Options

In the development package.json custom build field can be specified to customize format:

"build": {
  "dmg": {
    "contents": [
      {
        "x": 410,
        "y": 220,
        "type": "link",
        "path": "/Applications"
      },
      {
        "x": 130,
        "y": 220,
        "type": "file",
        "path": "computed path to artifact, do not specify it - will be overwritten"
      }
    ]
  }
}

As you can see, you need to customize MacOS options only if you want to provide custom x, y. Don't customize paths to background and icon, — just follow conventions.

Here documented only electron-builder specific options:

Application `package.json`

Name	Description
name	The application name.
productName	As name, but allows you to specify a product name for your executable which contains spaces and other special characters not allowed in the name property.
description	The application description.
homepage	The url to the project homepage (NuGet Package `projectUrl` (optional) or Linux Package URL (required)). If not specified and your project repository is public on GitHub, it will be `https://github.com/${user}/${project}` by default.
license	linux-only. The license name.

Development `package.json`

Name	Description
build	See .build.
directories	See .directories

`.build`

Name	Description
appId	The application id. Used as CFBundleIdentifier for MacOS and as Application User Model ID for Windows. For windows only NSIS target supports it. Squirrel.Windows is not fixed yet. Defaults to `com.electron.${name}`. It is strongly recommended that an explicit ID be set.
app-category-type	macOS-only. The application category type, as shown in the Finder via View -> Arrange by Application Category when viewing the Applications directory. For example, `app-category-type=public.app-category.developer-tools` will set the application category to Developer Tools. Valid values are listed in Apple’s documentation.
asar	Whether to package the application’s source code into an archive, using Electron’s archive format. Defaults to `true`. Reasons why you may want to disable this feature are described in an application packaging tutorial in Electron’s documentation. Or you can pass object of any asar options. electron-builder detects node modules that must be unpacked automatically, you don’t need to explicitly set `asar.unpackDir` - please file issue if this doesn’t work.
productName	See AppMetadata.productName.
files	A glob patterns relative to the app directory, which specifies which files to include when copying files to create the package. See File Patterns.
extraResources	A glob patterns relative to the project directory, when specified, copy the file or directory with matching names directly into the app’s resources directory (`Contents/Resources` for MacOS, `resources` for Linux/Windows). Glob rules the same as for files.
extraFiles	The same as extraResources but copy into the app's content directory (`Contents` for MacOS, root directory for Linux/Windows).
mac	See .build.mac.
dmg	See .build.dmg.
mas	See .build.mas.
win	See .build.win.
nsis	See .build.nsis.
linux	See .build.linux.
compression	The compression level, one of `store`, `normal`, `maximum` (default: `normal`). If you want to rapidly test build, `store` can reduce build time significantly.
afterPack	programmatic API only The function to be run after pack (but before pack into distributable format and sign). Promise must be returned.
npmRebuild	Whether to rebuild native dependencies (`npm rebuild`) before starting to package the app. Defaults to `true`.
fileAssociations	File associations. (NSIS only for now).

`.build.mac`

MacOS specific build options.

Name	Description
target	Target package type: list of `default`, `dmg`, `mas`, `7z`, `zip`, `tar.xz`, `tar.lz`, `tar.gz`, `tar.bz2`. Defaults to `default` (dmg and zip for Squirrel.Mac).
identity	The name of certificate to use when signing. Consider using environment variables CSC_LINK or CSC_NAME. MAS installer identity is specified in the .build.mas.
icon	The path to application icon. Defaults to `build/icon.icns` (consider using this convention instead of complicating your configuration).
entitlements	The path to entitlements file for signing the app. `build/entitlements.mac.plist` will be used if exists (it is a recommended way to set). MAS entitlements is specified in the .build.mas.
entitlementsInherit	The path to child entitlements which inherit the security settings for signing frameworks and bundles of a distribution. `build/entitlements.mac.inherit.plist` will be used if exists (it is a recommended way to set). Otherwise default. This option only applies when signing with `entitlements` provided.
bundleVersion	The `CFBundleVersion`. Do not use it unless you need to.

`.build.dmg`

MacOS DMG specific options.

See all appdmg options.

Name	Description
icon	The path to DMG icon, which will be shown when mounted. Defaults to `build/icon.icns`.
background	The path to background (default: `build/background.png` if exists). The resolution of this file determines the resolution of the installer window. If background is not specified, use `window.size`, see specification.

`.build.mas`

MAS (Mac Application Store) specific options (in addition to build.mac).

Name	Description
entitlements	The path to entitlements file for signing the app. `build/entitlements.mas.plist` will be used if exists (it is a recommended way to set). Otherwise default.
entitlementsInherit	The path to child entitlements which inherit the security settings for signing frameworks and bundles of a distribution. `build/entitlements.mas.inherit.plist` will be used if exists (it is a recommended way to set). Otherwise default.

`.build.win`

Windows specific build options.

Name	Description
target	Target package type: list of `squirrel`, `nsis`, `7z`, `zip`, `tar.xz`, `tar.lz`, `tar.gz`, `tar.bz2`. Defaults to `squirrel`.
iconUrl	Squirrel.Windows-only. A URL to an ICO file to use as the application icon (displayed in Control Panel > Programs and Features). Defaults to the Electron icon. Please note — local icon file url is not accepted, must be https/http. If you don’t plan to build windows installer, you can omit it. If your project repository is public on GitHub, it will be `https://github.com/${u}/${p}/blob/master/build/icon.ico?raw=true` by default.
loadingGif	Squirrel.Windows-only. The path to a .gif file to display during install. `build/install-spinner.gif` will be used if exists (it is a recommended way to set) (otherwise default).
msi	Squirrel.Windows-only. Whether to create an MSI installer. Defaults to `false` (MSI is not created).
remoteReleases	Squirrel.Windows-only. A URL to your existing updates. Or `true` to automatically set to your GitHub repository. If given, these will be downloaded to create delta updates.
remoteToken	Squirrel.Windows-only. Authentication token for remote updates
signingHashAlgorithms	Array of signing algorithms used. Defaults to `['sha1', 'sha256']`
icon	The path to application icon. Defaults to `build/icon.ico` (consider using this convention instead of complicating your configuration).

`.build.nsis`

NSIS target support in progress — not polished and not fully tested and checked.

See NSIS target notes.

Name	Description
oneClick	One-click installation. Defaults to `true`.
perMachine	Install per all users (per-machine). Defaults to `false`.
allowElevation	boring installer only. Allow requesting for elevation. If false, user will have to restart installer with elevated permissions. Defaults to `true`.
runAfterFinish	one-click installer only. Run application after finish. Defaults to `true`.
guid	See GUID vs Application Name.
installerHeader	boring installer only. `MUI_HEADERIMAGE`, relative to the project directory. Defaults to `build/installerHeader.bmp`
installerHeaderIcon	one-click installer only. The path to header icon (above the progress bar), relative to the project directory. Defaults to `build/installerHeaderIcon.ico` or application icon.
include	The path to NSIS include script to customize installer. Defaults to `build/installer.nsh`. See Custom NSIS script.
script	The path to NSIS script to customize installer. Defaults to `build/installer.nsi`. See Custom NSIS script.

`.build.linux`

Linux specific build options.

Name	Description
description	As description from application package.json, but allows you to specify different for Linux.
target	Target package type: list of `AppImage`, `deb`, `rpm`, `freebsd`, `pacman`, `p5p`, `apk`, `7z`, `zip`, `tar.xz`, `tar.lz`, `tar.gz`, `tar.bz2`. Defaults to `deb`. The most effective xz compression format used by default. Only `deb` and `AppImage` is tested. Feel free to file issues for `rpm` and other package formats.
synopsis	deb-only. The short description.
maintainer	The maintainer. Defaults to author.
vendor	The vendor. Defaults to author.
compression	deb-only. The compression type, one of `gz`, `bzip2`, `xz`. Defaults to `xz`.
depends	Package dependencies. Defaults to `["libappindicator1", "libnotify-bin"]`.

`.build.fileAssociations`

NSIS only, in progress.

Name	Description
ext	The extension (minus the leading period). e.g. `png`
name	The name. e.g. `PNG`

`.directories`

Name	Description
buildResources	The path to build resources, defaults to `build`.
output	The output directory, defaults to `dist`.
app	The application directory (containing the application package.json), defaults to `app`, `www` or working directory.

File Patterns

build.files defaults to **/* (i.e. hidden files are ignored by default).

Development dependencies are never copied in any case. You don't need to ignore it explicitly.

Multiple patterns are supported. You can use ${os} (expanded to mac, linux or win according to current platform) and ${arch} in the pattern. If directory matched, all contents are copied. So, you can just specify foo to copy foo directory.

Remember that default pattern **/* is not added to your custom, so, you have to add it explicitly — e.g. ["**/*", "!ignoreMe${/*}"].

May be specified in the platform options (e.g. in the build.mac).

Multiple Glob Patterns

[
  // match all files
  "**/*",

  // except for js files in the foo/ directory
  "!foo/*.js",

  // unless it's foo/bar.js
  "foo/bar.js",
]

Excluding directories

Remember that !doNotCopyMe/**/* would match the files in the doNotCopyMe directory, but not the directory itself, so the empty directory would be created. Solution — use macro ${/*}, e.g. !doNotCopyMe${/*}.

Build Version Management

CFBundleVersion (MacOS) and FileVersion (Windows) will be set automatically to version.build_number on CI server (Travis, AppVeyor and CircleCI supported).

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Options

Options

Application `package.json`

Development `package.json`

`.build`

`.build.mac`

`.build.dmg`

`.build.mas`

`.build.win`

`.build.nsis`

`.build.linux`

`.build.fileAssociations`

`.directories`

File Patterns

Multiple Glob Patterns

Excluding directories

Build Version Management

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Options

Options

Application package.json

Development package.json

.build

.build.mac

.build.dmg

.build.mas

.build.win

.build.nsis

.build.linux

.build.fileAssociations

.directories

File Patterns

Multiple Glob Patterns

Excluding directories

Build Version Management

Want to contribute to this Wiki?

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Clone this wiki locally

Application `package.json`

Development `package.json`

`.build`

`.build.mac`

`.build.dmg`

`.build.mas`

`.build.win`

`.build.nsis`

`.build.linux`

`.build.fileAssociations`

`.directories`