Request for Native Linux Packages (.deb/.rpm) for OpenCloud Desktop Client

[christinloehner]

Current Situation

As a Linux user looking to migrate from Nextcloud to OpenCloud due to its open-source nature and active development, I've encountered a significant issue with the desktop client installation process.

Currently, the only option provided for Linux users is an AppImage binary, with the documentation suggesting to use AppImageLauncher for integration. However, this presents several problems:

1. AppImageLauncher is outdated: The last release was in 2020, making it a legacy solution at this point.
2. Limited package availability: AppImageLauncher only offers .deb packages for Ubuntu Xenial and Bionic - extremely outdated versions considering we're now at Ubuntu 24.10/25.04.
3. Poor system integration: Without proper packaging, features like automatic updates and desktop integration become unnecessarily complicated.

Request for Modern Packaging

I would like to request that the OpenCloud team consider providing native Linux packages for the desktop client:

• .deb packages for Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions
• .rpm packages for Red Hat/Fedora-based distributions
• Or alternatively, consider Flatpak integration for cross-distribution compatibility

This would significantly improve the user experience for Linux users and lower the barrier to entry for those considering a switch to OpenCloud from other solutions like Nextcloud, which already offers proper Linux packaging.

Benefits of Native Packages

1. Seamless updates through the distribution's package manager
2. Better system integration with desktop notifications and auto-start capabilities
3. Increased security through the distribution's verification processes
4. Easier deployment in enterprise environments

I appreciate your consideration of this request and would be happy to provide any additional information or testing assistance if needed.

[kulmann]

Thank you for the detailed input! I've created an issue in the desktop repo from this discussion, see opencloud-eu/desktop#244