Create linux installer

[abose]

• open with entry in os file explorer should work
• Entry searchable in the apps drawer in linux
• single install and uninstall script
• Add a path alias like phcode to bash rc? - works as is in ubuntu. Might need to add to path for other disctibutions.
• verify in prod.
• ci: add readme.txt for linux binary distributions #274
• ci: linux native builds #263
• ci: linux bin artifact gen #264
• build: add npm run _ci-disableBundleConfig to build bundle less exes #262
• build: add --runVerify cli command to see if app load success #261

[ArchangeGabriel]

Have you considered Flatpak? Brackets used to be packaged like that (https://flathub.org/apps/io.brackets.Brackets). This is likely the easiest way to distribute for all distribution.

[abose]

Would love to add flatpack support, but unfortunately we use tauri and it doesnt support it yet: https://tauri.app/v1/api/config/#bundletype

In linux there will most likeley be a single line command line install script, so we might not need to worry about the underlying image format.

[ArchangeGabriel]

Well they are discussions around this at tauri-apps/tauri#3619 and tauri-apps/tauri#4426, one app is already doing so (https://github.com/flathub/in.cinny.Cinny) and there is an open PR to document it: tauri-apps/tauri-docs#1760.

Not related, but I might be interested in looking into packaging for ArchLinux at some point. ;)

[abose]

Thanks for that! We will be launching betas this month, do check it out and raise any issues/feedback.

[abose]

This is done. In Linux we will be distributing as a script that installs portable binaries instead of app-images.

Appimages have degraded performance due to mount of appimage virtual disc which hampers startup time, 200+mb binary size as it needs to package all deps, consume a lot more memory and is generally not a good ux as we hoped it would. Also it wont work in distributions that does not support app image.

Our new installer works with native built portable binaries that takes advantage of the native OS libraries, have a much more wider compatibility, quick start times and is much more resource efficient.

The new installers coming end of this month is installed via terminal with a single line command. Tested working in:

1. Ubuntu 20+
2. Kubuntu 22+
3. popos 22+
4. fedora 34+
5. Arch Linux
6. debian
7. centos
8. linux Mint
   Supports GNOME and KDE.