Publish to major package managers

[RangerMauve]

• Windows (appx)
• Mac OS (dmg)
• AUR (arch linux/manjaro)
• Debian (Ubuntu? Pop OS?)
• Snapcraft (linux)
• Flatpack (linux)
• RPM (redhat linux)
• ???

Ideally, I'd like to register accounts for all of these under Agregore myself, but I'd love help from folks that want to set up the build scripts and CI.

If this is something you've done for an electron package before, or think it's something you can set up, I'd love to have a chat to see if I can pay for the work.

We might also want to look into using Open Build Service instead of Github Actions forthe CI. https://openbuildservice.org/

I'll document some of the steps needed for the individual platforms in additional comments.

[RangerMauve]

Windows

Based on the Electron Windows Store Guide

• Get electron-builder to generate appx
• Register the app on the Windows store
• Add github action to publish to the store
  • might need to make one
  • might be able to use this
• Release!

[RangerMauve]

MacOS

Based on the Electon Mac App Store Guide

• Provision a cloud Mac OS instance or get a mac to get xcode
• Create an apple developer account
• Configure signing with electron-builder docs
• Test the app sandbox with the p2p protocols
• Adjust existing github action with code signing. docs
• Set up CI script to publish the dmg (not sure if one exists already)

[RangerMauve]

Debian

Seems like we can't just upload the deb. They expect to build it from source which might be a pain in the ass. based on this stack overflow answer

I'm not sure how realistic it'd be to make this happen. We might want to just register our own PPA and have folks add it to their list. Here's some docs on that

[RangerMauve]

Snapcraft

Based on the Electron Snapcraft Guide

(this one actually seems really easy)

• Register the app in the snap store
• Add CI to publish to the snap store

[RangerMauve]

Arch / Manjaro (AUR)

Based on the Arch wiki Electron Package Guidelines and their submission guidelines

• Adjust build to use the external electron dist (versioned)
• Either register a new app or talk to existing maintainer
• Set up CI to publish to AUR
• Make it available in Manjaro somehow

[cerrussell]

I think I can probably help with this...

[cerrussell]

@RangerMauve After a cursory review, my impression is that the linux distros will all be more straightforward than Windows or Mac, which both have more involved submission processes. That Electron article really doesn't get into all the steps and requirements for Windows submissions. Probably makes sense to target the linux distros first before embarking on publishing to win or mac app stores.

Edit: Actually, it's really only Snapraft and Flatpak that seem easy... getting rpms or debs on official repos seems a bit difficult and requires a sponsor if you aren't already a maintainer...

[RangerMauve]

@cerrussell I agree that snapcraft/flatpak would be the easiest to get to to start.

Would you be interested in looking at how to get the electron-builder and github actions updated to support that? I'd be down to register whatever packages are needed on the respective repos in the meantime.

Also, I'm in talks with @gardenappl to figure out the AUR build. I just haven't had time to fully follow up on that yet due to catching up on work after my holiday vacation. :x

[cerrussell]

@RangerMauve Yeah, I can work on that.

[cerrussell]

@RangerMauve Just an update... I've set up a private app on snapcraft (agregore-dev) for testing purposes. Working on configuring the build components in the snapcraft.yaml file. I added you using the hotmail email address so you'll be able to have access.

[RangerMauve]

Watched this talk recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WuYGcs0t6I

Flatpak is pretty exciting. My Steam Deck only really supports Flatpak so I'm gonna be spending some time figuring that out since I have no choice. :P