diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 77f4877272..335dddfcd4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ project("vtm" CXX)
 # project("term")
 # project("calc")
 
+set(CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM "3.5" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 20)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 
@@ -29,16 +30,70 @@ elseif (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "GNU")
     target_compile_options(vtm PRIVATE -fconstexpr-loop-limit=100000000)
 endif()
 
-find_package(Freetype 2.13.2 QUIET)
-find_package(harfbuzz REQUIRED)
-find_package(Lua 5.4  REQUIRED)
-find_package(lunasvg QUIET)
-find_package(Stb     QUIET)
+find_package(Freetype CONFIG QUIET)
+find_package(harfbuzz CONFIG QUIET)
+find_package(lunasvg         QUIET)
+find_package(Stb             QUIET)
 
-if(Freetype_FOUND)
+if(NOT Freetype_FOUND)
+    find_package(Freetype 2.13.2 QUIET)
+endif()
+if(NOT harfbuzz_FOUND)
+    find_package(harfbuzz 12.2.0 QUIET)
+endif()
+if(WIN32 OR VCPKG_TOOLCHAIN)
+    message(STATUS "Windows/vcpkg environment detected. Using built-in Lua target.")
+    find_package(Lua 5.4 REQUIRED)
+    set(Lua_FOUND TRUE)
+else()
+    find_package(Lua 5.4 QUIET)
+endif()
+
+if(Lua_FOUND)
+    message(STATUS "Suitable Lua found via find_package: ${LUA_VERSION_STRING}")
+    if(NOT TARGET Lua::Lua)
+        add_library(Lua::Lua INTERFACE IMPORTED)
+        set_target_properties(Lua::Lua PROPERTIES INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${LUA_LIBRARIES}")
+        set(LUA_INCLUDE_DIR "${LUA_INCLUDE_DIR}")
+    endif()
+else()
+    message(STATUS "Lua 5.4 NOT found in the system. Downloading clean source from lua.org...")
+    if(POLICY CMP0135)
+        cmake_policy(SET CMP0135 NEW)
+    endif()
+    FetchContent_Declare(lua_source
+                         URL           https://www.lua.org/ftp/lua-5.4.8.tar.gz
+                         URL_HASH      SHA256=4f18ddae154e793e46eeab727c59ef1c0c0c2b744e7b94219710d76f530629ae
+                         SOURCE_SUBDIR "DONOTEXIST")
+    FetchContent_MakeAvailable(lua_source)
+    set(LUA_CUSTOM_CMAKE "${lua_source_BINARY_DIR}/CMakeLists.txt")
+    file(WRITE "${LUA_CUSTOM_CMAKE}" [====[
+        cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.22)
+        project(lua C)
+        file(GLOB LUA_CORE_SRC "src/*.c")
+        list(REMOVE_ITEM LUA_CORE_SRC "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/lua.c" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/luac.c")
+        add_library(lua STATIC ${LUA_CORE_SRC})
+        target_include_directories(lua PUBLIC src)
+        target_compile_definitions(lua PRIVATE LUA_USE_DLOPEN=0 LUA_DL_DLL=0 LUA_DL_DLOPEN=0)
+    ]====])
+    file(COPY "${LUA_CUSTOM_CMAKE}" DESTINATION "${lua_source_SOURCE_DIR}")
+    add_subdirectory("${lua_source_SOURCE_DIR}" "${lua_source_BINARY_DIR}")
+
+    if(NOT TARGET Lua::Lua)
+        add_library(Lua::Lua ALIAS lua)
+    endif()
+    set(LUA_INCLUDE_DIR "${lua_source_SOURCE_DIR}/src")
+endif()
+
+if(Freetype_FOUND AND harfbuzz_FOUND)
     message(STATUS "Suitable FreeType found via find_package: ${FREETYPE_VERSION_STRING}")
+    message(STATUS "Suitable HarfBuzz found via find_package: ${harfbuzz_VERSION}")
 else()
-    message(STATUS "Suitable FreeType NOT found (min 2.13.2 required). Downloading via FetchContent...")
+    message(STATUS "FreeType or HarfBuzz not found/outdated (FT 2.13.2 and HB 12.2.0 required). Downloading both via FetchContent...")
+
+    unset(Freetype_FOUND CACHE)
+    unset(harfbuzz_FOUND CACHE)
+
     set(FT_WITH_ZLIB     OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
     set(FT_WITH_BZIP2    OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
     set(FT_WITH_PNG      OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
@@ -50,8 +105,27 @@ else()
     if(NOT TARGET Freetype::Freetype)
         add_library(Freetype::Freetype ALIAS freetype)
     endif()
-    set(FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS "${freetype_SOURCE_DIR}/include"
-                              "${freetype_BINARY_DIR}/include")
+
+    set(HB_HAVE_FREETYPE      ON  CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_BUILD_TESTS        OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_BUILD_UTILS        OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_HAVE_GOBJECT       OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_HAVE_INTROSPECTION OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_BUILD_DOCS         OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(HB_BUILD_SUBSET       OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(Freetype_DIR                   "${freetype_BINARY_DIR}"         CACHE PATH "" FORCE)
+    set(FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIR_ft2build  "${freetype_SOURCE_DIR}/include" CACHE PATH "" FORCE)
+    set(FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIR_freetype2 "${freetype_SOURCE_DIR}/include" CACHE PATH "" FORCE)
+    FetchContent_Declare(harfbuzz
+                         GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz.git
+                         GIT_TAG        12.2.0)
+    FetchContent_MakeAvailable(harfbuzz)
+    if(NOT TARGET harfbuzz::harfbuzz)
+        add_library(harfbuzz::harfbuzz ALIAS harfbuzz)
+    endif()
+
+    set(FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS "${freetype_SOURCE_DIR}/include" "${freetype_BINARY_DIR}/include")
+    set(HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS "${harfbuzz_SOURCE_DIR}/src"     "${harfbuzz_BINARY_DIR}/src")
 endif()
 
 if(lunasvg_FOUND)
@@ -88,9 +162,6 @@ else()
     add_library(stb::stb ALIAS stb_interface)
 endif()
 
-add_library(Lua::Lua INTERFACE IMPORTED)
-set_target_properties(Lua::Lua PROPERTIES INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${LUA_LIBRARIES}")
-
 target_include_directories(vtm PRIVATE ${FREETYPE_INCLUDE_DIRS}
                                        ${HARFBUZZ_INCLUDE_DIRS}
                                        ${LUA_INCLUDE_DIR})
diff --git a/doc/build.md b/doc/build.md
index bff467b5c3..e194353f2f 100644
--- a/doc/build.md
+++ b/doc/build.md
@@ -4,29 +4,40 @@
 
 ### Unix
 
-Build-time dependencies
- - `C++20 compiler`: [GCC 12](https://gcc.gnu.org/projects/cxx-status.html) or [Clang 16](https://clang.llvm.org/cxx_status.html)
- - `cmake` (minimum version v3.22)
- - `git`
- - `FreeType` (minimum version v2.13.2, will be fetched automatically via CMake if not found)
- - `HarfBuzz`
- - `Lua` (minimum version v5.4)
- - `LunaSVG` (Will be built automatically from source via CMake if not found in the system)
- - `stb` (Will be fetched automatically via CMake if not found)
-
-Examples of installing dependencies:
-
-OS      | Dependency installation command | Notes
---------|---------------------------------|------
-Linux   | `sudo apt install libfreetype-dev libharfbuzz-dev liblua5.4-dev git cmake` | `stb` and `LunaSVG` are managed automatically during CMake configuration.
-FreeBSD | `pkg install freetype2 harfbuzz lua54 cmake` | Best results with GCC compiler and 6GB of RAM.
-MacOS   | `brew install freetype harfbuzz lua cmake`
-
-Use any terminal as a build environment
+#### Required System Dependencies
 
-```
+- `C++20 compiler`: [GCC 12+](https://gcc.gnu.org/projects/cxx-status.html) or [Clang 16+](https://clang.llvm.org/cxx_status.html)
+- `CMake` (minimum version v3.22)
+- `Git`
+
+#### Optional Dependencies
+
+The following libraries are required but will be automatically downloaded and built via CMake if they are missing or outdated in your system:
+- `FreeType` (minimum version v2.13.2)
+- `HarfBuzz` (minimum version v12.2.0)
+- `LunaSVG` (minimum version v3.5.0)
+- `Lua` (minimum version v5.4)
+- `stb`
+
+#### Examples of installing system dependencies:
+
+OS                     | Dependency installation command              | Notes
+-----------------------|----------------------------------------------|------
+ Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) | `sudo apt install git cmake build-essential` |
+ FreeBSD               | `pkg install lua54 cmake git`                | Best results with GCC compiler and 6GB of RAM.
+ macOS                 | `brew install lua cmake git`                 |
+
+#### Build Steps
+
+Run the following commands in your terminal:
+
+```bash
 git clone https://github.com/directvt/vtm.git
 cd vtm
+
+# Specify the required compiler if needed:
+# export CXX=/usr/bin/g++-12
+
 cmake . -B bin
 cmake --build bin
 sudo cmake --install bin
@@ -34,17 +45,18 @@ vtm
 ```
 
 > Installation Note:
-> - By default, files are installed to system directories (e.g., `/usr/local/bin/`). If you want to install vtm to a user directory without using sudo (e.g., `$HOME/.local/`; ensure that this directory is added to your $PATH), use the `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` flag during the cmake configuration step:
->    ```bash
->    cmake . -B bin -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$HOME/.local
->    cmake --build bin
->    cmake --install bin
->    ```
+> - By default, files are installed to system directories (e.g., `/usr/local/bin/`). If you want to install `vtm` to a user directory without using `sudo` (e.g., `$HOME/.local/bin/`), specify the `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` flag during the configuration step. Ensure that this directory is added to your `$PATH`:
+> ```bash
+> cmake . -B bin -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=\$HOME/.local
+> cmake --build bin
+> cmake --install bin
+> ```
 
 ### Windows
 
-Build-time dependencies
- - [MSVC](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/)
+#### Build-time Dependencies
+
+ - [`Visual Studio 2022`](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/) with the following workloads enabled:
    - Desktop Development with C++
    - C++ CMake tools for Windows
    - Git for Windows
@@ -56,4 +68,9 @@ Build-time dependencies
    - `LunaSVG`
    - `stb`
 
-To manually compile vtm, launch Visual Studio and clone the repository https://github.com/directvt/vtm.git, after cloning is complete, double-click on the Folder View in Solution Explorer, wait for the dependencies to initialize (may take several minutes), select the required configuration on the top menu toolbar, and click the `Build All` menu button.
\ No newline at end of file
+#### Build Steps
+
+- Launch Visual Studio and clone the repository: `https://github.com/directvt/vtm`.
+- Wait for the CMake generation and dependencies initialization to complete (this may take several minutes).
+- Select your target build configuration (e.g., `1.Win-x64-Debug` or `PROD-Win-x64`) from the top toolbar configuration dropdown.
+- Open the `Build` menu and click `Build All`.
diff --git a/src/netxs/desktopio/application.hpp b/src/netxs/desktopio/application.hpp
index 189dbb06c7..05e028c8c0 100644
--- a/src/netxs/desktopio/application.hpp
+++ b/src/netxs/desktopio/application.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace netxs::app
 
 namespace netxs::app::shared
 {
-    static const auto version = "v2026.06.28";
+    static const auto version = "v2026.06.29";
     static const auto repository = "https://github.com/directvt/vtm";
     static const auto usr_config = "~/.config/vtm/settings.xml"s;
     static const auto sys_config = "/etc/vtm/settings.xml"s;