Debian install breaks due to 'error creating hard link: Invalid cross-device link'

[imtuyethan]

When installing Jan on Debian, the process fails with an 'error creating hard link: Invalid cross-device link' message. This occurs specifically when the /opt/ directory is on a different partition from the root filesystem.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Have a system with multiple partitions (e.g., separate partitions for / and /home)
2. Set up /opt and /usr on different partitions (e.g., using a symbolic link /opt -> /home/opt)
3. Try to install Jan using the command: sudo dpkg -i jan-linux-amd64-0.5.4.deb

Error message:

$ sudo dpkg -i jan-linux-amd64-0.5.4.deb
(Reading database ... 421073 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack jan-linux-amd64-0.5.4.deb ...
Unpacking jan (0.5.4) ...
dpkg: error processing archive jan-linux-amd64-0.5.4.deb (--install):
error creating hard link '/opt/Jan/resources/app.asar.unpacked/icons/512x512.png': Invalid cross-device link
dpkg-deb: error: paste subprocess was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1) ...
Processing triggers for mailcap (3.70+nmu1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
jan-linux-amd64-0.5.4.deb

OS: Linux (Debian-based)

Can you help resolve this installation issue for Debian systems with separate partitions?

[imtuyethan]

Jan is an Electron-based application. You've identified a known problem that affects not just Jan, but many Electron-based applications packaged as .deb files, particularly when installed on systems where /opt is on a separate partition. The packaging process creates hard links, which fail when crossing device boundaries (i.e., different partitions or drives).

My proposed workaround for this is: Use the Appimage (portable build) instead.

The long-term solution would involve working with the electron-builder community to address the issue at its source, which could take months, unfortunately.

Similar reported issues:

electron-userland/electron-builder#5721
LN-Zap/zap-desktop#2089
beekeeper-studio/beekeeper-studio#593