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"
  }
}

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.