DadJokes [WIP]

A Dad Joke generator app built using React NodeGui. This app is a working proof of concept app to showcase how you can build and distribute a React NodeGui/NodeGui app to respective app stores.

Downloads

You can download the DadJokes app from the releases or from the App stores in Mac and Windows.

To Develop

To clone and run this repository you'll need Git and Node.js (which comes with npm) installed on your computer. From your command line:

# Install CMake
brew install cmake
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run the dev server
npm run dev
# Open andother terminal and run the app
npm start

Installation & Resources for learning React NodeGui

Documentation - all of React NodeGui's documentation.
NodeGui - all of NodeGui's documentation.

Packaging app as a distributable

In order to distribute your finished app, you can use @nodegui/packer

Step 1: (Run this command only once)

npx nodegui-packer --init MyAppName

This will produce the deploy directory containing the template. You can modify this to suite your needs. Like add icons, change the name, description and add other native features or dependencies. Make sure you commit this directory.

Step 2: (Run this command every time you want to build a new distributable)

Next you can run the pack command:

npm run build

This will produce the js bundle along with assets inside the ./dist directory

npx nodegui-packer --pack ./dist

This will build the distributable using @nodegui/packer based on your template. The output of the command is found under the build directory. You should gitignore the build directory.

More details about packer can be found here: https://github.com/nodegui/packer

CodeSigning for MacOS

Outside of Mac app store.

First step is to create a certificate for distribution

Open up apple developer site. https://developer.apple.com
Create a new app id if it doesnt exist already, for example com.atulr.dadjokes
Now open up Certificates tab (https://developer.apple.com/account/resources/certificates/list)

Click on + icon to create a new certificate.
Choose Developer ID Application if you want to deploy outside of mac app store and click on continue.
Generate a CSR using keychain and upload it.
Once done you can download the certificate and install it onto your computer by double clicking it.

Make sure you have these values:

Your cert identity: You can check your keychain and find something like this: Developer ID Application: Name (ascProviderID)
Your apple email id you use to login to developer.apple.com
You apple app specific password created for this app
ascProvider: This is a unique identifier assigned to your organization or account. You can find it at https://developer.apple.com/account/#/membership/ . Look for Team ID

Now open up ./pack.sh and replace the necessary values. Run ./pack.sh. This should create a packed and signed app.
Next step is to notarise the app. (https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/notarizing_macos_software_before_distribution)

To do this open and edit notarise.sh to match your values. The run ./notarise.sh.
This will give you a unique identifier that you can use to poll apple for status.
Polling for status: xcrun altool --username "<email>" --password "<app_specific_password>" --notarization-info <notarization_id>
Once you get a success message. You need to staple your app. To do this run: xcrun stapler staple ./deploy/darwin/build/Yourapp.app

Now you are ready to distribute your MacOS app.

Onto the Mac app store.

First step is to create a certificate for app store

Make sure you have a valid icns icon for your app. Use the following guide: https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/HOWTO-PortToAppleMacStore.html
Open up apple developer site. https://developer.apple.com
Create a new app id if it doesnt exist already, for example com.atulr.dadjokes
Now open up Certificates tab (https://developer.apple.com/account/resources/certificates/list)

Click on + icon to create a new certificate.
Choose Mac App Distribution and click on continue.
Generate a CSR using keychain and upload it.
Once done you can download the certificate and install it onto your computer by double clicking it.

Make sure you have these values:

Your cert identity: You can check your keychain and find something like this: 3rd Party Mac Developer Application: Name (ascProviderId)
Your apple email id you use to login to developer.apple.com
You apple app specific password created for this app
ascProvider: This is a unique identifier assigned to your organization or account. You can find it at https://developer.apple.com/account/#/membership/ . Look for Team ID

Now open up ./pack.sh and replace the necessary values. Run ./pack.sh. This should create a packed and signed app. Test your app if it works fine.
You do not need to notarise your app if you are distributing via macos app store.
Open up App Store connect: https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/ and login with your apple id.

Now go to My Apps and click +.
Fill out the form and use ? for help if needed. Then click on create button.
Now fill out App Information, Pricing and Availability and Prepare for Submission forms.

Creating a .pkg installer.

Create a new certificate for the installer. This time choose Mac Installer Distribution while creating the cert and install it to your computer.
Run productbuild to build a unsigned pkg file

productbuild --component ./DadJokes.app /Applications/ DadJokes.pkg

Now sign it

productsign --sign "3rd Party Mac Developer Installer: Your name (ID)" DadJokes.pkg DadJokesSigned.pkg

Upload using these commands:

xcrun altool --username "your username" --password "your app specific password" --validate-app -f DadJokesSigned.pkg

Fix any issue that is raised and retry until you succeed.

Then finally upload:

xcrun altool --username "your username" --password "your app specific password" --upload-app -f DadJokesSigned.pkg