diff --git a/.github/BETA_RELEASES.md b/.github/BETA_RELEASES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5acbed6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/BETA_RELEASES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# Beta & Alpha Release Channels
+
+OpenConduit supports three release channels for distributing updates: **stable**, **beta**, and **alpha**.
+
+## Overview
+
+- **Stable** (`stable`): Official releases, e.g. `v1.2.1` — for production users
+- **Beta** (`beta`): Pre-release testing versions, e.g. `v1.3.0-beta.1` — for early adopters
+- **Alpha** (`alpha`): Early testing versions, e.g. `v1.3.0-alpha.1` — for developers
+
+## How It Works
+
+### Cloudflare Worker
+
+The update check endpoint at `https://workers.openconduit.ai/latest` accepts a `channel` query parameter:
+
+```
+GET /latest?channel=stable|beta|alpha
+```
+
+**Behavior:**
+- **`?channel=stable`** (default): Returns the latest GitHub release (non-prerelease)
+- **`?channel=beta`**: Scans recent releases for a prerelease tagged with "beta" (e.g., `v1.3.0-beta`)
+- **`?channel=alpha`**: Scans recent releases for a prerelease tagged with "alpha" or "beta"
+
+### Tagging Releases
+
+When you create a GitHub release:
+
+1. **Stable release**: Tag as `v1.2.1` (no prerelease suffix)
+   - Check the "Set as a pre-release" checkbox: **OFF**
+   - Stable users will receive this update
+
+2. **Beta release**: Tag as `v1.3.0-beta` or `v1.3.0-beta.1`
+   - Check the "Set as a pre-release" checkbox: **ON**
+   - Beta users will receive this update
+   - Stable users will NOT receive it
+
+3. **Alpha release**: Tag as `v1.3.0-alpha` or `v1.3.0-alpha.1`
+   - Check the "Set as a pre-release" checkbox: **ON**
+   - Alpha users will receive this update
+   - Beta and stable users will NOT receive it (unless no beta is available, then they fall back to stable)
+
+## Client Configuration
+
+In `packages/desktop/src/main/ipc.ts` (or wherever your updater is):
+
+```typescript
+// Determine which channel to check
+const channel = 'stable'; // or 'beta', 'alpha' depending on build variant
+
+// Check for updates
+const response = await fetch(
+  `https://workers.openconduit.ai/latest?channel=${channel}`
+);
+const { version, notes, url } = await response.json();
+```
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+### Testing a Beta Release
+
+1. Create a GitHub release tagged `v1.3.0-beta.1`
+2. Mark it as pre-release
+3. Beta users (with `channel=beta` in their client) will see the update available
+4. Test thoroughly
+
+### Promoting Beta to Stable
+
+1. Create a new release tagged `v1.3.0` (remove the `-beta` suffix)
+2. Uncheck "Set as pre-release"
+3. All users (stable, beta, alpha) will receive the update
+
+### Fallback Behavior
+
+If no matching pre-release is found, the worker falls back to the latest stable release. This ensures users always get an update, even if their channel doesn't have recent releases.
+
+## Implementation Notes
+
+- The Cloudflare Worker scans the **20 most recent releases** when looking for beta/alpha builds
+- Release notes and download URL are included in the response
+- If a user is on a channel with no available releases, they fall back to stable
diff --git a/packages/desktop/package.json b/packages/desktop/package.json
index ce3e550..eb6845e 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/package.json
+++ b/packages/desktop/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "openconduit",
   "productName": "OpenConduit",
-  "version": "1.2.1",
+  "version": "1.2.2",
   "description": "Cross-platform desktop AI chat client — OpenAI, Anthropic, LM Studio, and MCP tool servers",
   "main": ".vite/build/main.js",
   "private": true,
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/main/mcp/client.ts b/packages/desktop/src/main/mcp/client.ts
index f769710..b605a02 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/main/mcp/client.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/main/mcp/client.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export async function connectMcpServer(config: McpServerConfig): Promise<void> {
     transport = new StdioClientTransport({
       command: config.command,
       args: config.args ?? [],
-      env: config.env,
+      env: { ...process.env, ...config.env },
     });
   }