app: windows automated build script

bin/app/Makefile

@@ -52,6 +52,16 @@ android-debug: $(SRC) fonts assets/forest_720x1280.mp4
 	podman run -v $(shell pwd)/../../:/root/darkfi -w /root/darkfi/bin/app/ -t apk cargo quad-apk build $(DEBUG_FEATURES)
 	-mv $(DEBUG_APK) darkfi-app_debug.apk
 
+# Windows cross-compilation using Docker/Podman
+win-docker-release: $(SRC)
+	podman run -v $(shell pwd):/root/build -w /root/build/ -t windows \
+		cargo build --release --target x86_64-pc-windows-gnu $(RELEASE_FEATURES)
+	./release/win/package.sh release
+win-docker-debug: $(SRC)
+	podman run -v $(shell pwd):/root/build -w /root/build/ -t windows \
+		cargo build --target x86_64-pc-windows-gnu $(DEBUG_FEATURES)
+	./release/win/package.sh debug
+
 build-release: $(SRC) fonts assets/forest_1920x1080.ivf
 	$(CARGO) build --release $(RELEASE_FEATURES)
 	-mv target/release/darkfi-app .

bin/app/release/win/README.md

@@ -1,4 +1,42 @@
-# Windows Build Guide (MSVC)
+# Windows Build Guide
+
+## Automated Cross-Compilation (Recommended)
+
+The easiest way to build for Windows from Linux is using Docker/Podman with cross-compilation. This eliminates the need for a Windows VM.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Podman (or Docker)
+- Make
+
+### Build Instructions
+
+```bash
+# Build the Windows cross-compilation container
+podman build -t windows -f Dockerfile.windows .
+
+# Build Windows release
+make win-docker-release
+
+# Output files:
+#   - darkfi-win64-release.zip (portable archive)
+#   - darkfi-win64-release-installer.exe (installer with shortcuts)
+```
+
+### Distribution
+
+- **ZIP archive**: Extract and run `darkfi-app.exe` - no installation required
+- **Installer**: Run `darkfi-win64-release-installer.exe` for proper installation with Start Menu/Desktop shortcuts
+
+### Debug Builds
+
+```bash
+make win-docker-debug
+```
+
+---
+
+## Manual VM Build (Legacy)
 
 Skip the first step if you're already using Windows.
 

bin/app/release/win/installer.nsi

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+!define APPNAME "DarkFi"
+!define COMPANYNAME "Dyne.org"
+!define DESCRIPTION "DarkFi UI App"
+!define VERSIONMAJOR 0
+!define VERSIONMINOR 1
+!define VERSIONBUILD 0
+!define HELPURL "https://dark.fi"
+!define UPDATEURL "https://dark.fi"
+!define ABOUTURL "https://dark.fi"
+!define INSTALLSIZE 100000
+
+!define VERSION "@VERSION@"
+!define DIST_DIR "@DIST_DIR@"
+!define OUTPUT_FILE "@OUTPUT_FILE@"
+
+RequestExecutionLevel admin
+
+InstallDir "$PROGRAMFILES\${APPNAME}"
+
+Page directory
+Page instfiles
+
+Section "install"
+    SetOutPath $INSTDIR
+    File /r "${DIST_DIR}\*"
+
+    ; Desktop shortcut
+    CreateShortCut "$DESKTOP\${APPNAME}.lnk" "$INSTDIR\darkfi-app.exe"
+
+    ; Start Menu shortcut
+    CreateDirectory "$SMPROGRAMS\${APPNAME}"
+    CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\${APPNAME}\${APPNAME}.lnk" "$INSTDIR\darkfi-app.exe"
+
+    ; Uninstaller
+    WriteUninstaller "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
+
+    ; Add to Add/Remove Programs
+    WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APPNAME}" "DisplayName" "${APPNAME}"
+    WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APPNAME}" "UninstallString" "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
+    WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APPNAME}" "Publisher" "${COMPANYNAME}"
+    WriteRegStr HKLM "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APPNAME}" "DisplayVersion" "${VERSION}"
+SectionEnd
+
+Section "uninstall"
+    Delete "$DESKTOP\${APPNAME}.lnk"
+    RMDir /r "$SMPROGRAMS\${APPNAME}"
+    RMDir /r $INSTDIR
+
+    DeleteRegKey HKLM "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\${APPNAME}"
+SectionEnd
+
+!finalize "${OUTPUT_FILE}"

bin/app/release/win/package.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+VERSION=${1:-"dev"}
+DIST_DIR="darkfi-win64-${VERSION}"
+rm -rf "${DIST_DIR}"
+mkdir -p "${DIST_DIR}"
+
+# Copy binary
+cp target/x86_64-pc-windows-gnu/release/darkfi-app.exe "${DIST_DIR}/"
+
+# Copy assets
+cp -r assets "${DIST_DIR}/"
+
+# Create README
+cat > "${DIST_DIR}/README.txt" <<EOF
+DarkFi App v${VERSION}
+
+To run: double-click darkfi-app.exe
+EOF
+
+# Create ZIP
+zip -r "${DIST_DIR}.zip" "${DIST_DIR}"
+echo "Created: ${DIST_DIR}.zip"
+
+# Create NSIS installer
+makensis -DVERSION="${VERSION}" -DDIST_DIR="${DIST_DIR}" \
+    -DOUTPUT_FILE="darkfi-win64-${VERSION}-installer.exe" \
+    release/win/installer.nsi
+
+echo "Created: darkfi-win64-${VERSION}-installer.exe"
+rm -rf "${DIST_DIR}"