Simplebus is a Windows desktop app for browsing comic listings in a fast, cover-first interface. It combines multi-page search, publisher and imprint filters, adjustable cover sizing, browser selection, and optional in-app download handling in a modern WinUI 3 client.
This is a side project and learning lab: small enough to experiment in, but maintained with the same emphasis on understandable architecture, reproducible builds, and documented engineering decisions as a production codebase.
Simplebus v1.0.2. Third-party cover artwork and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Note
Simplebus displays metadata from and navigates to a third-party website. It does not host or bundle comic archives. Users are responsible for ensuring that their browsing and downloads are authorized and comply with applicable law and site terms.
The concept was inspired by fireshaper/Omnibus, a Windows utility for searching GetComics listings. Simplebus is an independent, from-scratch implementation in .NET 10 and WinUI 3 that adds the features I wanted for my own use:
- Load and combine up to ten result pages at a time.
- Browse all listings or filter by publisher and supported sub-category/tag.
- Resize the cover grid without leaving the results view.
- Inspect a larger cover, year, and description in a detail panel.
- Open a listing in the Windows default browser or a detected browser, including private mode.
- Choose a download folder and let WebView2 handle a discovered download link in-app.
- Use a custom title bar and Mica backdrop on supported Windows versions.
Simplebus is not affiliated with Omnibus, GetComics, comic publishers, or rights holders. See Third-Party Notices and Public Release Readiness for attribution and distribution notes.
The application is functional and the dependency-updated baseline was verified on September 12, 2026:
- Debug x64 build: 0 warnings, 0 errors with warnings treated as errors.
- Release x64 build: 0 warnings, 0 errors with warnings treated as errors.
- Automated tests: 17 passing tests for search state, download admission, pagination, route construction, WebView2 JSON decoding, settings recovery/persistence, and download-path policy.
- NuGet: no deprecated or known-vulnerable packages reported. App packages are current; MSTest 4.4.0 is available while tests remain pinned to 4.3.3.
- CI: Windows restore, Debug/Release warning-as-error builds, tests, and NuGet health audits are defined in
.github/workflows/ci.yml. - Distribution: version 1.0.2, with a self-contained x64 portable EXE/ZIP built by
scripts/package-portable.ps1and a separate development-signed MSIX for owner testing.
Search and download behavior depends on the current structure and availability of the third-party site, so it can change independently of this repository.
Download Simplebus v1.0.2 from GitHub Releases:
- Download portable ZIP — recommended: right-click it and choose Extract All, then open
Simplebus.exefrom the extracted folder. The ZIP includes instructions and license notices. - Download Simplebus.exe: save it in a folder you want to keep and double-click it. No ZIP extraction or app installation is needed. It is the same executable included in the ZIP.
The release also includes SHA256SUMS.txt. GitHub's Source code archives are not runnable app downloads. To build your own portable copy, use ./scripts/package-portable.ps1.
Requirements: Windows x64, Windows 10 build 19041 or later, and Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime. .NET and Windows App SDK are bundled; Visual Studio and a .NET installation are unnecessary. On first launch, the bundled files extract internally, which can take a little longer. If browser setup fails, select Get WebView2 Runtime, install Microsoft's runtime, then select Retry.
The portable EXE is unsigned. Windows SmartScreen may show an unknown-publisher warning, and a managed PC may block it. Download only from this repository's releases and, if desired, compare the file's SHA-256 with the release's SHA256SUMS.txt. A matching checksum checks integrity; it does not establish publisher trust. Only proceed if you trust the source and your device allows it; do not disable Windows protection. Portable users do not need to import a certificate.
The development-signed MSIX installer is for owner testing. On another PC it requires trusting its matching public certificate before installation and having the x64 .NET 10 runtime available; it is not the recommended public download. Microsoft Store publication is not required for either distribution method. See Direct Distribution for the certificate procedure and trusted-signing options.
To update a portable copy, close Simplebus and replace the EXE with the newer release. Settings and browser cache are stored under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Simplebus; downloads remain in your chosen folder. To remove the app, delete its folder and optionally that settings/cache directory. There is no automatic updater.
- Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later; Windows 11 is recommended for Mica.
- .NET 10 SDK;
global.jsonestablishes SDK10.0.400as the baseline. - Visual Studio with the .NET desktop and Windows App SDK tooling for the most reliable packaged debugging experience.
- Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.
- Network access to restore NuGet packages and load listing pages.
dotnet restore Simplebus.csproj
dotnet build Simplebus.csproj -c Debug -p:Platform=x64Launch the packaged profile from Visual Studio (F5). See Commands Reference for Release builds, dependency audits, and packaging notes.
After dependency, project, C#, or XAML changes, run the complete baseline:
./scripts/verify-baseline.ps1Use -SkipPackageAudit when an offline build-only verification is intentional.
- Enter a title and submit it, or leave the search box empty to browse recent listings.
- Optionally select a category and sub-category, then submit the search box to load that browse route.
- Choose how many consecutive pages to combine in the grid.
- Use the slider to resize covers and select a result to open its details.
- Choose a detected browser and select Open in Browser, or choose a download folder and use Download Comic.
- Monitor or cancel downloads in the persistent bar while browsing other results. In narrow windows, use Back to results to close details.
- Move between result groups with Prev, Next, or the direct page control.
Browser and download-folder preferences are stored locally in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Simplebus\settings.json.
| Layer | Technology | Baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | .NET | 10 (net10.0-windows10.0.19041.0) |
| UI | WinUI 3 / Windows App SDK | 2.4.0 |
| Web content and downloads | Microsoft Edge WebView2 | 1.0.4191.47 |
| Windows SDK build support | Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools | 10.0.28000.2705 |
| Settings | System.Text.Json |
In-box with .NET |
| Testing | MSTest | 4.3.3 |
| Distribution | Self-contained x64 portable EXE/ZIP; optional MSIX | 1.0.2.0 |
MainWindow.xaml defines the cover grid, filters, details, and navigation. MainWindow.xaml.cs coordinates the UI workflows while focused services own URL construction, grouped-page calculations, typed WebView2 JSON decoding, safe download destinations, settings persistence, and installed-browser detection. Search scraping and download discovery use separate hidden WebView2 controls, and every search navigation carries a request generation so stale completions cannot modify a newer result set.
This deliberately simple shape makes the current behavior easy to trace, while also making MainWindow the clearest future refactoring boundary. Read Architecture & Developer Notes for the complete flows and invariants.
- Architecture & Developer Notes — structure, runtime flows, state, external dependencies, and refactoring seams.
- Direct Distribution — portable builds, signing outside the Store, and updates.
- Commands Reference — restore, build, verification, package audits, and MSIX notes.
- Key Learnings — dated, evidence-based lessons and fragile integration points.
- Public Release Readiness — licensing, attribution, packaging, quality, and portfolio checklist.
- Third-Party Notices — inspiration credit and dependency-license pointers.
- Contributing and Security Policy — public collaboration and responsible reporting guidance.
- Changelog — user-visible and baseline changes.
- Agent Guide — maintenance rules for future assisted development.
The original Omnibus concept is credited above and in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md. Simplebus was written independently from scratch; no Omnibus source code or assets are included.
Simplebus is open-source software licensed under the Apache License 2.0, matching Omnibus's permissive open-source model. Commercial and noncommercial use, modification, and distribution are allowed under the license terms.