
     "docs/api/structures/base-window-options.md",
     "docs/api/structures/bluetooth-device.md",
     "docs/api/structures/browser-window-options.md",

npm/install.js

@@ -21,8 +21,11 @@ if (isInstalled()) {
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
-const platform = process.env.npm_config_platform || process.platform;
-let arch = process.env.npm_config_arch || process.arch;
+const platform = process.env.ELECTRON_INSTALL_PLATFORM || process.env.npm_config_platform || process.platform;
+let arch =
+  process.env.ELECTRON_INSTALL_ARCH ||
+  process.env.npm_config_arch ||
+  process.arch;
 
 if (platform === 'darwin' && process.platform === 'darwin' && arch === 'x64' &&
     process.env.npm_config_arch === undefined) {

shell/browser/ui/win/electron_desktop_window_tree_host_win.cc

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 #include "shell/browser/ui/win/electron_desktop_window_tree_host_win.h"
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include "base/win/windows_version.h"
 #include "electron/buildflags/buildflags.h"
 #include "shell/browser/api/electron_api_web_contents.h"
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "shell/browser/ui/views/win_frame_view.h"
 #include "shell/browser/win/dark_mode.h"
 #include "ui/base/win/hwnd_metrics.h"
+#include "ui/events/keycodes/keyboard_codes.h"
 
 namespace electron {
 
@@ -150,6 +153,25 @@ bool ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleMouseEvent(ui::MouseEvent* event) {
   return views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleMouseEvent(event);
 }
 
+void ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleKeyEvent(ui::KeyEvent* event) {
+  // Chromium's base implementation intentionally drops ALT+SPACE keydown
+  // events so that the subsequent WM_SYSCHAR can open the system menu.
+  // We defer the event instead, so that if the system-context-menu event
+  // is prevented by the user, we can replay it to the renderer.
+  if ((event->type() == ui::EventType::kKeyPressed) &&
+      (event->key_code() == ui::VKEY_SPACE) &&
+      (event->flags() & ui::EF_ALT_DOWN) &&
+      !(event->flags() & ui::EF_CONTROL_DOWN)) {
+    if (views::Widget* widget = GetWidget();
+        widget && widget->non_client_view()) {
+      deferred_alt_space_event_ = std::make_unique<ui::KeyEvent>(*event);
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleKeyEvent(event);
+}
+
 bool ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleIMEMessage(UINT message,
                                                         WPARAM w_param,
                                                         LPARAM l_param,
@@ -165,8 +187,20 @@ bool ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleIMEMessage(UINT message,
       native_window_view_->NotifyWindowSystemContextMenu(
           location.x(), location.y(), &prevent_default);
 
-      return prevent_default ||
-             views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleIMEMessage(message, w_param,
+      if (prevent_default) {
+        // The system menu was suppressed. Replay the deferred ALT+SPACE
+        // keydown so it reaches before-input-event and the renderer.
+        if (deferred_alt_space_event_) {
+          SendEventToSink(deferred_alt_space_event_.get());
+          deferred_alt_space_event_.reset();
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      // System menu not prevented — discard the deferred event and let
+      // the default WM_SYSCHAR handling open the system menu.
+      deferred_alt_space_event_.reset();
+      return views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin::HandleIMEMessage(message, w_param,
                                                                l_param, result);
     }
   }

shell/browser/ui/win/electron_desktop_window_tree_host_win.h

@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 
 #include <windows.h>
 
+#include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 
+#include "ui/events/event.h"
 #include "ui/views/widget/desktop_aura/desktop_window_tree_host_win.h"
 
 namespace electron {
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ class ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin : public views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin,
                            int frame_thickness) const override;
   bool HandleMouseEventForCaption(UINT message) const override;
   bool HandleMouseEvent(ui::MouseEvent* event) override;
+  void HandleKeyEvent(ui::KeyEvent* event) override;
   bool HandleIMEMessage(UINT message,
                         WPARAM w_param,
                         LPARAM l_param,
@@ -63,6 +66,10 @@ class ElectronDesktopWindowTreeHostWin : public views::DesktopWindowTreeHostWin,
   std::optional<bool> force_should_paint_as_active_;
   bool allow_screenshots_ = true;
   bool widget_init_done_ = false;
+
+  // Stores the ALT+SPACE key event deferred from HandleKeyEvent so it can be
+  // replayed in HandleIMEMessage if the system-context-menu is prevented.
+  std::unique_ptr<ui::KeyEvent> deferred_alt_space_event_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace electron