Auto-update desktop app

[username1290]

• [X] I have checked the Rejected Features page.
• [X] I have searched the issue tracker for a feature request that matches the one I want to file, without success.

My great idea for Fraidycat is: Auto-updateeeeeee

Thank youuuuuuu for kickscondor as well!

[kickscondor]

Updating works on Windows - but not on Mac. This is due to signing issues with Electron/NPM something in there.

However, I'm moving away from Electron in an upcoming release - so hopefully I can address this then.

[httpsterio]

Electron's autoUpdater uses Squirrel.Mac and for autoupdates to work, the release needs to be signed. Electron-builder's electron-updater doesn't rely on Squirrel, but still needs to be signed and notarized by Apple. It costs 99 dollars per annum just to join their Developer Program.

You will most likely run into this issue, even if you move away from Electron (at least to my understanding) as it's hard if not impossible on Catalina to run unsigned applications unless they're dev builds, which are not really convenient for distribution and setting up.

There are some workarounds for bypassing Gatekeeper, which checks if the apps are signed, but

1. it exposes a security risk for the users as they have to trust basically all installers and
2. it's pretty hit and miss if it even works, I couldn't bypass it for our internal apps no matter what I did.

[kickscondor]

Well the current builds are notarized, but not signed. I don't recall the issue I had with signing - but I couldn't even complete builds with Electron if I attempted to sign the build. I was even able to use someone's developer account to do it. But no good.

I'll take another stab when I move away from Electron.