Electron Desktop App Release Plan #

Overview #

Release the Aesthetic Computer Electron app and create a download experience at aesthetic.computer/desktop.

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Progress Log (December 27, 2025) #

✅ Completed #

1. Electron App Features

   • Independent zoom controls (Cmd+/- for front webview or back terminal)
   • Window size: 680×480
   • Alt+scroll window drag in all window types

2. macOS v0.1.0 Release Published

   • URL: https://github.com/whistlegraph/aesthetic-computer/releases/tag/v0.1.0
   • Universal DMG (Apple Silicon + Intel)
   • Unsigned (requires right-click → Open or xattr -cr)

3. desktop.mjs Piece Created

   • Platform detection (macOS/Windows/Linux/Fedora)
   • Download buttons for all platforms
   • Install instructions for each platform
   • Features & requirements sections
   • ⚠️ BUG: Scrolling broken, e.screen undefined in act()

4. Prompt Commands Added

   • desktop, app, electron all navigate to the desktop piece

5. Short URL Redirects (netlify.toml)

   • aesthetic.computer/desktop/mac → macOS DMG
   • aesthetic.computer/desktop/win → Windows exe
   • aesthetic.computer/desktop/linux → AppImage
   • aesthetic.computer/desktop/fedora → RPM
   • aesthetic.computer/desktop/deb → Debian package

6. GitHub Actions Multi-Platform CI/CD

   • Workflow: .github/workflows/electron-release.yml
   • Builds for macOS, Windows, Linux (AppImage, deb, rpm)
   • Uses Node 22 + Python 3.11 with setuptools
   • GH_TOKEN set as repository secret

7. Package.json Updates (ac-electron)

   • Added homepage: "https://aesthetic.computer"
   • Added author, license for Linux deb/rpm builds
   • Linux targets: AppImage, deb, rpm

8. Repo Fixes

   • Renamed a*.mjs to a-star.mjs (Windows compatibility)
   • Removed orphaned submodule refs (feral-file/docs, feral-file/ffos-user)

🔄 In Progress #

• GitHub Actions builds for Windows/Linux (latest run pending)

❌ Known Issues #

• desktop.mjs has broken scrolling (e.screen undefined in act)
• Need to simplify piece using ui.Button class like other pieces

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Phase 1: Commit & Push Current Changes ✅ #

• Commit ac-electron zoom and width changes
• Push to main

Phase 2: Electron App Distribution ✅ #

Options for Hosting the App: #

1. GitHub Releases (Recommended)

   • Use electron-builder's GitHub publish feature
   • Auto-updates support built-in
   • Free hosting for releases

2. Netlify / Custom CDN

   • Host DMG/ZIP in system/public/assets/downloads/
   • Simpler but no auto-update

Build Artifacts: #

• Aesthetic Computer-0.1.0-universal.dmg (macOS Universal)
• Future: Windows .exe, Linux .AppImage

GitHub Release Setup: #

1. Add publish config to ac-electron/package.json
2. Create GitHub personal access token for publishing
3. Run npm run publish to create release

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Phase 3: Create desktop.mjs Piece ✅ #

A dedicated piece at aesthetic.computer/desktop that:

• Shows the Aesthetic Computer logo/branding
• Displays download button for macOS
• Shows download buttons for Windows/Linux
• Includes system requirements
• Links to GitHub releases page
• Platform-specific install instructions
• FIX: Scrolling and button hover states broken

UI Elements: #

• Title: "Aesthetic Computer Desktop"
• Subtitle: "The creative coding environment on your desktop"
• Download button (detects OS, shows appropriate download)
• Version number display
• GitHub link for all releases
• One-liner install commands (curl)

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Phase 4: Update prompt.mjs ✅ #

• Add desktop command to navigate to the desktop piece
• Add app and electron aliases

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Phase 5: Short URL Redirects ✅ #

• aesthetic.computer/desktop/mac → DMG
• aesthetic.computer/desktop/win → exe
• aesthetic.computer/desktop/linux → AppImage
• aesthetic.computer/desktop/fedora → RPM
• aesthetic.computer/desktop/deb → deb

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Phase 6: Future Enhancements #

• Fix desktop.mjs scrolling and button hover states
• Auto-update system (electron-updater)
• Code signing for macOS (Apple Developer account)
• Windows code signing
• In-app update notifications

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Release Checklist #

• Version bump in package.json (0.1.0)
• Build universal macOS app
• Create GitHub release with DMG
• Create desktop.mjs piece
• Update prompt.mjs with desktop command
• Set up GitHub Actions for Windows/Linux builds
• Add short URL redirects in netlify.toml
• Fix desktop.mjs bugs
• Test Windows/Linux builds
• Test download flow end-to-end
• Announce release

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Technical Notes #

GitHub Release URL Pattern: #

https://github.com/whistlegraph/aesthetic-computer/releases/download/v0.1.0/Aesthetic.Computer-0.1.0-universal.dmg

OS Detection in desktop.mjs: #

const platform = navigator.platform.toLowerCase();
const isMac = platform.includes('mac');
const isWindows = platform.includes('win');
const isLinux = platform.includes('linux');

Download URLs (via Netlify redirects): #

• macOS: aesthetic.computer/desktop/mac
• Windows: aesthetic.computer/desktop/win
• Linux: aesthetic.computer/desktop/linux
• Fedora: aesthetic.computer/desktop/fedora
• Debian: aesthetic.computer/desktop/deb

One-liner Install Commands: #

# Fedora
curl -L aesthetic.computer/desktop/fedora -o ac.rpm && sudo dnf install -y ac.rpm

# Debian/Ubuntu
curl -L aesthetic.computer/desktop/deb -o ac.deb && sudo dpkg -i ac.deb

# Linux AppImage
curl -L aesthetic.computer/desktop/linux -o ~/AC.AppImage && chmod +x ~/AC.AppImage

GitHub Actions Workflow: #

• File: .github/workflows/electron-release.yml
• Triggers: Push to v* tags or manual dispatch
• Builds: macOS (universal), Windows (x64), Linux (AppImage, deb, rpm)
• Artifacts uploaded to workflow, not auto-published to releases yet