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https://github.com/iffy/electron-updater-example

A complete example showing how to use `electron-updater`
https://github.com/iffy/electron-updater-example

electron electron-updater macos windows

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A complete example showing how to use `electron-updater`

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README 

        
This repo contains the **bare minimum code** to have an auto-updating Electron app using [`electron-updater`](https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/tree/master/packages/electron-updater) with releases stored on GitHub.



If you can't use GitHub, you can use other providers:



- [Complete electron-updater HTTP example](https://gist.github.com/iffy/0ff845e8e3f59dbe7eaf2bf24443f104)

- [Complete electron-updater from gitlab.com private repo example](https://gist.github.com/Slauta/5b2bcf9fa1f6f6a9443aa6b447bcae05)



**NOTE:** If you want to run through this whole process, either fork this repo or [start your own from a template](https://github.com/iffy/electron-updater-example/generate). Then replace all instances of `iffy` with your GitHub username before doing the following steps.



1. For macOS, you will need a code-signing certificate.



    Install Xcode (from the App Store), then follow [these instructions](https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/MaintainingCertificates/MaintainingCertificates.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40012582-CH31-SW6) to make sure you have a "Developer ID Application" certificate.  If you'd like to export the certificate (for automated building, for instance) [you can](https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/AppDistributionGuide/MaintainingCertificates/MaintainingCertificates.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40012582-CH31-SW7).  You would then follow [these instructions](https://www.electron.build/code-signing).

   

    This example application is set up to perform code-signing and notarization on Mac OS provided that a `Developer ID

    Application` certificate is installed in the default keychain.  The following environment variables are important for the signing process:



    - `CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY` - controls whether `electron-builder` tries to sign the application; default is `true`, set to `false` to skip signing

    - `APPLE_ID` - the Apple ID to use for notarization (required for signing).

    - `APPLE_ID_PASSWORD` - the password to use with the specified Apple ID for notarization (required for signing).  Apple recommends setting up an app-specific password to safeguard the Apple ID password (see [Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397)) for more information.



    To enable code-signing and notarization:



        export CSC_IDENTITY_AUTO_DISCOVERY="true"

        export APPLE_ID=""

        export APPLE_ID_PASSWORD=""



2. Adjust `package.json` if needed.



    By default, `electron-updater` will try to detect the GitHub settings (such as the repo name and owner) from reading the `.git/config` or from reading other attributes within `package.json`.  If the auto-detected settings are not what you want, configure the [`publish`](https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/wiki/Publishing-Artifacts#PublishConfiguration) property as follows:



        {

            ...

            "build": {

                "publish": [{

                    "provider": "github",

                    "owner": "iffy",

                    "repo": "electron-updater-example"

                }],

                ...

            }

        }



3. Install necessary dependencies with:



        yarn



   or



        npm install



4. Generate a GitHub access token by going to .  The access token should have the `repo` scope/permission.  Once you have the token, assign it to an environment variable



    On macOS/linux:



        export GH_TOKEN=""



    On Windows, run in powershell:



        [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("GH_TOKEN","","User")



    Make sure to restart your IDE/Terminal to inherit latest env variable.



5. Publish for your platform with:



        electron-builder -p always



   or



        npm run publish



   If you want to publish for more platforms, edit the `publish` script in `package.json`.  For instance, to build for Windows and macOS:



        ...

        "scripts": {

            "publish": "electron-builder --mac --win -p always"

        },

        ...



   NOTE: The Mac OS signing/notarization process must be run on Mac OS.



6. Release the release on GitHub by going to , editing the release and clicking "Publish release."



7. Download and install the app from .



8. Update the version in `package.json`, commit and push to GitHub.



9. Do steps 5 and 6 again.



10. Open the installed version of the app and see that it updates itself.