feat: Notify customers if newer submitter is available.

docs/user_guide/setup-submitter.md

@@ -203,4 +203,23 @@ This example will use the Meerkat Demo from the Unreal Marketplace:
 				1. Note: Unreal Engine version autodetection is coming in a future release
 
 	1. Ready to Go! Hit "Render (Remote)". 
-1. You can go to Deadline Cloud Monitor and watch the progress of your job. 
+1. You can go to Deadline Cloud Monitor and watch the progress of your job. 
+
+
+# Update Notifications
+
+The submitter plugin automatically checks for newer releases on GitHub when Unreal Editor starts. If an update is available, a dialog will prompt you to visit the release page.
+
+To deactivate update notifications, uncheck "Show submitter update notifications" under "General Settings" in the Deadline Cloud settings panel (Edit > Project Settings > Plugins > Deadline Cloud).
+
+Alternatively, you can use the CLI:
+
+```
+deadline config set settings.submitter_update_notification false
+```
+
+To re-enable:
+
+```
+deadline config set settings.submitter_update_notification true
+```

src/unreal_plugin/Content/Python/init_unreal.py

@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ def __init__(
 
     logger.info("INIT DEADLINE CLOUD")
 
+    from update_check import safe_check_and_show_update_dialog
+
+    safe_check_and_show_update_dialog()
+
     logger.info(f'DEADLINE CLOUD PATH: {os.getenv("DEADLINE_CLOUD")}')
 
     # These unused imports are REQUIRED!!!

src/unreal_plugin/Content/Python/settings.py

@@ -337,6 +337,13 @@ def save_to_aws_config(
             config=config_parser,
         )
 
+        # general.show_update_notifications (settings.submitter_update_notification)
+        config.set_setting(
+            "settings.submitter_update_notification",
+            "true" if settings.general.show_update_notifications else "false",
+            config=config_parser,
+        )
+
         config_file.write_config(config_parser)
 
         if farm_queue_update:

src/unreal_plugin/Content/Python/update_check.py

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+# Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+
+"""
+Update checker for the Deadline Cloud for Unreal Engine plugin.
+
+Checks the GitHub releases API for a newer version and shows an Unreal
+Editor dialog when an update is available.  Respects the Deadline Cloud
+``settings.submitter_update_notification`` config toggle.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+import socket
+import ssl
+import urllib.request
+import urllib.error
+import webbrowser
+
+import botocore
+import unreal
+
+from packaging.version import Version, InvalidVersion
+
+from deadline.client.config import config_file
+from deadline.unreal_submitter._version import version as _current_version
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+GITHUB_LATEST_RELEASE_URL = (
+    "https://api.github.com/repos/aws-deadline/deadline-cloud-for-unreal-engine/releases/latest"
+)
+RELEASES_PAGE_URL = "https://github.com/aws-deadline/deadline-cloud-for-unreal-engine/releases"
+SETUP_GUIDE_URL = "https://aws-deadline.github.io/unreal-engine/setup-submitter/"
+_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 5
+
+
+def _is_update_notification_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Check whether the user has opted in to update notifications."""
+    return config_file.str2bool(config_file.get_setting("settings.submitter_update_notification"))
+
+
+def _get_current_version() -> str:
+    """Return the currently installed plugin version string."""
+    return _current_version
+
+
+def _fetch_latest_version() -> str | None:
+    """Fetch the latest release tag from GitHub.
+
+    Returns:
+        The version string (e.g. ``"0.6.5"``) or ``None`` on failure.
+    """
+    # Pin to GitHub REST API v3 JSON format so the response shape stays stable.
+    req = urllib.request.Request(
+        GITHUB_LATEST_RELEASE_URL,
+        headers={"Accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json"},
+    )
+
+    # Build a strict TLS context: enforce TLS 1.2+ and use the botocore CA
+    # bundle so certificate verification works even in embedded Python
+    # environments (e.g. Unreal) that may lack system root certificates.
+    ctx = ssl.create_default_context(ssl.Purpose.SERVER_AUTH)
+    ctx.minimum_version = ssl.TLSVersion.TLSv1_2
+    ctx.load_verify_locations(_get_botocore_ca_bundle())
+
+    try:
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, context=ctx) as resp:
+            data = json.loads(resp.read().decode("utf-8"))
+            tag = data.get("tag_name", "")
+            return tag.lstrip("v") if tag else None
+    except urllib.error.URLError:
+        return None
+    except (socket.timeout, TimeoutError):
+        return None
+    except json.JSONDecodeError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _get_botocore_ca_bundle() -> str:
+    """Return the path to botocore's bundled CA certificate bundle."""
+    return os.path.join(os.path.dirname(botocore.__file__), "cacert.pem")
+
+
+def _is_update_available(current: str, latest: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if *latest* is strictly newer than *current*."""
+    try:
+        return Version(latest) > Version(current)
+    except InvalidVersion:
+        return False
+
+
+def safe_check_and_show_update_dialog() -> bool:
+    """Check GitHub for a newer release and show an Unreal dialog if found.
+
+    Returns:
+        ``True`` if the user chose to open the download page (caller may
+        want to skip opening the submitter), ``False`` otherwise.
+    """
+    try:
+        return _check_and_show_update_dialog()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("Update check failed -- skipping", exc_info=True)
+        return False
+
+
+def _check_and_show_update_dialog() -> bool:
+    """Internal implementation of the update check and dialog flow."""
+    if not _is_update_notification_enabled():
+        return False
+
+    current_version = _get_current_version()
+
+    latest_version = _fetch_latest_version()
+
+    if not latest_version:
+        return False
+
+    if not _is_update_available(current_version, latest_version):
+        return False
+
+    message = (
+        f"Version {latest_version} of Deadline Cloud for Unreal Engine "
+        f"submitter is now available.\n\n"
+        f"Current: {current_version}  ->  New: {latest_version}\n\n"
+        f"View release notes:\n{RELEASES_PAGE_URL}\n\n"
+        "To disable these notifications, go to Edit > Project Settings > "
+        'search for "Deadline" and uncheck "Show Submitter Update '
+        'Notifications" under General Settings.\n\n'
+        "Click 'Yes' to open the release page, or 'No' to dismiss."
+    )
+
+    response = unreal.EditorDialog.show_message(
+        "New version available",
+        message,
+        unreal.AppMsgType.YES_NO,
+    )
+
+    if response == unreal.AppReturnType.YES:
+        try:
+            webbrowser.open(RELEASES_PAGE_URL)
+        except Exception:
+            return False
+
+        guide_message = (
+            "Please follow the setup guide to install the new release and "
+            "then restart Unreal Engine to use the new version.\n\n"
+            f"Setup guide:\n{SETUP_GUIDE_URL}\n\n"
+            "Click 'Yes' to open the setup guide, or 'No' to dismiss."
+        )
+
+        guide_response = unreal.EditorDialog.show_message(
+            "Installation Guide",
+            guide_message,
+            unreal.AppMsgType.YES_NO,
+        )
+
+        if guide_response == unreal.AppReturnType.YES:
+            try:
+                webbrowser.open(SETUP_GUIDE_URL)
+            except Exception:
+                logger.debug("Failed to open setup guide URL", exc_info=True)
+        return True
+
+    return False

src/unreal_plugin/Source/UnrealDeadlineCloudService/Private/DeadlineCloudJobSettings/DeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings.cpp

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ namespace DeadlineSettingsKeys
     const FString AutoAccept = TEXT("settings.auto_accept");
     const FString ConflictResolution = TEXT("settings.conflict_resolution");
     const FString LogLevel = TEXT("settings.log_level");
+    const FString SubmitterUpdateNotification = TEXT("settings.submitter_update_notification");
 }
 
 UDeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings::UDeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings()
@@ -329,6 +330,9 @@ void UDeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings::RefreshFromDefaultProfileInternal()
 
 		FString CurrentLoggingLevel = Library->GetAWSStringConfigSetting(DeadlineSettingsKeys::LogLevel);
 		WorkStationConfiguration.General.CurrentLoggingLevel = CurrentLoggingLevel;
+
+		FString SubmitterUpdateNotification = Library->GetAWSStringConfigSetting(DeadlineSettingsKeys::SubmitterUpdateNotification);
+		WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications = SubmitterUpdateNotification != TEXT("false");
     }
 }
 

src/unreal_plugin/Source/UnrealDeadlineCloudService/Private/Tests/DeadlinePluginTest_UpdateDialog.spec.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+
+#pragma once
+#include "Misc/AutomationTest.h"
+#include "CoreMinimal.h"
+#include "Engine/Engine.h"
+#include "UObject/UObjectGlobals.h"
+#include "DeadlineCloudJobSettings/DeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings.h"
+#include "PythonAPILibraries/DeadlineCloudSettingsLibrary.h"
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Spec tests for the update dialog flow.
+//
+// The update-notification dialog itself is driven by Python
+// (update_check.py -> unreal.EditorDialog.show_message) and is covered by
+// the Python unit tests in test_update_check.py.
+//
+// These C++ automation tests verify the settings-layer contract that the
+// Python code depends on:
+//   - The ShowUpdateNotifications property defaults to true.
+//   - The config key "settings.submitter_update_notification" is readable
+//     and returns a valid value via the settings library.
+//   - Toggling the setting via the UI persists through SaveToFile and
+//     is correctly restored by RefreshFromDefaultProfileInternal.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// 1. Default value: a fresh struct should have notifications enabled
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IMPLEMENT_SIMPLE_AUTOMATION_TEST(
+	FUpdateDialog_SettingDefaultIsTrue,
+	"DeadlineCloud.UpdateDialog.Setting.DefaultIsTrue",
+	EAutomationTestFlags::EditorContext | EAutomationTestFlags::EngineFilter)
+
+bool FUpdateDialog_SettingDefaultIsTrue::RunTest(const FString& Parameters)
+{
+	FDeadlineCloudGeneralPluginSettings DefaultGeneral;
+	TestTrue(
+		TEXT("ShowUpdateNotifications should default to true on a fresh struct"),
+		DefaultGeneral.ShowUpdateNotifications);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// 2. Save-and-reload round-trip through the config file
+//    Toggles the setting off, saves to the Deadline Cloud config file via
+//    SaveToFile(), reloads via RefreshFromDefaultProfileInternal(), and
+//    verifies the bool was correctly persisted as the string "false" and
+//    mapped back to false. Then does the same for true. Restores original.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+IMPLEMENT_SIMPLE_AUTOMATION_TEST(
+	FUpdateDialog_SettingSaveAndReloadRoundTrip,
+	"DeadlineCloud.UpdateDialog.Setting.SaveAndReloadRoundTrip",
+	EAutomationTestFlags::EditorContext | EAutomationTestFlags::EngineFilter)
+
+bool FUpdateDialog_SettingSaveAndReloadRoundTrip::RunTest(const FString& Parameters)
+{
+	UDeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings* Settings = UDeadlineCloudDeveloperSettings::GetMutable();
+	TestNotNull(TEXT("DeveloperSettings singleton must exist"), Settings);
+	if (!Settings) return false;
+
+	UDeadlineCloudSettingsLibrary* Library = UDeadlineCloudSettingsLibrary::Get();
+	if (!Library)
+	{
+		AddWarning(TEXT("DeadlineCloudSettingsLibrary not available (Python not initialized). Skipping round-trip test."));
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	const bool bOriginal = Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications;
+	const FString ConfigKey = TEXT("settings.submitter_update_notification");
+
+	// --- Toggle OFF, save, reload, verify ---
+	Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications = false;
+	Settings->SaveToFile();
+
+	FString SavedValue = Library->GetAWSStringConfigSetting(ConfigKey);
+	TestTrue(
+		TEXT("Config should contain 'false' after saving with notifications off"),
+		SavedValue.Equals(TEXT("false"), ESearchCase::IgnoreCase));
+
+	Settings->RefreshFromDefaultProfileInternal();
+	TestFalse(
+		TEXT("ShowUpdateNotifications should be false after reload"),
+		Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications);
+
+	// --- Toggle ON, save, reload, verify ---
+	Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications = true;
+	Settings->SaveToFile();
+
+	SavedValue = Library->GetAWSStringConfigSetting(ConfigKey);
+	TestTrue(
+		TEXT("Config should contain 'true' after saving with notifications on"),
+		SavedValue.Equals(TEXT("true"), ESearchCase::IgnoreCase));
+
+	Settings->RefreshFromDefaultProfileInternal();
+	TestTrue(
+		TEXT("ShowUpdateNotifications should be true after reload"),
+		Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications);
+
+	// --- Restore original ---
+	Settings->WorkStationConfiguration.General.ShowUpdateNotifications = bOriginal;
+	Settings->SaveToFile();
+
+	return true;
+}

src/unreal_plugin/Source/UnrealDeadlineCloudService/Public/PythonAPILibraries/DeadlineCloudSettingsLibrary.h

@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@ struct UNREALDEADLINECLOUDSERVICE_API FDeadlineCloudGeneralPluginSettings
 	UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, meta=(GetOptions="GetLoggingLevels", DisplayPriority=8, Category="General Settings"))
 	FString CurrentLoggingLevel;
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether to show update notifications when a newer version of the plugin is available on GitHub.
+	 */
+	UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, meta=(DisplayName="Show submitter update notifications", DisplayPriority=9, Category="General Settings"))
+	bool ShowUpdateNotifications = true;
+
 };
 
 /**