feat: add HIDE_UPDATE_BANNER environment variable (#2051)

* feat: add HIDE_UPDATE_BANNER environment variable

Add a new HIDE_UPDATE_BANNER env var that allows platform operators
(e.g. Start9) to suppress the built-in version update banner when
they provide their own update notification mechanism.

When set to true, the "What's New" widget is hidden and the header
banner only shows for VSS migration notices. The version comparison
against the Alby API is skipped entirely.

Closes #2048

* chore: simplify

* chore: undo changes

---------

Co-authored-by: Joel Klabo <max@klabo.world>
Co-authored-by: im-adithya <imadithyavardhan@gmail.com>

api/api.go

@@ -1217,6 +1217,7 @@ func (api *api) GetInfo(ctx context.Context) (*InfoResponse, error) {
 	info.OAuthRedirect = !api.cfg.GetEnv().IsDefaultClientId()
 	info.Version = version.Tag
 	info.EnableAdvancedSetup = api.cfg.GetEnv().EnableAdvancedSetup
+	info.HideUpdateBanner = api.cfg.GetEnv().HideUpdateBanner
 	info.LdkVssEnabled = ldkVssEnabled == "true"
 	info.VssSupported = backendType == config.LDKBackendType && api.cfg.GetEnv().LDKVssUrl != ""
 	info.AutoUnlockPasswordEnabled = autoUnlockPassword != ""

api/models.go

@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ type InfoResponse struct {
 	Relays                      []InfoResponseRelay `json:"relays"`
 	NodeAlias                   string              `json:"nodeAlias"`
 	MempoolUrl                  string              `json:"mempoolUrl"`
+	HideUpdateBanner            bool                `json:"hideUpdateBanner"`
 }
 
 type UpdateSettingsRequest struct {

config/models.go

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type AppConfig struct {
 	AutoUnlockPassword                 string `envconfig:"AUTO_UNLOCK_PASSWORD"`
 	LogDBQueries                       bool   `envconfig:"LOG_DB_QUERIES" default:"false"`
 	BoltzApi                           string `envconfig:"BOLTZ_API" default:"https://api.boltz.exchange"`
+	HideUpdateBanner                   bool   `envconfig:"HIDE_UPDATE_BANNER" default:"false"`
 }
 
 func (c *AppConfig) IsDefaultClientId() bool {

frontend/src/components/home/widgets/WhatsNewWidget.tsx

@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ export function WhatsNewWidget() {
   const { data: info } = useInfo();
   const { data: albyInfo } = useAlbyInfo();
 
-  if (!info || !albyInfo || !albyInfo.hub.latestReleaseNotes) {
+  if (
+    !info ||
+    !albyInfo ||
+    !albyInfo.hub.latestReleaseNotes ||
+    info.hideUpdateBanner
+  ) {
     return null;
   }
 

frontend/src/hooks/useBanner.tsx

@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ export function useBanner() {
   const isDismissedRef = React.useRef(false);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (!info || !albyInfo || isDismissedRef.current) {
+    if (!info || !albyInfo || info.hideUpdateBanner || isDismissedRef.current) {
       return;
     }
 
     // vss migration (alby cloud only)
-    // TODO: remove after 2026-01-01
+    // TODO: remove after 2026-08-01
     const vssMigrationRequired =
       info.oauthRedirect &&
       !!albyMe?.subscription.plan_code.includes("buzz") &&

frontend/src/types.ts

@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ export interface InfoResponse {
   nodeAlias: string;
   mempoolUrl: string;
   bitcoinDisplayFormat: BitcoinDisplayFormat;
+  hideUpdateBanner: boolean;
 }
 
 export type BitcoinDisplayFormat = "sats" | "bip177";