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trackgo-fe/apps/desktop/docs/AUTO_UPDATER.md
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Firman Ramdhani d3eb242ebe docs: Enhance documentation across multiple modules for clarity and structure
- Updated CONFIGURATION.md to improve navigation and added mermaid diagrams for better visualization of processes.
- Revised IPC_ARCHITECTURE.md to clarify the security model and added diagrams to illustrate the architecture.
- Improved README.md files in core-api, core-events, core-i18n, and core-storage for consistency and clarity, including better descriptions and structural enhancements.
2026-05-29 16:21:25 +07:00

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[โ† Back to Root](../../../README.md)
# Desktop Auto-Update System
`apps/desktop` utilizes a unified update lifecycle powered by **electron-updater**. This architecture ensures seamless, background delivery of application patches, maintaining version parity across our global user base.
---
## ๐Ÿ— Reactive Update Flow
The following diagram illustrates the **Reactive Update Flow**, bridging the Node.js Main Process with the React UI layer through a secure IPC event stream.
```mermaid
graph TD
%% โ”€โ”€โ”€ Styling Definitions (Dark-Mode Friendly Enterprise Palette) โ”€โ”€โ”€
classDef appEntity fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,stroke-width:2px,color:#1e3a8a
classDef coreEntity fill:#e2e8f0,stroke:#64748b,stroke-width:2px,color:#0f172a
classDef ipcBridge fill:#10b981,stroke:#047857,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
%% โ”€โ”€โ”€ Subgraphs โ”€โ”€โ”€
subgraph MainProcess ["Main Process (src/main/index.ts)"]
AUTO[autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify]
EVENTS{{Update Events: progress, downloaded, error}}
SENDER[sendToRenderer]
end
subgraph Preload ["IPC Bridge (src/preload/index.ts)"]
EXPOSE{contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld}
end
subgraph Renderer ["Renderer (React App - apps/web)"]
HOOK([useElectronUpdater Hook])
ACTIONS[UI Actions: Install, Check]
end
%% โ”€โ”€โ”€ Flow & Relationships โ”€โ”€โ”€
AUTO ---> EVENTS
EVENTS ---> SENDER
SENDER ===>|'updater:*' Event Stream| EXPOSE
EXPOSE ===>|electronAPI window object| HOOK
HOOK -.->|Reactive State Status and Progress| ACTIONS
ACTIONS -.->|ipcRenderer.invoke| EXPOSE
EXPOSE -.->|Trigger Update or Install| AUTO
%% โ”€โ”€โ”€ Apply Styles โ”€โ”€โ”€
class AUTO,EVENTS,SENDER coreEntity;
class EXPOSE ipcBridge;
class HOOK,ACTIONS appEntity;
%% โ”€โ”€โ”€ Subgraph Backgrounds (Transparent for Native GitHub Support) โ”€โ”€โ”€
style MainProcess fill:transparent,stroke:#94a3b8,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray: 5 5
style Preload fill:transparent,stroke:#10b981,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray: 5 5
style Renderer fill:transparent,stroke:#3b82f6,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray: 5 5
```
### Lifecycle Sequence
1. **App launch** โ†’ After a 3-second initialization delay, `autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify()` is invoked.
2. **Update detected** โ†’ If `autoDownload` is `true` (default), the binary payload downloads in the background.
3. **Progress streaming** โ†’ `download-progress` events are forwarded to the renderer via IPC in real-time.
4. **Download complete** โ†’ The renderer surfaces a "Restart to Update" prompt to the user.
5. **User-initiated install** โ†’ `autoUpdater.quitAndInstall()` terminates the current process and launches the updated binary.
---
## ๐ŸŒ Current Provider: GitHub Releases
The update provider is declared in `electron-builder.yml`:
```yaml
publish:
provider: github
owner: YOUR_GITHUB_ORG
repo: YOUR_REPO_NAME
```
### Operational Mechanics
1. When `electron-builder --publish always` executes, it:
- Compiles the application for the target platform.
- Uploads the installer(s) to a **GitHub Release** tagged with the version from `package.json`.
- Generates and uploads the platform-specific manifest: `latest.yml` (Windows), `latest-mac.yml` (macOS), or `latest-linux.yml` (Linux).
2. When the packaged application calls `checkForUpdates()`, `electron-updater`:
- Reads `app-update.yml` from the app's `resources/` directory (auto-generated during build โ€” never manually created).
- Fetches the appropriate `latest*.yml` manifest from the configured release endpoint.
- Performs a semantic version comparison and initiates the download if a newer version exists.
---
## ๐Ÿš€ Release Workflow: The Deterministic Pipeline
To maintain release integrity, follow this deterministic pipeline to synchronize web assets and native binaries.
### Manual Release
```bash
# 1. Version bump โ€” semver discipline
cd apps/desktop
npm version patch # or: minor, major
# 2. Compile web assets
cd ../..
pnpm build --filter=web
# 3. Synchronize, compile, and publish
cd apps/desktop
pnpm run prebuild
GH_TOKEN=your_token electron-builder --publish always --config electron-builder.yml
```
> [!CAUTION] > **Treat `GH_TOKEN` as a critical secret.** It grants write access to your repository's release assets. Never commit it to version control, never log it in CI output, and always inject it via encrypted secrets or a vault.
### Automated Release (GitHub Actions)
```yaml
name: Release Desktop
on:
push:
tags:
- 'desktop-v*'
jobs:
release:
strategy:
matrix:
os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: 22
cache: pnpm
- run: pnpm install
- run: pnpm build --filter=web
- run: cd apps/desktop && pnpm run prebuild
- run: cd apps/desktop && pnpm run build
- name: Publish
run: cd apps/desktop && npx electron-builder --publish always --config electron-builder.yml
env:
GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
CSC_LINK: ${{ secrets.CSC_LINK }}
CSC_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.CSC_KEY_PASSWORD }}
APPLE_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID }}
APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD }}
APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID }}
```
---
## ๐Ÿ” CI/CD Environment Variables
| Variable | Required | Platform | Description |
| ----------------------------- | ------------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `GH_TOKEN` | Yes | All | GitHub personal access token with `repo` scope. Authorizes release artifact uploads. |
| `CSC_LINK` | macOS/Windows | macOS, Windows | Base64-encoded `.p12` code signing certificate. Generate with: `base64 -i cert.p12 \| pbcopy` |
| `CSC_KEY_PASSWORD` | macOS/Windows | macOS, Windows | Passphrase for the `.p12` certificate. |
| `APPLE_ID` | macOS only | macOS | Apple ID email for notarization submission. |
| `APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD` | macOS only | macOS | App-specific password generated at [appleid.apple.com](https://appleid.apple.com). |
| `APPLE_TEAM_ID` | macOS only | macOS | Your Apple Developer Team ID. |
| `WIN_CSC_LINK` | Windows only | Windows | Separate Windows code signing certificate (if different from `CSC_LINK`). |
| `WIN_CSC_KEY_PASSWORD` | Windows only | Windows | Passphrase for the Windows certificate. |
### Configuring Secrets
1. Navigate to **Settings โ†’ Secrets and variables โ†’ Actions** in your GitHub repository.
2. Add each variable as a **Repository secret**.
3. Reference them in workflow files as `${{ secrets.VARIABLE_NAME }}`.
---
## โ˜๏ธ Deployment Strategies
### AWS S3 (Private Infrastructure)
For enterprise environments requiring private infrastructure, the system can be reconfigured to target an **AWS S3 Bucket** or a **CloudFront Distribution**.
Update `electron-builder.yml`:
```yaml
publish:
provider: s3
bucket: your-bucket-name
region: ap-southeast-1
path: /desktop-releases
acl: private
```
**Additional environment variables:**
| Variable | Description |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` | IAM access key with S3 `PutObject` and `GetObject` permissions |
| `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` | IAM secret key |
**Bucket structure:**
```text
your-bucket/desktop-releases/
โ”œโ”€โ”€ latest.yml (Windows manifest)
โ”œโ”€โ”€ latest-mac.yml (macOS manifest)
โ”œโ”€โ”€ latest-linux.yml (Linux manifest)
โ”œโ”€โ”€ EigenDesktop-Setup-0.2.0.exe
โ”œโ”€โ”€ EigenDesktop-0.2.0.dmg
โ”œโ”€โ”€ EigenDesktop-0.2.0-mac.zip
โ””โ”€โ”€ EigenDesktop-0.2.0.AppImage
```
> [!NOTE]
> The bucket must allow public read access to the manifest files (`latest*.yml`), or you must configure a CloudFront distribution. `electron-updater` performs unauthenticated `GET` requests to resolve the latest version.
### Generic File Server (Self-Hosted)
For self-hosted infrastructure (Nginx, Caddy, etc.):
```yaml
publish:
provider: generic
url: [https://updates.your-domain.com/desktop](https://updates.your-domain.com/desktop)
```
Your server must host the same directory structure as the S3 layout above.
> [!IMPORTANT] > **MIME Type Configuration**: Ensure your file server correctly serves `.yml` files with `text/yaml` and installer binaries with `application/octet-stream`. Incorrect MIME types will cause download corruption or silent update failures.
**Nginx reference:**
```nginx
server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name updates.your-domain.com;
location /desktop/ {
alias /var/www/desktop-releases/;
autoindex off;
add_header Cache-Control "no-cache";
# MIME types for update manifests
types {
text/yaml yml;
application/octet-stream exe dmg AppImage zip;
}
}
}
```
---
## ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Code Signing: The Trust Boundary
> [!WARNING] > **Code signing is not merely a requirement โ€” it is the Trust Boundary established by the operating system.** macOS Gatekeeper will explicitly terminate unsigned applications or refuse background updates to maintain system integrity. Windows SmartScreen will display alarming warnings to users. Without valid signatures, `electron-updater` will **reject update payloads entirely**.
### macOS
- Requires an **Apple Developer ID Application** certificate ($99/year Apple Developer Program).
- The `electron-builder.yml` is configured with:
```yaml
mac:
hardenedRuntime: true
gatekeeperAssess: false
entitlements: build/entitlements.mac.plist
entitlementsInherit: build/entitlements.mac.plist
```
- You must create `apps/desktop/build/entitlements.mac.plist`:
```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
"[http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd](http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd)">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-jit</key>
<true/>
<key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory</key>
<true/>
<key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-dyld-environment-variables</key>
<true/>
</dict>
</plist>
```
- **Notarization** is mandatory for macOS 10.15+. Provide `APPLE_ID`, `APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD`, and `APPLE_TEAM_ID`.
### Windows
- Requires an **EV Code Signing Certificate** or a standard code signing certificate from a trusted CA.
- Without signing, Windows SmartScreen warns users with "Windows protected your PC" โ€” severely impacting adoption.
- **EV certificates** eliminate SmartScreen warnings immediately; standard certificates build trust reputation over time through Microsoft's telemetry.
### Linux
- Code signing is **not enforced** by the OS for AppImage distribution.
- Optional GPG signing is available for package managers that support it.
---
## ๐Ÿงช Testing Updates in Development
> [!NOTE]
> The auto-updater is **intentionally disabled** in development mode to prevent runtime crashes. Setting `forceDevUpdateConfig` requires a `dev-app-update.yml` file, which introduces unnecessary complexity during local development.
### What Happens in Dev Mode
In `src/main/index.ts`, the `setupAutoUpdaterEvents()` function detects `IS_DEV` and returns early:
```typescript
if (IS_DEV) {
autoUpdater.autoDownload = false;
return; // Skip event registration โ€” no update server in dev
}
```
This means:
- No update check is performed on startup.
- No `electron-updater` events are emitted.
- The `useElectronUpdater()` hook will remain in `idle` status.
### How to Test Updates
Auto-update can **only** be fully validated using a **packaged, signed build** distributed through a real update channel:
1. **Publish v0.1.0** โ†’ Package and release a signed build.
2. **Bump to v0.2.0** โ†’ Increment the version in `package.json`.
3. **Publish v0.2.0** โ†’ Package and release the updated build.
4. **Launch v0.1.0** โ†’ The app should detect v0.2.0, download it, and prompt the user to restart.
For rapid iteration, use the `generic` provider pointing to a local Nginx or Python HTTP server:
```yaml
# electron-builder.yml (temporary, for testing)
publish:
provider: generic
url: http://localhost:8080/updates
```
```bash
# Serve the release directory locally
cd apps/desktop/release
python3 -m http.server 8080 --directory .
```
---
## โš ๏ธ Diagnostic Runbook
### Issue: "Update check failed" on startup
| Symptom | Root Cause | Resolution |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Console logs `[AutoUpdater] Startup check failed (possibly offline)` | The machine is offline, or the update server (GitHub/S3/generic) is unreachable. | No action required. The error is caught in a `try/catch` block, logged to the console, and the application continues to function normally. The next check will occur on the next app launch. |
### Issue: `app-update.yml` not found in production build
| Symptom | Root Cause | Resolution |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `electron-updater` throws "Cannot find app-update.yml" immediately after launch. | The `publish` block in `electron-builder.yml` is missing or misconfigured. `electron-builder` generates `app-update.yml` only when a valid provider is declared. | Verify the `publish` block exists in `electron-builder.yml`. Run `electron-builder --publish never` and inspect `release/*/resources/app-update.yml` to confirm generation. |
### Issue: "Cannot update: code signature is invalid" (macOS)
| Symptom | Root Cause | Resolution |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| The updater downloads a new version but refuses to apply it, logging a signature validation error. | The application was not signed, or the signing certificate has expired / been revoked. | Ensure `CSC_LINK` and `CSC_KEY_PASSWORD` are correctly set in CI. Verify the packaged app with: `codesign --verify --deep --strict release/mac*/Desktop.app`. Re-sign and re-publish if the certificate was rotated. |
### Issue: Updates work on Windows/Linux but not macOS
| Symptom | Root Cause | Resolution |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Windows and Linux users receive updates, but macOS users see no update prompt. | macOS requires **both** a valid code signature AND Apple notarization. Without notarization, Gatekeeper silently quarantines the update payload. | Provide all Apple credential environment variables (`APPLE_ID`, `APPLE_APP_SPECIFIC_PASSWORD`, `APPLE_TEAM_ID`) and ensure `hardenedRuntime: true` is set in `electron-builder.yml`. Re-package and re-publish. |
### Issue: S3/Generic provider returns corrupted downloads
| Symptom | Root Cause | Resolution |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Users report that the update downloads but fails to install, or the downloaded file is 0 bytes. | The file server is serving update manifests or binaries with incorrect MIME types, or a CDN is caching stale `latest*.yml` files. | Verify MIME types: `.yml` โ†’ `text/yaml`, `.exe`/`.dmg`/`.AppImage`/`.zip` โ†’ `application/octet-stream`. Add `Cache-Control: no-cache` headers to `latest*.yml` responses. Invalidate CDN cache after publishing a new release. |