Publish PulseForge 1.0

[asafdubaa]

What changed

• Added the complete PulseForge Windows 11 desktop application and native x64 APO.
• Added 100–500% device-selective gain, soft limiting, live endpoint discovery, per-device profiles, tray operation, and startup controls.
• Added a polished dark WPF interface with custom window chrome, dark device picker, toggle switches, and processor repair/move state.
• Added conservative processor installation that preserves the existing manufacturer stream-effect chain and restores endpoint registry permissions.
• Added release build automation, dependency-free checks, GitHub Actions CI, MIT licensing, architecture documentation, contributing guidance, and security policy.

Why

Windows master volume cannot exceed 100%. True amplification requires DSP inside the audio graph, while the requested monitor-only behavior requires attaching that processing to one selected render endpoint without affecting a headset.

Root causes addressed

Initial runtime testing exposed several activation issues: incomplete APO metadata, the legacy metadata path, locked DLL replacement, protected endpoint registry permissions, and an endpoint-effect slot skipped by the AMD monitor driver. The final implementation uses complete APO registration, versioned native binaries, temporary scoped registry access with permission restoration, and the compatible composite stream-effect chain.

User impact

Users can boost only the selected output device up to 500%, keep other outputs untouched, adjust gain live, minimize to the tray, and launch PulseForge with Windows. Existing AMD/Microsoft effects remain first in the selected endpoint's chain.

Validation

• Full Release build via scripts/Build.ps1
• Native x64 APO compiled with Visual Studio 2026 / Windows SDK 10.0.26100
• Managed application built with .NET 10
• All 8 core DSP/settings checks passed
• Live MMDevice endpoint discovery passed
• Processor confirmed loaded inside audiodg.exe
• Selected endpoint chain confirmed as manufacturer effect followed by PulseForge
• Final UI visually inspected
• git diff --check passed

Deployment note

The repository produces an unsigned development APO. Production distribution should use a properly signed Windows AudioProcessingObject package.