electron-updater from private repo gitlab.com

.gitlab-ci

variables:
  VERSION_ID: '1.0.$CI_PIPELINE_ID'

stages:
  - build
  
build:
  image: slauta93/electron-builder-win
  stage: build
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - $CI_PROJECT_DIR/dist/*.*
  script:
    - sed "s/0.0.0/${VERSION_ID}/g" package.json > _package.json && mv _package.json package.json
    - npm install && npm run build

README.md

This repo contains the bare minimum code to have an auto-updating Electron app using electron-updater with releases stored on a plain HTTP server.

1. For macOS, you will need a code-signing certificate.

   Install Xcode (from the App Store), then follow these instructions to make sure you have a "Mac Developer" certificate. If you'd like to export the certificate (for automated building, for instance) you can. You would then follow these instructions.

2. Setting you Gitlab-CI and edit package.json build scripts fron your platforms

3. Pushing new code, and install last build

4. Open the installed version of the app and see that it updates itself.

main.js

// Inital app
const electron = require("electron");
const updater = require("electron-updater");
const autoUpdater = updater.autoUpdater;

...

///////////////////
// Auto upadater //
///////////////////
autoUpdater.requestHeaders = { "PRIVATE-TOKEN": "Personal access Token" };
autoUpdater.autoDownload = true;

autoUpdater.setFeedURL({
    provider: "generic",
    url: "https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist?job=build"
});

autoUpdater.on('checking-for-update', function () {
    sendStatusToWindow('Checking for update...');
});

autoUpdater.on('update-available', function (info) {
    sendStatusToWindow('Update available.');
});

autoUpdater.on('update-not-available', function (info) {
    sendStatusToWindow('Update not available.');
});

autoUpdater.on('error', function (err) {
    sendStatusToWindow('Error in auto-updater.');
});

autoUpdater.on('download-progress', function (progressObj) {
    let log_message = "Download speed: " + progressObj.bytesPerSecond;
    log_message = log_message + ' - Downloaded ' + parseInt(progressObj.percent) + '%';
    log_message = log_message + ' (' + progressObj.transferred + "/" + progressObj.total + ')';
    sendStatusToWindow(log_message);
});

autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', function (info) {
    sendStatusToWindow('Update downloaded; will install in 1 seconds');
});

autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', function (info) {
    setTimeout(function () {
        autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
    }, 1000);
});

autoUpdater.checkForUpdates();

function sendStatusToWindow(message) {
    console.log(message);
}
...

package.json

{
  "name": "electron-updater-gitlab",
  "version": "0.0.0",
  "main": "main.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "electron .",
    "pack": "node_modules/.bin/electron-builder --dir",
    "build": "node_modules/.bin/electron-builder --win",
    "postinstall": "",
    "install": "node-gyp install",
  },
  "build": {
    "appId": "com.electron.app",
    "publish": [
      {
        "provider": "generic",
        "url": "https://gitlab.com"
      }
    ],
    "win": {
      "target": [
        "nsis"
      ],
      "verifyUpdateCodeSignature": false
    },
    "mac": {
      "category": "public.app-category.productivity",
      "identity": "Mac Developer: username (XXXXXXXX)",
      "target": [
        "dmg"
      ]
    },
    "linux": {
      "target": [
        "AppImage"
      ]
    }
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "electron-updater": "^2.7.2"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "electron": "1.6.11",
    "electron-builder": "^19.16.2"
  }
}

@Erim32 Yes, you need to make personal token for the access to ropositories in your Gitlab personal cabinet.
Right here: https://gitlab.com/profile/personal_access_tokens

Thank you @Slauta , that works perfectly.
Just one more question, your script allow to build and manage updates for Windows, but can we do it also with Linux and OSX ?
I suppose we can use separate runners on Gitlab and change the url depending of the OS.
But maybe I miss something...

@Erim32 You can build a version for Linux, Windows and MacOS.
You need to configure gitlab-runner on your MacOS, and do builds using this runner.

Hi @Slauta, I have got my CI up and running, but I can't codesign for a mac application. Is this possible in CI? I end up with this error:

skipped macOS application code signing reason=supported only on macOS

Hey @Slauta my pipeline is getting stuck... after he downloaded the nsis resources nothing happens..

Hi, @Slauta Gitlab juste change his way of doing stuff.
https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist?job=build does not work anymore.
Any idea to fix this ?

Thx gitlab..

same here... anyone got a quick solution?

Hi,
Encountering an error that I've not seen before. This was working quite well up until recently:
Error: HttpError: 401 Unauthorized
"You need to sign in or sign up before continuing."

I updated my private token and still nothing. This is happening cross-platform for PC and Mac.

Has anyone come across this before?

I noticed that this doesn't happen if i run the app using 'npm start'. It only happens in the compiled app.

Actually, I figured it out. It was a simple mistake, unsurprisingly.

Are you sure to enter your private access token? Anyone can access your code...

The way to upgrade NPM inside docker image (if nuxt.js fails):
script:
- sed "s/0.0.0/${VERSION_ID}/g" package.json > _package.json && mv _package.json package.json
- npm cache clean -f && npm install -g n && n stable
- npm install && npm run build

Hey I noticed that Gitlab changed something with their access and I now have to use the Gitlab API to access the correct info.

autoUpdater.setFeedURL({
    provider: "generic",
    url: "http://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/your project id/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist/?job=build"
});

Note that your project id is not the name of your project, it is located under the name of your project on the project details page.

@StevenDixonDev it only works with public repos, doesn't it?

any updates with artifact URL on private repo? looks like
https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/download/dist?job=build
and
https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/browse/dist?job=build
is still working.

And looks like the PRIVATE-TOKEN header only works if we use it via API like this:
curl --output artifacts.zip --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/1/jobs/42/artifacts"

Can the electron-updater just unzip the downloaded files if we use the API?

I got it working using https://docs.gitlab.com/ce/api/jobs.html#download-a-single-artifact-file-from-specific-tag-or-branch

Ended up looking like this:

...

autoUpdater.requestHeaders = { "Private-Token":  "Personal access Token };
autoUpdater.autoDownload = true;

autoUpdater.setFeedURL({
  provider: "generic",
  channel: "latest",
  url: "http://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/_PROJECT_ID_/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist?job=build"
});

...

I have a problem
...

@Slauta

I have a problem
...

@Slauta

You need node 8, just use as a build image: electronuserland/electron-builder

is this the same way for github private repo ?

is this the same way for github private repo ?

No, read this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/57069210/electron-autoupdater-with-private-github-repository

Yes already checked @Slauta , even post this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59837408/electron-updater-notify-for-new-release-but-do-not-update-or-download-new-releas look at my comment

Can we still use setFeedURL ? As I can see it is deprecated

Do not call setFeedURL. electron-builder automatically creates app-update.yml file for you on build in the resources (this file is internal, you don’t need to be aware of it).

So knowing this what is the way to do? with gitlab

How do you generate the .dmg on a win machine @Slauta? Don't you need a MacOS machine in order to do that? And as far as I can see on Gitlab's page there is no macOS machines available on the CI/CD pipeline

Any thoughts? @Slauta

https://gist.github.com/Slauta/5b2bcf9fa1f6f6a9443aa6b447bcae05#gistcomment-3147177 ,

the link mentioned in this comment is not there, so where can I look for the electron-autoupdater for private repos.

Hey I noticed that Gitlab changed something with their access and I now have to use the Gitlab API to access the correct info.

autoUpdater.setFeedURL({
    provider: "generic",
    url: "http://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/your project id/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist/?job=build"
});

Note that your project id is not the name of your project, it is located under the name of your project on the project details page.

I got it working using https://docs.gitlab.com/ce/api/jobs.html#download-a-single-artifact-file-from-specific-tag-or-branch

Ended up looking like this:

...

autoUpdater.requestHeaders = { "Private-Token":  "Personal access Token };
autoUpdater.autoDownload = true;

autoUpdater.setFeedURL({
  provider: "generic",
  channel: "latest",
  url: "http://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/_PROJECT_ID_/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/dist?job=build"
});

...

any updates with artifact URL on private repo? looks like
https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/download/dist?job=build
and
https://gitlab.com/_example_repo_/-/jobs/artifacts/master/browse/dist?job=build
is still working.

And looks like the PRIVATE-TOKEN header only works if we use it via API like this:
curl --output artifacts.zip --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/1/jobs/42/artifacts"

Can the electron-updater just unzip the downloaded files if we use the API?

This worked for me, it is important to keep in mind that the normal download Gitlab urls will not work for Electron Updater, but the API ones will.

I have created a fork that I think takes it into account, I don't know how to make a pull request in Gist... so I'll just leave it there

It did not work, someone has an updated tutorial?

Attention! This code is deprecated.

This approach doesn't work well because the gitlab token often expires.
This approach is not safe for your code.

Please use the approaches described in the article Updating Applications

Attention! This code is deprecated.

This approach doesn't work well because the gitlab token often expires. This approach is not safe for your code.

Please use the approaches described in the article Updating Applications

Why it's not safe? I don't have any options. I don't wanna use a server for deployments.