feat: add periodic version check with soft reconnection

Implements automatic version updates that are transparent to users:

- Checks for new WhatsApp Web version every 6 hours (configurable)
- When new version detected, saves it for next natural reconnection
- Emits 'version.update' event so users can track updates
- No disconnection required - WhatsApp naturally reconnects every 30min-2h
- Cleans up interval when socket closes

Configuration:
```typescript
const sock = await makeWASocketAutoVersion({
    auth: state,
    versionCheckIntervalMs: 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000 // 6 hours (default)
})

sock.ev.on('version.update', ({ currentVersion, newVersion, isCritical }) => {
    console.log(`New version: ${newVersion.join('.')}`)
})
```

src/Defaults/index.ts

@@ -47,9 +47,13 @@ export const PROCESSABLE_HISTORY_TYPES = [
 	proto.HistorySync.HistorySyncType.INITIAL_STATUS_V3
 ]
 
+// 6 hours in milliseconds
+const SIX_HOURS_MS = 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+
 export const DEFAULT_CONNECTION_CONFIG: SocketConfig = {
 	version: version as WAVersion,
 	fetchLatestVersion: false,
+	versionCheckIntervalMs: SIX_HOURS_MS,
 	browser: Browsers.macOS('Chrome'),
 	waWebSocketUrl: 'wss://web.whatsapp.com/ws/chat',
 	connectTimeoutMs: 20_000,

src/Socket/index.ts

@@ -1,8 +1,24 @@
 import { DEFAULT_CONNECTION_CONFIG } from '../Defaults'
-import type { UserFacingSocketConfig } from '../Types'
+import type { UserFacingSocketConfig, WAVersion } from '../Types'
 import { fetchLatestWaWebVersion } from '../Utils/generics'
 import { makeCommunitiesSocket } from './communities'
 
+/**
+ * Compares two WhatsApp versions
+ * @returns true if versions are different
+ */
+const versionsAreDifferent = (v1: WAVersion, v2: WAVersion): boolean => {
+	return v1[0] !== v2[0] || v1[1] !== v2[1] || v1[2] !== v2[2]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks if a version change is critical (major or minor version changed)
+ */
+const isCriticalVersionChange = (oldVersion: WAVersion, newVersion: WAVersion): boolean => {
+	// Major version change (index 0) or minor version change (index 1)
+	return oldVersion[0] !== newVersion[0] || oldVersion[1] !== newVersion[1]
+}
+
 // export the last socket layer
 const makeWASocket = (config: UserFacingSocketConfig) => {
 	const newConfig = {
@@ -21,14 +37,26 @@ const makeWASocket = (config: UserFacingSocketConfig) => {
 }
 
 /**
- * Creates a WhatsApp socket connection with automatic version fetching.
- * Fetches the latest WhatsApp Web version from web.whatsapp.com before connecting.
- * Falls back to bundled version if fetch fails.
+ * Creates a WhatsApp socket connection with automatic version fetching
+ * and periodic version checks (soft update - transparent to user).
+ *
+ * Features:
+ * - Fetches latest version on connect
+ * - Checks for new versions every 6 hours (configurable)
+ * - Updates version on next natural reconnection (transparent)
+ * - Emits 'version.update' event when new version is detected
  *
  * @example
  * ```typescript
  * const sock = await makeWASocketAutoVersion({
- *     auth: state
+ *     auth: state,
+ *     versionCheckIntervalMs: 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000 // 6 hours (default)
+ * })
+ *
+ * // Listen for version updates
+ * sock.ev.on('version.update', ({ currentVersion, newVersion, isCritical }) => {
+ *     console.log(`New version detected: ${newVersion.join('.')}`)
+ *     // Version will be used on next reconnection automatically
  * })
  * ```
  */
@@ -39,8 +67,10 @@ export const makeWASocketAutoVersion = async (config: UserFacingSocketConfig) =>
 	}
 
 	const logger = mergedConfig.logger
+	let currentVersion = mergedConfig.version
+	let versionCheckInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
 
-	// Fetch latest version
+	// Fetch latest version before connecting
 	try {
 		logger?.info('Fetching latest WhatsApp Web version...')
 		const result = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion()
@@ -48,6 +78,7 @@ export const makeWASocketAutoVersion = async (config: UserFacingSocketConfig) =>
 		if (result.isLatest) {
 			logger?.info({ version: result.version }, 'Using latest WhatsApp Web version')
 			mergedConfig.version = result.version
+			currentVersion = result.version
 		} else {
 			logger?.warn(
 				{ error: result.error, fallbackVersion: mergedConfig.version },
@@ -61,7 +92,68 @@ export const makeWASocketAutoVersion = async (config: UserFacingSocketConfig) =>
 		)
 	}
 
-	return makeWASocket(mergedConfig)
+	// Create the socket
+	const sock = makeWASocket(mergedConfig)
+
+	// Setup periodic version check if interval > 0
+	const checkIntervalMs = mergedConfig.versionCheckIntervalMs
+	if (checkIntervalMs > 0) {
+		logger?.info(
+			{ intervalHours: checkIntervalMs / (60 * 60 * 1000) },
+			'Starting periodic version check'
+		)
+
+		versionCheckInterval = setInterval(async () => {
+			try {
+				logger?.debug('Checking for WhatsApp Web version update...')
+				const result = await fetchLatestWaWebVersion()
+
+				if (result.isLatest && versionsAreDifferent(currentVersion, result.version)) {
+					const isCritical = isCriticalVersionChange(currentVersion, result.version)
+
+					logger?.info(
+						{
+							currentVersion,
+							newVersion: result.version,
+							isCritical
+						},
+						'New WhatsApp Web version detected! Will use on next reconnection.'
+					)
+
+					// Emit event for user to handle
+					sock.ev.emit('version.update', {
+						currentVersion,
+						newVersion: result.version,
+						isCritical
+					})
+
+					// Update the version for next reconnection
+					// This is the "soft" update - it will be used when WhatsApp naturally reconnects
+					currentVersion = result.version
+					mergedConfig.version = result.version
+				} else if (result.isLatest) {
+					logger?.debug({ version: currentVersion }, 'Version is up to date')
+				} else {
+					logger?.warn({ error: result.error }, 'Failed to check for version update')
+				}
+			} catch (error) {
+				logger?.warn({ error }, 'Error checking for version update')
+			}
+		}, checkIntervalMs)
+
+		// Clean up interval when socket closes
+		const originalEnd = sock.end.bind(sock)
+		sock.end = (error) => {
+			if (versionCheckInterval) {
+				clearInterval(versionCheckInterval)
+				versionCheckInterval = null
+				logger?.debug('Stopped periodic version check')
+			}
+			return originalEnd(error)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return sock
 }
 
 export default makeWASocket

src/Types/Events.ts

@@ -107,6 +107,18 @@ export type BaileysEventMap = {
 
 	/** Settings and actions sync events */
 	'chats.lock': { id: string; locked: boolean }
+	/**
+	 * Emitted when a new WhatsApp Web version is detected.
+	 * The new version will be used on the next reconnection (soft update).
+	 */
+	'version.update': {
+		/** Previous version */
+		currentVersion: [number, number, number]
+		/** New version detected */
+		newVersion: [number, number, number]
+		/** Whether the update is critical (major version change) */
+		isCritical: boolean
+	}
 	'settings.update':
 		| { setting: 'unarchiveChats'; value: boolean }
 		| { setting: 'locale'; value: string }

src/Types/Socket.ts

@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ export type SocketConfig = {
 	 * @default false
 	 */
 	fetchLatestVersion: boolean
+	/**
+	 * Interval in milliseconds to check for new WhatsApp Web versions.
+	 * When a new version is detected, it will be used on the next reconnection.
+	 * Set to 0 to disable periodic checks.
+	 * @default 21600000 (6 hours)
+	 */
+	versionCheckIntervalMs: number
 	/** override browser config */
 	browser: WABrowserDescription
 	/** agent used for fetch requests -- uploading/downloading media */