diff --git a/program/Appconfig.cs b/program/Appconfig.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e56a470
--- /dev/null
+++ b/program/Appconfig.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using System;
+using System.Linq;
+
+public static class AppConfig
+{
+    // Computed once, cached forever — reading it anywhere costs nothing.
+    public static readonly bool DebugMode =
+        Environment.GetCommandLineArgs().Contains("--debug");
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/program/MainWindow.cs b/program/MainWindow.cs
index 65e15cc..9ee24f4 100644
--- a/program/MainWindow.cs
+++ b/program/MainWindow.cs
@@ -143,9 +143,16 @@
         _soundWindow.CaseSelected  += OnCaseSelected;
 
 
-        OnArduinoConnectionChanged(false);
+        // OnArduinoConnectionChanged(false);
+
+        StartAutoDetectOnLoad();
+
+        if (AppConfig.DebugMode)
+            this.Title = (this.Title ?? "App") + "  [DEBUG MODE]";
     }
 
+    
+
     // ---------- settings panel ----------
 
     private void OnSettingClicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
@@ -174,9 +181,31 @@
         RootNoteBook.CurrentPage = PageSplash;
     }
 
+    private async void StartAutoDetectOnLoad()
+    {
+        // Lock down splash options until we know the device state.
+        OnArduinoConnectionChanged(false);
+
+        string found = await _arduino.DetectPortAsync();
+
+        if (found != null)
+            _arduino.Connect(found);        // fires ConnectionChanged(true) -> unlocks options
+        else
+            OnArduinoConnectionChanged(false); // still no device -> stays locked unless debug
+    }
+
     private void OnArduinoConnectionChanged(bool connected)
     {
         _connected = connected;
+
+        // Debug mode bypasses the "device required" restriction entirely.
+        bool allowFullAccess = connected || AppConfig.DebugMode;
+
+        Option1Button.Sensitive = allowFullAccess;
+        Option2Button.Sensitive = allowFullAccess;
+        Option3Button.Sensitive = allowFullAccess;
+        SettingButton.Sensitive = true;   // always reachable, device or not
+
         if (ConnectionIcon == null) return;
 
         ConnectionIcon.SetFromIconName(