Add to Apple Store

[tobiasdiez]

Now that we have an Apple Developer account, it would be nice to add JabRef to the apple store or at least sign the installer.

Related links:

• Description how this is usually done: https://developer.apple.com/developer-id/
• Using jpackage: http://kothar.net/macos_catalina_java_11 https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/14/docs/specs/man/jpackage.html (description of mac-sign)
• Bugs that one may encounter: https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8238184 https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8240636

[k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz27]

Just checking if there is something here I can help with?

[tobiasdiez]

Do you have experience with signing / adding apps to the apple store? So far none of the core developers found the time to read through the docs to find what exactly need to be done etc. So if you know which steps to take and/or can help with certain aspects, then this would be awesome!

[k3KAW8Pnf7mkmdSMPHz27]

Unfortunately not. I was hoping someone had started the process and I were offering myself for testing/misc. 😛

Mostly I have quite a bit of spare time, and I believe this is essential to Mac users. I'd even be happy going through the documentation on the off-chance it will help someone later.

[Siedlerchr]

As I've now got a mac at hand and need to read about that whole developer certification stuff for apple ios apps for work, I will take a look at this as well. I found this script which could help: https://stackoverflow.com/a/61908574

[Siedlerchr]

Signing in principle works locally on my machine with our cert from Tobias. However, it seems the new hardening etc requires jdk15 jpackage https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8237490

Other Todos:

• [x] Import p12 signs and add them to keychain Evaluate https://github.com/Apple-Actions/import-codesign-certs
• [x] Add parameters to jpackage config
• [x] Find out what those entitlements are and which are necessary.
• [ ] App store release/connectify

[Siedlerchr]

I just discovered that JabRef is also avaiable via homebrew cask: https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/jabref

[Siedlerchr]

As we have now certs for Jabref e.V. We could release 5.3 also in the app store. Will require additional signing

[johnpi]

Just a suggestion. Since issues relating to releasing on the App Store are a recurring theme coming up in several open source projects, it might be worth joining forces with the devs of other projects so the same solutions don't have to be found again and again. A collaborative wiki page with the steps to follow might be helpful.

[koppor]

@johnpi Could you establish some links? Think, you have found other Java-based projects and issues of these projects?

[johnpi]

I have not kept a list and am not a developer, however I will make a start here and maybe others can chime in.

Java-based projects:

• Freeplane https://github.com/freeplane/freeplane

Not java-based projects:

• COPASI https://github.com/copasi/COPASI (They had some problems with notarization at some point in the past)
• zotero https://github.com/zotero/zotero (I don't see a related issue in their GitHub, but it is worth talking to them)
• inkscape (I don't see a related issue in their GitLab, but it is a big community who might help)

Beyond the links already posted on this thread I found these:

• Instructions of the required steps: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/72528282
• Instructions from apple employee, contains an e-mail you might try to contact for help: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/128166