Implemented the setup wizard welcome step as requested. Added `web/src/c

docs/api.md

@@ -326,12 +326,14 @@ Request:
 ### `GET /api/system/hardware`
 
 Returns the current detected hardware backend, supported
-codecs, backends, and any detection notes.
+codecs, backends, selection reason, probe summary, and any
+detection notes.
 
 ### `GET /api/system/hardware/probe-log`
 
 Returns the per-encoder probe log with success/failure
-status and stderr excerpts.
+status, selected-flag metadata, summary text, and stderr
+excerpts.
 
 ### `GET /api/system/resources`
 

docs/hardware.md

@@ -3,17 +3,26 @@ title: Hardware Acceleration
 description: GPU detection, vendor selection, and fallback behavior.
 ---
 
-Alchemist detects hardware automatically at startup and
-selects the best available encoder. Override in
+Alchemist detects hardware automatically at startup,
+actively probes every plausible backend/codec candidate,
+and selects a single active device/backend with a
+deterministic scoring policy. Override in
 **Settings → Hardware**.
 
-## Detection order (auto mode)
+## Detection flow (auto mode)
 
-1. Apple VideoToolbox (macOS only)
-2. NVIDIA NVENC (checks `/dev/nvidiactl`)
-3. Intel VAAPI, then QSV fallback (checks `/dev/dri/renderD128`)
-4. AMD VAAPI (Linux) or AMF (Windows)
-5. CPU fallback (SVT-AV1, x265, x264)
+1. Discover plausible candidates
+   - Apple VideoToolbox on macOS
+   - NVIDIA NVENC when NVIDIA is present
+   - Intel / AMD render nodes on Linux via `/sys/class/drm/renderD*`
+   - AMD AMF on Windows
+2. Actively probe every candidate encoder with a short
+   FFmpeg test encode
+3. Group successful probes by device path / vendor
+4. Choose one active device/backend using codec coverage,
+   backend preference, and stable vendor ordering
+5. Fall back to CPU only if no GPU probe succeeds and CPU
+   fallback is enabled
 
 ## Encoder support by vendor
 
@@ -27,9 +36,19 @@ selects the best available encoder. Override in
 
 ## Hardware probe
 
-Alchemist probes each encoder at startup with a test encode.
-See results in **Settings → Hardware → Probe Log**. Probe
-failures include the FFmpeg stderr explaining why.
+Alchemist probes each encoder at startup with a test encode
+using a standardized `256x256` lavfi input.
+
+See results in **Settings → Hardware → Probe Log**. The UI
+shows:
+
+- the selected device/backend reason
+- probe counts (attempted / succeeded / failed)
+- per-probe summaries for success and failure
+- full FFmpeg stderr for failed probes
+
+On Linux, explicit device paths only apply to render-node
+backends such as VAAPI and QSV.
 
 ## Vendor-specific guides
 

src/main.rs

@@ -790,6 +790,8 @@ mod tests {
             supported_codecs: vec!["av1".to_string()],
             backends: Vec::new(),
             detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+            selection_reason: String::new(),
+            probe_summary: hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
         }));
         let hardware_probe_log = Arc::new(RwLock::new(hardware::HardwareProbeLog::default()));
         let transcoder = Arc::new(Transcoder::new());

src/media/ffmpeg/mod.rs

@@ -851,6 +851,8 @@ mod tests {
                 device_path: Some(path.to_string()),
             }],
             detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+            selection_reason: String::new(),
+            probe_summary: crate::system::hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -866,14 +868,6 @@ mod tests {
                 stderr: Vec::new(),
             })
         }
-
-        fn status(
-            &self,
-            _program: &str,
-            _args: &[String],
-        ) -> std::io::Result<std::process::ExitStatus> {
-            Ok(exit_status(true))
-        }
     }
 
     fn exit_status(success: bool) -> std::process::ExitStatus {

src/media/pipeline.rs

@@ -1534,6 +1534,8 @@ mod tests {
             supported_codecs: vec!["av1".to_string(), "hevc".to_string(), "h264".to_string()],
             backends: Vec::new(),
             detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+            selection_reason: String::new(),
+            probe_summary: crate::system::hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
         }));
         let (tx, _rx) = broadcast::channel(8);
         let (jobs_tx, _) = broadcast::channel(100);

src/server/tests.rs

@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ where
         supported_codecs: vec!["av1".to_string(), "hevc".to_string(), "h264".to_string()],
         backends: Vec::new(),
         detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+        selection_reason: String::new(),
+        probe_summary: crate::system::hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
     }));
     let hardware_probe_log = Arc::new(RwLock::new(HardwareProbeLog::default()));
     let (tx, _rx) = broadcast::channel(tx_capacity);
@@ -468,6 +470,10 @@ async fn hardware_probe_log_route_returns_runtime_log()
             device_path: None,
             success: false,
             stderr: Some("Unknown encoder".to_string()),
+            vendor: "apple".to_string(),
+            codec: "hevc".to_string(),
+            selected: false,
+            summary: "Encoder unavailable in current FFmpeg build".to_string(),
         }],
     };
 

tests/generated_media.rs

@@ -314,6 +314,8 @@ where
             supported_codecs: vec!["av1".to_string(), "hevc".to_string(), "h264".to_string()],
             backends: Vec::new(),
             detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+            selection_reason: String::new(),
+            probe_summary: alchemist::system::hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
         })),
         Arc::new(broadcast::channel(16).0),
         event_channels,

tests/integration_ffmpeg.rs

@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ where
             supported_codecs: vec!["av1".to_string(), "hevc".to_string(), "h264".to_string()],
             backends: Vec::new(),
             detection_notes: Vec::new(),
+            selection_reason: String::new(),
+            probe_summary: alchemist::system::hardware::ProbeSummary::default(),
         })),
         Arc::new(broadcast::channel(16).0),
         event_channels,

web/src/components/HardwareSettings.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ interface HardwareInfo {
     vendor: string;
     device_path: string | null;
     supported_codecs: string[];
+    selection_reason?: string;
+    probe_summary?: {
+        attempted: number;
+        succeeded: number;
+        failed: number;
+    };
     backends?: Array<{
         kind: string;
         codec: string;
@@ -17,10 +23,14 @@ interface HardwareInfo {
 }
 
 interface HardwareProbeEntry {
+    vendor: string;
+    codec: string;
     encoder: string;
     backend: string;
     device_path: string | null;
     success: boolean;
+    selected: boolean;
+    summary: string;
     stderr?: string | null;
 }
 
@@ -205,8 +215,6 @@ export default function HardwareSettings() {
     const vendor = normalizeVendor(info.vendor);
     const details = getVendorDetails(info.vendor);
     const detectionNotes = info.detection_notes ?? [];
-    const failedProbeEntries = probeLog.entries.filter((entry) => !entry.success);
-    const shouldShowProbeLog = vendor === "cpu" || failedProbeEntries.length > 0;
     const intelVaapiDetected = vendor === "intel" && (info.backends ?? []).some((backend) => backend.kind.toLowerCase() === "vaapi");
 
     const handleHardwareSettingsBlur = (event: React.FocusEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
@@ -254,6 +262,14 @@ export default function HardwareSettings() {
                                 {info.device_path || (vendor === "nvidia" ? "NVIDIA Driver (Direct)" : "Auto-detected Interface")}
                             </div>
                         </div>
+                        {info.selection_reason && (
+                            <div>
+                                <span className="text-xs font-medium text-helios-slate block mb-1.5 ml-0.5">Selection Reason</span>
+                                <div className="bg-helios-surface-soft border border-helios-line/30 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-xs text-helios-slate shadow-inner">
+                                    {info.selection_reason}
+                                </div>
+                            </div>
+                        )}
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
@@ -280,6 +296,23 @@ export default function HardwareSettings() {
                             </div>
                         )}
                     </div>
+
+                    {info.probe_summary && (
+                        <div className="mt-4 grid grid-cols-3 gap-2 text-xs">
+                            <div className="rounded-lg bg-helios-surface-soft border border-helios-line/20 px-3 py-2">
+                                <div className="text-helios-slate">Attempted</div>
+                                <div className="mt-1 font-bold text-helios-ink">{info.probe_summary.attempted}</div>
+                            </div>
+                            <div className="rounded-lg bg-emerald-500/10 border border-emerald-500/20 px-3 py-2">
+                                <div className="text-emerald-500">Succeeded</div>
+                                <div className="mt-1 font-bold text-emerald-500">{info.probe_summary.succeeded}</div>
+                            </div>
+                            <div className="rounded-lg bg-red-500/10 border border-red-500/20 px-3 py-2">
+                                <div className="text-red-500">Failed</div>
+                                <div className="mt-1 font-bold text-red-500">{info.probe_summary.failed}</div>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    )}
                 </div>
             </div>
 
@@ -331,49 +364,52 @@ export default function HardwareSettings() {
                 </details>
             )}
 
-            {shouldShowProbeLog && (
-                <details className="rounded-lg border border-helios-line/20 bg-helios-surface-soft/30 px-4 py-3">
-                    <summary className="cursor-pointer text-xs font-medium text-helios-slate hover:text-helios-ink">
-                        Show detection log
-                    </summary>
-                    <div className="mt-3 space-y-2">
-                        {probeLog.entries.length > 0 ? probeLog.entries.map((entry, index) => {
-                            const firstLine = entry.stderr?.split("\n")[0]?.trim();
-                            const iconClassName = entry.success ? "text-emerald-500" : "text-red-500";
+            <details className="rounded-lg border border-helios-line/20 bg-helios-surface-soft/30 px-4 py-3">
+                <summary className="cursor-pointer text-xs font-medium text-helios-slate hover:text-helios-ink">
+                    Show detection log
+                </summary>
+                <div className="mt-3 space-y-2">
+                    {probeLog.entries.length > 0 ? probeLog.entries.map((entry, index) => {
+                        const iconClassName = entry.success ? "text-emerald-500" : "text-red-500";
 
-                            return (
-                                <details
-                                    key={`${entry.encoder}-${entry.backend}-${entry.device_path ?? "auto"}-${index}`}
-                                    className="rounded-md border border-helios-line/15 bg-helios-surface/60 px-3 py-2"
-                                >
-                                    <summary className="cursor-pointer text-xs text-helios-slate">
-                                        <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-2">
-                                            {entry.success ? <CheckCircle2 size={12} className={iconClassName} /> : <XCircle size={12} className={iconClassName} />}
-                                            <span className="font-medium text-helios-ink">{entry.encoder}</span>
-                                            {!entry.success && firstLine && (
-                                                <span className="text-helios-slate">{firstLine}</span>
-                                            )}
+                        return (
+                            <details
+                                key={`${entry.encoder}-${entry.backend}-${entry.device_path ?? "auto"}-${index}`}
+                                className="rounded-md border border-helios-line/15 bg-helios-surface/60 px-3 py-2"
+                            >
+                                <summary className="cursor-pointer text-xs text-helios-slate">
+                                    <span className="inline-flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+                                        {entry.success ? <CheckCircle2 size={12} className={iconClassName} /> : <XCircle size={12} className={iconClassName} />}
+                                        <span className="font-medium text-helios-ink">{entry.encoder}</span>
+                                        <span className="rounded bg-helios-surface-soft px-2 py-0.5 font-mono text-[11px] uppercase text-helios-slate">
+                                            {entry.codec}
                                         </span>
-                                    </summary>
-                                    <div className="mt-2 space-y-2">
-                                        <p className="text-xs text-helios-slate">
-                                            {entry.backend}
-                                            {entry.device_path ? ` • ${entry.device_path}` : ""}
-                                        </p>
-                                        {entry.stderr && (
-                                            <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded bg-helios-main/70 p-2 text-xs text-helios-slate font-mono whitespace-pre-wrap break-words">
-                                                {entry.stderr}
-                                            </pre>
+                                        {entry.selected && (
+                                            <span className="rounded bg-helios-solar/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-semibold text-helios-solar">
+                                                Selected
+                                            </span>
                                         )}
-                                    </div>
-                                </details>
-                            );
-                        }) : (
-                            <p className="text-xs text-helios-slate">No encoder probes were recorded during detection.</p>
-                        )}
-                    </div>
-                </details>
-            )}
+                                        <span className="text-helios-slate">{entry.summary}</span>
+                                    </span>
+                                </summary>
+                                <div className="mt-2 space-y-2">
+                                    <p className="text-xs text-helios-slate">
+                                        {entry.vendor} • {entry.backend}
+                                        {entry.device_path ? ` • ${entry.device_path}` : ""}
+                                    </p>
+                                    {entry.stderr && (
+                                        <pre className="overflow-x-auto rounded bg-helios-main/70 p-2 text-xs text-helios-slate font-mono whitespace-pre-wrap break-words">
+                                            {entry.stderr}
+                                        </pre>
+                                    )}
+                                </div>
+                            </details>
+                        );
+                    }) : (
+                        <p className="text-xs text-helios-slate">No encoder probes were recorded during detection.</p>
+                    )}
+                </div>
+            </details>
 
             {settings && (
                 <div

web/src/components/SetupWizard.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import ProcessingStep from "./setup/ProcessingStep";
 import ReviewStep from "./setup/ReviewStep";
 import RuntimeStep from "./setup/RuntimeStep";
 import SetupFrame from "./setup/SetupFrame";
+import WelcomeStep from "./setup/WelcomeStep";
 import {
     DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_DRAFT,
     DEFAULT_SCHEDULE_DRAFT,
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ import type {
 } from "./setup/types";
 
 export default function SetupWizard() {
-    const [step, setStep] = useState(1);
+    const [step, setStep] = useState(0);
     const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
     const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
     const [hardware, setHardware] = useState<HardwareInfo | null>(null);
@@ -153,6 +154,12 @@ export default function SetupWizard() {
 
     const currentStep = (() => {
         switch (step) {
+            case 0:
+                return (
+                    <WelcomeStep
+                        onGetStarted={() => setStep(1)}
+                    />
+                );
             case 1:
                 return (
                     <AdminAccountStep

web/src/components/setup/SetupFrame.tsx

@@ -26,16 +26,18 @@ export default function SetupFrame({ step, configMutable, error, submitting, onB
         <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 min-h-0">
 
             {/* Progress bar — 2px solar line at top of app-main */}
-            <div className="h-0.5 w-full bg-helios-surface-soft shrink-0">
-                <motion.div
-                    className="bg-helios-solar h-full"
-                    initial={{ width: 0 }}
-                    animate={{
-                        width: `${(step / SETUP_STEP_COUNT) * 100}%`
-                    }}
-                    transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
-                />
-            </div>
+            {step > 0 && (
+                <div className="h-0.5 w-full bg-helios-surface-soft shrink-0">
+                    <motion.div
+                        className="bg-helios-solar h-full"
+                        initial={{ width: 0 }}
+                        animate={{
+                            width: `${(step / SETUP_STEP_COUNT) * 100}%`
+                        }}
+                        transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
+                    />
+                </div>
+            )}
 
             {/* Read-only config warning */}
             {!configMutable && (
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ export default function SetupFrame({ step, configMutable, error, submitting, onB
             </div>
 
             {/* Navigation footer */}
-            {step < 6 && (
+            {step > 0 && step < 6 && (
                 <div className="shrink-0 border-t border-helios-line/20
                     bg-helios-surface/50 px-6 py-4">
                     <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto flex items-center

web/src/components/setup/WelcomeStep.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { motion } from "framer-motion";
+import { ArrowRight } from "lucide-react";
+
+interface WelcomeStepProps {
+    onGetStarted: () => void;
+}
+
+export default function WelcomeStep(
+    { onGetStarted }: WelcomeStepProps
+) {
+    return (
+        <motion.div
+            key="welcome"
+            initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 16 }}
+            animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
+            exit={{ opacity: 0, y: -16 }}
+            transition={{ duration: 0.3, ease: "easeOut" }}
+            className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center min-h-[60vh] gap-8 text-center px-6"
+        >
+            <div className="space-y-3">
+                <h1 className="text-5xl font-extrabold tracking-tight text-helios-ink leading-none">
+                    Alchemist
+                </h1>
+                <div className="h-0.5 w-12 bg-helios-solar mx-auto rounded-full" />
+            </div>
+
+            <p className="text-base text-helios-slate max-w-sm leading-relaxed">
+                Self-hosted video transcoding.
+                Set it up once, let it run.
+            </p>
+
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={onGetStarted}
+                className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg bg-helios-solar px-8 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-helios-main hover:opacity-90 transition-opacity"
+            >
+                Get Started
+                <ArrowRight size={16} />
+            </button>
+        </motion.div>
+    );
+}