[Feature Request] Flatpak release?

[fernvenue]

Feature Request

Problem Description
I just found out that in the releases, there are only AppImage and binary, and there is neither flatpak nor is it published on flathub.org.

Proposed Solution
Provide flatpak and put it to flathub.org maybe?

Considered Alternatives
It is also great to provide only flatpak without releasing it to flathub.org.

Platform-Specific Requirements (if any)
Linux :)

[Vito0912]

Hello,
currently development is a little bit slow.
I am no Linux Dev at all and sadly did not accomplish to create a flatpak. Help is appreciated in that matter.
The arch release for example is also not managed by me.
I am open to implement it, but I am missing the knowledge to achieve this.

[fernvenue]

Hi @Vito0912, thanks for your reply! I would like to know if you have a permissive attitude towards contributions related to Flatpak?

[Vito0912]

As mentioned in the previous comment, I am open to contributions. The only requirement is transparency (so everyone can see how it is built). However, as far as I know, Flatpak already requires this. Additionally, the process should be fully automated, or I would need co-access to whatever is being used (though automation is highly preferred).

[spezian]

I'll look into it.

[spezian]

I first tried it with snap, bc I needed fewer preparations for this (and the concepts of interfaces can be transferred to flatpak permissions).

It was a pain in the ass. I'll try now flathub but I don't have high hopes (maybe flatpaks permissiveness could really help here, snaps are forced to be much more constrained)

This is the snap manifest:

name: buchable
version: 1.7.7
summary: Enjoy hearing self-hosted audiobooks.
description: testtesttesttestttest
website: https://github.com/Vito0912/abs_flutter
contact: fito0912@duck.com
source-code: https://github.com/Vito0912/abs_flutter
icon: snap/gui/buchable.png

confinement: strict
base: core22
grade: stable
license: BSD-3-Clause

architectures:
  - build-on: amd64

layout:
  /usr/lib/libmpv.so:
    symlink: $SNAP/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libmpv.so # --> maybe needed for flatpak

slots:
  dbus-buchable:
    interface: dbus
    bus: session
    name: io.github.vito0912.abs_flutter
  mpris: # --> need flatpak equivalent
    interface: mpris
    name: ABSPlayback

apps:
  buchable:
    command: abs_flutter
    extensions: [gnome]
    plugs:
      - desktop
      - desktop-legacy
      - wayland
      - network
      - network-manager-observe # --> ConnectivityPlus tries to reach "NetworkManager"
      - audio-playback # --> doesn't quite work?
      - pulseaudio
      - password-manager-service # --> flatpak equivalent: --talk-name=org.freedesktop.secrets
    slots:
      - dbus-buchable
      - mpris
    environment:
      LD_LIBRARY_PATH: $LD_LIBRARY_PATH:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR/blas:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR/lapack:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR/caca:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR/vdpau:$SNAP/usr/lib/$CRAFT_ARCH_TRIPLET_BUILD_FOR/mfx # --> probably also need to passthrough LD_LIBRARY_PATH in flatpak

parts:
  buchable:
    source: .
    plugin: flutter
    flutter-target: lib/main.dart
    build-packages:
      - libsecret-1-dev # --> needed for flatpak?
      - libjsoncpp-dev
    stage-packages:
      - libsecret-1-0
      - libmpv-dev
      - ca-certificates

There are errors/warnings like these:

Internet does work, I can login but on play this shit comes.

[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(40)] Unhandled Exception: DioException [bad response]: This exception was thrown because the response has a status code of 404 and RequestOptions.validateStatus was configured to throw for this status code.
The status code of 404 has the following meaning: "Client error - the request contains bad syntax or cannot be fulfilled"
Read more about status codes at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Status
In order to resolve this exception you typically have either to verify and fix your request code or you have to fix the server code.

flutter: Something is wrong. Please use positionStream later

flutter: media_kit: WARNING: package:media_kit_native_event_loop not found.

And some ALSA errors.

[Vito0912]

Whoa, does this also build on GitHub Actions?

I spent hours trying to get SnapCraft to work but couldn’t make progress. Thanks a ton for figuring this out!

I can still feel the frustration from my attempt.

The first error you encountered was probably due to not being on the latest branch. There was a fix added recently that might address it.

The second issue is expected and normal.

Either way, I really appreciate your help!

[spezian]

Whoa, does this also build on GitHub Actions?

Theoretically yes but idk how snapcraft publishing works.

I spent hours trying to get SnapCraft to work but couldn’t make progress. Thanks a ton for figuring this out!

I can still feel the frustration from my attempt.

You don't want to know how many years I shortened my life by trying to get it work.

The first error you encountered was probably due to not being on the latest branch. There was a fix added recently that might address it.

It still happens sometimes? but audio works, yayy!
(There is still this error: ALSA lib conf.c:4553:(snd_config_update_r) Cannot access file /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf but it works!)

When stopping an audiobook this error comes up but everything works?

[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(40)] Unhandled Exception: Null check operator used on a null value
#0 AnimationController.stop (package:flutter/src/animation/animation_controller.dart:866)
#1 AnimationController._animateToInternal (package:flutter/src/animation/animation_controller.dart:679)
#2 AnimationController.reverse (package:flutter/src/animation/animation_controller.dart:535)
#3 _ScrollingTextState._pauseAndReverse (package:abs_flutter/widgets/scrolling_text.dart:57)

So tl;dr;
everything works!
Still need to do a cleanup stage bc there are unnecessary libs.

The only problem is, the snap doesn't auto-connect to the network-manager-observe interface(/permission) so you need to provide a valid explanation to activate auto-connect. We only need this interface because of ConnectivityPlus and if we don't provide the interface it errors out.

[spezian]

Here's the "final" working snap manifest: https://github.com/kurwjan/abs_flutter/blob/flathub-support/snap/snapcraft.yaml

Description and other stuff probably for publishing is missing but now it's enough.

The save path is now: /$HOME/.local/share/io.github.vito0912.abs_flutter
($XDG_DATA_HOME -> default: $HOME/.local/share, https://specifications.freedesktop.org/basedir-spec/latest/)

[taoky]

With @fernvenue's request & help I have built a flatpak manifest, which I believe that could be submitted to Flathub with just minor changes: https://github.com/taoky/flatpak-builds/tree/master/io.github.vito0912.abs_flutter.

This repo has an automatic build with GitHub Actions to Releases (https://github.com/taoky/flatpak-builds/releases). AFAIK basic functionalities work, though there are some warnings in console.

[Vito0912]

@kurwjan Could you check if this works for you?

@taoky @fernvenue @kurwjan I don't really know how Flatpak/flathub works, but from what I saw, you must create a PR against their repo. So therefore I noticed that there are verified checkmarks for packages on flathub. Do I need to do anything to get this?

Also, is it common to have the Flatpak release file as a file for the release? If so, would it be possible to just copy the building part over?

[taoky]

you must create a PR against their repo

Yep (https://docs.flathub.org/docs/for-app-authors/submission#submission-pr).

So therefore I noticed that there are verified checkmarks for packages on flathub. Do I need to do anything to get this?

The developers themselves shall get ownership of the package repo on flathub, if a verified checkmark is needed. (see https://docs.flathub.org/docs/for-app-authors/verification)

Also, is it common to have the Flatpak release file as a file for the release? If so, would it be possible to just copy the building part over?

It's usually the case for some proprietary software which are not available on flathub, and unnecessary if it has been on flathub. If you don't want to submit to Flathub, just copying these files (and adding some build commands within CI) is fine.