Linux

[joelgombin]

Is there anyway to use data curator on a Linux distro (apart from using a VM, wine etc.)?

[Stephen-Gates]

Hi @joelgombin,
Developing a Linux distribution is not in our plans. All I can suggest is exploring the Electron docs for clues on how you could do the build on your computer. If you work it out, a PR is very welcome :-)

[chris48s]

In principle electron apps are cross-platform. If I check out the repo on linux the application will run in dev mode:

git clone https://github.com/ODIQueensland/data-curator.git
cd data-curator/
yarn install
yarn run dev

Given the application launches under linux, there shouldn't be much of a barrier to producing a linux binary of some description, especially given data curator removes the dependency on travelling ruby/csvlint (which was one of the things that required some fiddling to get the builds to work cross-platform in comma chameleon). Attempting to runyarn build on linux fails with Error: Icon set directory /bla/bla/bla/build/icons doesn't contain icons. It may be that adding an icon in the correct format is the only thing you need to do in order to build a linux binary.

[Stephen-Gates]

Great! Thanks for investigating @chris48s.

I've added icons as recommended in electron builder doco.
Let me know if that works or if you need more.

cc: @joelgombin

[chris48s]

Yep - I've just checked out the latest version. yarn build now runs correctly. 👍 By default it produces an AppImage, but it seems like its fairly easy to configure electron-builder to produce other package formats: https://www.electron.build/configuration/linux

I'm not sure on your process for packaging a release, but given you've got a build process which can build a linux binary it might be nice to include one in future releases.

[Stephen-Gates]

Closing in favour of #830