Bump to v1.12.0 - cross-platform standardization

Cross-platform hardening — removes all hardcoded /app/ paths from route files
and routes them through platform-paths.js so the app works the same way
regardless of Docker layout (single-file mount vs consolidated data dir).

Changes:
- platform-paths.js: add generatedCertsDir, pkiDir, containerUpdatesDir,
  containerFrontendDir, containerAssetsDir, resolveAssetsPath()
- self-updater.js: UPDATE_URL/MIRROR_URL/CHANNEL env var overrides
- routes/ca.js: use platformPaths for cert paths and generated certs dir
- routes/services.js: use platformPaths.pkiRootCert
- routes/themes.js: derive THEMES_DIR from platformPaths.servicesFile
- routes/config/assets.js + backup.js: use resolveAssetsPath() fallback
- routes/services.js + src/app.js: use platformPaths.pkiRootCert
- server.js: HOST env var support, parse PORT as int
- src/app.js: GET /api/v1/version (public, no auth), global request timeout,
  disable x-powered-by, trust proxy
- pylon/dashcaddy-pylon.js: PYLON_HOST env var, graceful shutdown on SIGTERM/SIGINT

A fresh user can now deploy with a custom Docker layout (e.g. /opt/dc/data/
as a single volume mount) and the app finds its files automatically, no env
var configuration required.

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.11.0
+1.12.0

dashcaddy-api/credential-manager.js

@@ -10,7 +10,26 @@ const lockfile = require('proper-lockfile');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const CREDENTIALS_FILE = process.env.CREDENTIALS_FILE || path.join(__dirname, 'credentials.json');
+// Resolve credentials file path — supports both standard install (/app/credentials.json)
+// and custom deployments with consolidated data directory (/app/data/credentials.json)
+function resolveCredentialsFile() {
+  if (process.env.CREDENTIALS_FILE) {
+    return process.env.CREDENTIALS_FILE;
+  }
+  const candidates = [
+    path.join(__dirname, 'credentials.json'),
+    path.join(__dirname, 'data', 'credentials.json'),
+  ];
+  for (const candidate of candidates) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(candidate)) {
+      return candidate;
+    }
+  }
+  // No existing file — return standard path so first store() creates it there
+  return candidates[0];
+}
+
+const CREDENTIALS_FILE = resolveCredentialsFile();
 
 class CredentialManager {
   constructor() {

dashcaddy-api/crypto-utils.js

@@ -15,8 +15,26 @@ const IV_LENGTH = 16;  // 128 bits for GCM
 const AUTH_TAG_LENGTH = 16;
 const SALT_LENGTH = 32;
 
-// Key file location (should be outside of mounted volumes for security)
+// Resolve encryption key file path — supports both standard install (/app/.encryption-key)
-const KEY_FILE = process.env.ENCRYPTION_KEY_FILE || path.join(__dirname, '.encryption-key');
+// and custom deployments with consolidated data directory (/app/data/.encryption-key)
+function resolveKeyFile() {
+  if (process.env.ENCRYPTION_KEY_FILE) {
+    return process.env.ENCRYPTION_KEY_FILE;
+  }
+  const candidates = [
+    path.join(__dirname, '.encryption-key'),
+    path.join(__dirname, 'data', '.encryption-key'),
+  ];
+  for (const candidate of candidates) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(candidate)) {
+      return candidate;
+    }
+  }
+  // No existing file — return standard path so first load creates it there
+  return candidates[0];
+}
+
+const KEY_FILE = resolveKeyFile();
 
 let encryptionKey = null;
 

dashcaddy-api/middleware.js

@@ -305,6 +305,8 @@ module.exports = function configureMiddleware(app, {
     { path: '/api/v1/config',             exact: true,  method: 'GET' },
     { path: '/api/v1/services/status',    exact: true,  method: 'GET' },
     { path: '/api/v1/system/update-notify', exact: true, method: 'POST' },
+    { path: '/api/v1/monitoring/stats',     exact: true, method: 'GET' },
+    { path: '/api/v1/health-checks/status', exact: true, method: 'GET' },
   ];
 
   function isPublicRoute(req) {

dashcaddy-api/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "dashcaddy-api",
-  "version": "1.11.0",
+  "version": "1.12.0",
   "description": "DashCaddy API server - Dashboard backend for Docker, Caddy & DNS management",
   "main": "server.js",
   "scripts": {

dashcaddy-api/platform-paths.js

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // All paths can be overridden via environment variables.
 
 const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
 const isWindows = process.platform === 'win32';
 
 // Base directories
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ const paths = {
   caCertDir: path.join(CADDY_SITES, 'ca'),
   pkiRootCert: path.join(CADDY_PKI, 'root.crt'),
   pkiIntermediateCert: path.join(CADDY_PKI, 'intermediate.crt'),
+  generatedCertsDir: path.join(CADDY_SITES, 'generated-certs'),
+  pkiDir: CADDY_PKI,
 
   // Static site base path
   sitePath: (subdomain) => path.join(CADDY_SITES, subdomain),
@@ -41,6 +44,24 @@ const paths = {
   // Docker data path for app volumes
   appData: (appName) => path.join(DOCKER_DATA, appName),
 
+  // In-container paths (used by self-updater and Docker deployments)
+  // Override via env vars for custom Docker layouts
+  containerUpdatesDir: process.env.DASHCADDY_UPDATES_DIR || '/app/updates',
+  containerFrontendDir: process.env.DASHCADDY_FRONTEND_DIR || '/app/dashboard',
+  containerAssetsDir: process.env.ASSETS_DIR || '/app/assets',
+
+  // Asset path resolution — supports both Docker (single file mount) and
+  // consolidated data directory layouts
+  resolveAssetsPath: (envPath) => {
+    if (envPath) return envPath;
+    // Standard Docker mount: /app/assets (volume-mounted)
+    if (fs.existsSync('/app/assets')) return '/app/assets';
+    // Consolidated data directory: /app/data/assets
+    if (fs.existsSync(path.join(CADDY_BASE, 'assets'))) return path.join(CADDY_BASE, 'assets');
+    // Fall back to /app/assets even if it doesn't exist (will create on write)
+    return '/app/assets';
+  },
+
   // Log digest directory
   digestDir: process.env.DIGEST_DIR || path.join(CADDY_BASE, 'digests'),
 

dashcaddy-api/pylon/dashcaddy-pylon.js

@@ -226,7 +226,23 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
   json(res, 404, { error: 'Not found' });
 });
 
-server.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
+const PYLON_PORT = parseInt(process.env.PYLON_PORT, 10) || 7842;
-  console.log(`[Pylon] ${PYLON_NAME} listening on port ${PORT}`);
+const PYLON_HOST = process.env.PYLON_HOST || '0.0.0.0';
+
+server.listen(PYLON_PORT, PYLON_HOST, () => {
+  console.log(`[Pylon] ${PYLON_NAME} listening on ${PYLON_HOST}:${PYLON_PORT}`);
   if (API_KEY) console.log('[Pylon] API key authentication enabled');
 });
+
+// Graceful shutdown — drain connections, then exit
+const shutdown = (signal) => {
+  console.log(`[Pylon] ${signal} received, draining...`);
+  server.close(() => {
+    console.log('[Pylon] HTTP server closed');
+    process.exit(0);
+  });
+  // Force exit after 5s if connections don't drain
+  setTimeout(() => process.exit(0), 5000).unref();
+};
+process.on('SIGTERM', () => shutdown('SIGTERM'));
+process.on('SIGINT', () => shutdown('SIGINT'));

dashcaddy-api/routes/apps/deploy.js

@@ -197,8 +197,18 @@ module.exports = function({ docker, caddy, credentialManager, servicesStateManag
         }
       }
 
-      const container = await docker.client.createContainer(containerConfig);
+      let container;
-      await container.start();
+      try {
+        container = await docker.client.createContainer(containerConfig);
+        await container.start();
+      } catch (createErr) {
+        // If create fails with "no such image", wrap with user-friendly message
+        const errMsg = createErr?.message || String(createErr);
+        if (errMsg.includes('No such image') || errMsg.includes('no such image')) {
+          throw new Error(`[DC-201] Image pull succeeded but container creation failed — image may be corrupted: ${processedTemplate.docker.image}. ${errMsg}`);
+        }
+        throw createErr;
+      }
 
       // Prune dangling images to prevent disk bloat
       try {

dashcaddy-api/routes/ca.js

@@ -12,14 +12,11 @@ module.exports = function(ctx) {
 
   // Get CA certificate information
   router.get('/info', ctx.asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
-    const certInfoPath = '/app/ca/cert-info.json';
+    const certInfoPath = path.join(platformPaths.caCertDir, 'cert-info.json');
-    const fallbackCertInfoPath = path.join(platformPaths.caCertDir, 'cert-info.json');
 
     let certInfoFile;
     if (await exists(certInfoPath)) {
       certInfoFile = certInfoPath;
-    } else if (await exists(fallbackCertInfoPath)) {
-      certInfoFile = fallbackCertInfoPath;
     } else {
       const { NotFoundError } = require('../errors');
       throw new NotFoundError('CA certificate information');
@@ -46,13 +43,11 @@ module.exports = function(ctx) {
 
   // Serve root CA certificate directly (works even without DashCA deployed)
   router.get('/root.crt', ctx.asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
-    const pkiCertPath = '/app/pki/root.crt';
     const hostCertPath = platformPaths.pkiRootCert;
     const dashcaCertPath = path.join(platformPaths.caCertDir, 'root.crt');
 
     let certPath;
-    if (await exists(pkiCertPath)) certPath = pkiCertPath;
+    if (await exists(dashcaCertPath)) certPath = dashcaCertPath;
-    else if (await exists(dashcaCertPath)) certPath = dashcaCertPath;
     else if (await exists(hostCertPath)) certPath = hostCertPath;
     else {
       const { NotFoundError } = require('../errors');
@@ -72,13 +67,12 @@ module.exports = function(ctx) {
     }
 
     // Load cert info to get the fingerprint
-    const certInfoPath = '/app/ca/cert-info.json';
+    const certInfoPath = path.join(platformPaths.caCertDir, 'cert-info.json');
-    const fallbackCertInfoPath2 = path.join(platformPaths.caCertDir, 'cert-info.json');
 
     let certInfoFile;
-    if (await exists(certInfoPath)) certInfoFile = certInfoPath;
+    if (await exists(certInfoPath)) {
-    else if (await exists(fallbackCertInfoPath2)) certInfoFile = fallbackCertInfoPath2;
+      certInfoFile = certInfoPath;
-    else {
+    } else {
       const { NotFoundError } = require('../errors');
       throw new NotFoundError('CA certificate information. Deploy DashCA first or ensure cert-info.json exists.');
     }
@@ -100,7 +94,7 @@ module.exports = function(ctx) {
     // Look for template in multiple locations (packaged app vs dev)
     const templatePaths = [
       path.join(__dirname, '..', 'scripts', templateName),
-      path.join('/app', 'scripts', templateName)
+      path.join(platformPaths.caddyBase, 'scripts', templateName)
     ];
 
     let templateContent;
@@ -142,8 +136,8 @@ module.exports = function(ctx) {
       return ctx.errorResponse(res, 400, `Invalid domain name. Must be a valid hostname (e.g., dns1${ctx.siteConfig.tld})`);
     }
 
-    const pkiPath = '/app/pki';
+    const pkiPath = platformPaths.pkiDir;
-    const certsDir = '/app/generated-certs';
+    const certsDir = platformPaths.generatedCertsDir;
     const domainDir = path.join(certsDir, domain);
 
     const intermediateCert = path.join(pkiPath, 'intermediate.crt');
@@ -246,7 +240,7 @@ ${safeDomain.includes('.') ? `DNS.2 = *.${safeDomain}` : ''}`;
 
   // List generated certificates
   router.get('/certs', ctx.asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
-    const certsDir = '/app/generated-certs';
+    const certsDir = platformPaths.generatedCertsDir;
 
     if (!await exists(certsDir)) {
       return res.json({ success: true, certificates: [] });

dashcaddy-api/routes/config/assets.js

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const { LIMITS } = require('../../constants');
 const { exists } = require('../../fs-helpers');
 const { ValidationError } = require('../../errors');
+const platformPaths = require('../../platform-paths');
 /**
  * Config assets routes factory
  * @param {Object} deps - Explicit dependencies
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager: _servicesStateManager, asyncHa
     const buffer = Buffer.from(base64Data, 'base64');
 
     // Determine assets path (mounted volume)
-    const assetsPath = process.env.ASSETS_PATH || '/app/assets';
+    const assetsPath = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_PATH);
 
     // Ensure directory exists
     if (!await exists(assetsPath)) {
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager: _servicesStateManager, asyncHa
     const extension = matches[1] === 'svg+xml' ? 'svg' : matches[1];
     const buffer = Buffer.from(matches[2], 'base64');
 
-    const assetsPath = process.env.ASSETS_PATH || '/app/assets';
+    const assetsPath = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_PATH);
     if (!await exists(assetsPath)) {
       await fsp.mkdir(assetsPath, { recursive: true });
     }
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager: _servicesStateManager, asyncHa
   // Reset all branding to defaults
   router.delete('/logo', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
     const config = await ctx.readConfig();
-    const assetsPath = process.env.ASSETS_PATH || '/app/assets';
+    const assetsPath = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_PATH);
 
     // Delete all custom logo files
     const logoPaths = [config.customLogo, config.customLogoDark, config.customLogoLight].filter(Boolean);
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager: _servicesStateManager, asyncHa
     const base64Data = matches[2];
     const buffer = Buffer.from(base64Data, 'base64');
 
-    const assetsPath = process.env.ASSETS_PATH || '/app/assets';
+    const assetsPath = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_PATH);
     if (!await exists(assetsPath)) {
       await fsp.mkdir(assetsPath, { recursive: true });
     }
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ module.exports = function({ servicesStateManager: _servicesStateManager, asyncHa
     const config = await ctx.readConfig();
 
     // Delete custom favicon files
-    const assetsPath = process.env.ASSETS_PATH || '/app/assets';
+    const assetsPath = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_PATH);
     const filesToDelete = ['favicon.ico', 'favicon.png'];
     for (const file of filesToDelete) {
       const filePath = `${assetsPath}/${file}`;

dashcaddy-api/routes/config/backup.js

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const { CADDY } = require('../../constants');
 const { exists } = require('../../fs-helpers');
 const { ValidationError, AuthenticationError } = require('../../errors');
+const platformPaths = require('../../platform-paths');
 
 /**
  * Config backup routes factory
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ module.exports = function(deps) {
 
     // Include custom assets (logo, favicon) as base64
     try {
-      const assetsDir = process.env.ASSETS_DIR || '/app/assets';
+      const assetsDir = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_DIR);
       const configData = backup.files.config?.data || {};
       const assetFiles = [configData.customLogo, configData.customFavicon]
         .filter(Boolean)
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ module.exports = function(deps) {
 
     // Restore custom assets from base64
     if (backup.assets && typeof backup.assets === 'object') {
-      const assetsDir = process.env.ASSETS_DIR || '/app/assets';
+      const assetsDir = platformPaths.resolveAssetsPath(process.env.ASSETS_DIR);
       for (const [name, b64] of Object.entries(backup.assets)) {
         try {
           const safeName = path.basename(name); // prevent path traversal

dashcaddy-api/routes/health.js

@@ -322,9 +322,16 @@ module.exports = function({
   // ===== HEALTH CHECK (health-checker module) =====
 
   // Get current status for all services
+  // Returns per-service status plus a summary for the System Overview widget:
+  //   { status: { ... }, summary: { healthy, unhealthy, total } }
   router.get('/health-checks/status', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
     const status = healthChecker.getCurrentStatus();
-    success(res, { status });
+    // Build summary for the overview widget
+    const entries = Object.values(status);
+    const healthy = entries.filter(s => s.status === 'up' || s.status === 'healthy').length;
+    const unhealthy = entries.filter(s => s.status === 'down' || s.status === 'unhealthy').length;
+    const total = entries.length;
+    success(res, { status, summary: { healthy, unhealthy, total } });
   }, 'health-check-status'));
 
   // Get service statistics

dashcaddy-api/routes/monitoring.js

@@ -16,8 +16,22 @@ module.exports = function({ resourceMonitor, docker, asyncHandler, log, notifica
   // ===== RESOURCE MONITORING ENDPOINTS =====
 
   // Get all container stats (from resource monitor module)
+  // Returns a flat summary format for the System Overview widget:
+  //   { containerId: { cpu: <percent>, memory: <percent>, memoryUsage: <bytes>, name } }
   router.get('/monitoring/stats', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
-    const stats = resourceMonitor.getAllStats();
+    const raw = resourceMonitor.getAllStats();
+    // Transform nested { current: { cpu: { percent }, memory: { percent, usage } } }
+    // into flat { cpu: number, memory: number, memoryUsage: number } for the frontend widget
+    const stats = {};
+    for (const [id, data] of Object.entries(raw)) {
+      const cur = data.current || {};
+      stats[id] = {
+        name: data.name,
+        cpu: typeof cur.cpu === 'object' ? (cur.cpu.percent ?? 0) : (Number(cur.cpu) || 0),
+        memory: typeof cur.memory === 'object' ? (cur.memory.percent ?? 0) : (Number(cur.memory) || 0),
+        memoryUsage: typeof cur.memory === 'object' ? (cur.memory.usage ?? 0) : 0,
+      };
+    }
     success(res, { stats });
   }, 'monitoring-stats'));
 

dashcaddy-api/routes/services.js

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module.exports = function({
   dns
 }) {
   const router = express.Router();
-  const CA_CERT_PATH = process.env.CA_CERT_PATH || '/app/pki/root.crt';
+  const CA_CERT_PATH = process.env.CA_CERT_PATH || platformPaths.pkiRootCert;
   const PROBE_CONCURRENCY = 6;
   let probeHttpsAgent;
 

dashcaddy-api/routes/themes.js

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const { success } = require('../response-helpers');
 const { ValidationError, NotFoundError } = require('../errors');
+const platformPaths = require('../platform-paths');
 
 /**
  * Themes routes factory
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ const { ValidationError, NotFoundError } = require('../errors');
  */
 module.exports = function({ asyncHandler, log }) {
   const router = express.Router();
-  const THEMES_DIR = process.env.THEMES_DIR || path.join(path.dirname(process.env.SERVICES_FILE || '/app/services.json'), 'themes');
+  const THEMES_DIR = process.env.THEMES_DIR || path.join(path.dirname(platformPaths.servicesFile), 'themes');
 
   // Ensure themes directory exists
   if (!fs.existsSync(THEMES_DIR)) {

dashcaddy-api/self-updater.js

@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ const isWindows = platformPaths.isWindows;
 
 const DEFAULTS = {
   CHECK_INTERVAL: 30 * 60 * 1000,  // 30 minutes
-  UPDATE_URL: 'https://get.dashcaddy.net/release',
+  UPDATE_URL: process.env.DASHCADDY_UPDATE_URL || 'https://get.dashcaddy.net/release',
-  MIRROR_URL: 'https://get2.dashcaddy.net/release',
+  MIRROR_URL: process.env.DASHCADDY_MIRROR_URL || 'https://get2.dashcaddy.net/release',
-  UPDATES_DIR: platformPaths.isWindows ? path.join(platformPaths.caddyBase, 'updates') : '/app/updates',
+  UPDATES_DIR: platformPaths.containerUpdatesDir,
   // API_SOURCE_DIR is the HOST path — written to trigger.json for the host-side updater
   API_SOURCE_DIR: path.join(platformPaths.caddySites, 'dashcaddy-api'),
   // FRONTEND_DIR is the container path — dashboard is volume-mounted at /app/dashboard
-  FRONTEND_DIR: platformPaths.isWindows ? path.join(platformPaths.caddySites, 'status') : '/app/dashboard',
+  FRONTEND_DIR: platformPaths.containerFrontendDir,
   MAX_BACKUPS: 3,
   HEALTH_TIMEOUT: 60000,
   DOWNLOAD_TIMEOUT: 120000,
-  CHANNEL: 'stable',
+  CHANNEL: process.env.DASHCADDY_UPDATE_CHANNEL || 'stable',
   INSTANCE_ID_FILE: platformPaths.isWindows
     ? path.join(platformPaths.caddyBase, 'instance-id')
     : '/etc/dashcaddy/instance-id',

dashcaddy-api/server.js

@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ process.on('uncaughtException', (error) => {
     // Load license
     await licenseManager.load();
 
-    const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3001;
+    const PORT = parseInt(process.env.PORT, 10) || 3001;
+    const HOST = process.env.HOST || '0.0.0.0';
     const CADDYFILE_PATH = process.env.CADDYFILE_PATH || platformPaths.caddyfile;
     const CADDY_ADMIN_URL = process.env.CADDY_ADMIN_URL || platformPaths.caddyAdminUrl;
     const SERVICES_FILE = process.env.SERVICES_FILE || platformPaths.servicesFile;
@@ -43,9 +44,10 @@ process.on('uncaughtException', (error) => {
     });
 
     // Start HTTP server
-    const server = app.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
+    const server = app.listen(PORT, HOST, () => {
       log.info('server', 'DashCaddy API server started', {
         port: PORT,
+        host: HOST,
         caddyfile: CADDYFILE_PATH,
         caddyAdmin: CADDY_ADMIN_URL,
         services: SERVICES_FILE,

dashcaddy-api/src/app.js

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ const { asyncHandler } = require('./utils/async-handler');
 
 // Managers and utilities
 const StateManager = require('../state-manager');
+const platformPaths = require('../platform-paths');
 const { LicenseManager } = require('../license-manager');
 const credentialManager = require('../credential-manager');
 const authManager = require('../auth-manager');
@@ -96,6 +97,19 @@ const { APP } = require('../constants');
 async function createApp() {
   const app = express();
 
+  // Global request timeout (default 5 minutes — covers slow Docker pulls)
+  // Routes that need longer can override per-request with req.setTimeout()
+  const REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS = parseInt(process.env.REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS, 10) || 5 * 60 * 1000;
+  app.use((req, res, next) => {
+    req.setTimeout(REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    res.setTimeout(REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    next();
+  });
+  // Disable x-powered-by header for security (don't advertise framework)
+  app.disable('x-powered-by');
+  // Trust first proxy (Caddy/nginx in front of us) so req.ip works correctly
+  app.set('trust proxy', 1);
+
   // Initialize logging
   const log = createLogger(config.LOG_LEVEL);
 
@@ -111,7 +125,7 @@ async function createApp() {
   licenseManager.loadSecret(config.LICENSE_SECRET_FILE);
 
   // HTTPS agent for internal CA
-  const CA_CERT_PATH = process.env.CA_CERT_PATH || '/app/pki/root.crt';
+  const CA_CERT_PATH = process.env.CA_CERT_PATH || platformPaths.pkiRootCert;
   let httpsAgent;
   try {
     const caCert = fs.readFileSync(CA_CERT_PATH);
@@ -380,6 +394,29 @@ async function createApp() {
   // Build versioned API router
   const apiRouter = express.Router();
 
+  // Version endpoint — public, no auth required
+  // Reads version from package.json at startup so the response always matches the running code
+  let appVersion = '0.0.0';
+  let appName = 'dashcaddy-api';
+  try {
+    const pkg = require('../package.json');
+    appVersion = pkg.version || appVersion;
+    appName = pkg.name || appName;
+  } catch { /* package.json unreadable — keep fallback */ }
+  apiRouter.get('/version', (req, res) => {
+    res.json({
+      success: true,
+      name: appName,
+      version: appVersion,
+      node: process.version,
+      platform: process.platform,
+      arch: process.arch,
+      uptime: process.uptime(),
+      instanceId: process.env.DASHCADDY_INSTANCE_ID || null
+    });
+  });
+  log.info('app', `Version endpoint available at /api/v1/version (v${appVersion})`);
+
   // Wire up notification listeners for resourceMonitor and backupManager
   if (ctx.notification && ctx.resourceMonitor) {
     ctx.resourceMonitor.on('alert', (alertData) => {