Provide a Linux version for download

[hardyoyo]

Provide a Linux version for download

While building a Linux version is quite easily done if one has Node.js and Yarn installed, not every Linux desktop user is a developer.

Desired Behaviour (for feature requests only)

For each release of DataCurator, a Linux AppImage install should be created for 64bit and 32bit Linux desktops. It ought to be possible to automate the creation of all installers for each OS (you could probably even get Travis-CI to do it for you). However, automating this is not what I'm requesting, simply ensuring there is an installer for Linux users available on the Download page would be sufficient.

[probonopd]

Providing an AppImage would have, among others, these advantages:

• Applications packaged as an AppImage can run on many distributions (including Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, CentOS, elementaryOS, Linux Mint, and others)
• One app = one file = super simple for users: just download one AppImage file, make it executable, and run
• No unpacking or installation necessary
• No root needed
• No system libraries changed
• Works out of the box, no installation of runtimes needed
• Optional desktop integration with appimaged
• Optional binary delta updates, e.g., for continuous builds (only download the binary diff) using AppImageUpdate
• Can optionally GPG2-sign your AppImages (inside the file)
• Works on Live ISOs
• Can use the same AppImages when dual-booting multiple distributions
• Can be listed in the AppImageHub central directory of available AppImages
• Can double as a self-extracting compressed archive with the --appimage-extract parameter

Here is an overview of projects that are already distributing upstream-provided, official AppImages.

If you have questions, AppImage developers are on #AppImage on irc.freenode.net.

[sizezero]

I was able to run the linux version with "yarn run dev" but wasn't able to build it with "yarn run build". Is this to be expected? Sorry, I'm not a yarn/node developer.

[chris48s]

I think if you run yarn run build on linux, it will try and build multiple packaging formats. I tried cloning master and yarn run build was failing for me trying to build the snap format, but I was able to sucessfully build an AppImage by running:

node .electron-vue/build.js && yarn run electron-builder --linux AppImage

There is a list of target formats supported by electron-builder at: https://www.electron.build/configuration/linux#LinuxConfiguration-target so if you're having trouble building a particular format, maybe try a few different ones. In principle it should be possible to build on linux, but some of the formats might have some system dependencies depending on your distro etc.

Any Linux Target - electron-builder

[sizezero]

Thanks! The command you gave allowed me to build a runnable linux image.

[robbiemorrison]

Would publicize this software within my circles when offered as DEB and RPM packages but not before.

[chris48s]

Is there anything we could do to make it easier for you to provide/support a linux build?

[robbiemorrison]

@chris48s Thanks for responding. I am not in a position to contribute directly, I'm afraid. Sorry. I noticed there was also recent traffic on this point on the OKI forum. R.

[chris48s]

Sorry - that was a question for @Stephen-Gates / @mattRedBox really :)

Clearly there is some subset of users who would like to see this made available. If we understand what the barriers are, maybe its something one of us can help with...

[robbiemorrison]

@chris48s Noted. I am from the open energy modeling community. A comfortable CSV editor with support for OKI tabular data packages would a big asset for us. Many, if not most, run Linux.

[Stephen-Gates]

Hi @robbiemorrison, I'll discuss this with our sponsors but it is not currently in scope. @chris48s I'll leave it to @mattRedBox to answer re: barriers. I note that the request only requires provision of images and not inclusion in the automated build process. Stay tuned...

[ghost]

Hi @robbiemorrison, @chris48s
I had previously included Linux in the testing that exists and the package.json for builds, so that with approval from our sponsors, this can at least flag if any issues arise with PRs. However, as @Stephen-Gates mentioned, this project and the changes are at the behest of our sponsors, so I cannot say what can be done further until prior approval is granted.