Are you sure that this plugin works ?

[Bahrom2101]

I have a desktop project mostly for windows users and I want to update it by itself. I am attempting to use this plugin. Please, make the documentation more accessible. I am so confused about what to do. I've created a server that holds my exe and appcast.xml file. I am feeding autoupdater from appcast's URL. But it is not working. What do I have to do ?

[lijy91]

What step are you stuck at?

[lijy91]

You need to package your app as an installer with inno setup / nsis.

[Bahrom2101]

You need to package your app as an installer with inno setup / nsis.

My steps were:

1. Installed open SSL
2. Generated dsa_priv.pem and dsa_pub.pem
3. WinSparkle script added to windows/runner/Runner.rc
4. Added distribute_options.yaml
5. Released windows with flutter_distributor command (version: 1.0.0+1 in pubspec.yaml)
6. Got signature for it
7. Put my .exe file to server and also appcast.xml file with .exe file URL and its signature.
8. Set appcast.xml file's URL to code -> await autoUpdater.setFeedURL(Constants.feedUrl);
9. I installed 1.0.0+1 exe file. and checked for updates. Result: my_project 1.0.0 is currently the newest version available
10. Released windows with flutter_distributor command (version: 1.0.1+2 in pubspec.yaml)
11. Got signature for it
12. Put my .exe file to server and also appcast.xml file with .exe file URL and its signature.
13. I installed 1.0.1+2 exe file. and checked for updates. Result: my_project 1.0.0 is currently the newest version available Every time I have changed my appcast.xml versions for new.

[lijy91]

Did you change the version number of Runner.rc? Since flutter windows cannot automatically update the version number at present, you need to modify it yourself.

https://github.com/leanflutter/auto_updater/blob/66be5845bf37fe4c6a30d7532b32af1d6e49f590/example/windows/runner/Runner.rc#L63-L73

[lijy91]

https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/73652

[Bahrom2101]

Did you change the version number of Runner.rc? Since flutter windows cannot automatically update the version number at present, you need to modify it yourself.

https://github.com/leanflutter/auto_updater/blob/66be5845bf37fe4c6a30d7532b32af1d6e49f590/example/windows/runner/Runner.rc#L63-L73

I am doing it that way but no work. Maybe it's from appcast.xml My appcast URL is https://test.cdn.billz.ai/billz/appcast.xml Is this normal?

[ollyde]

@Bahrom2101 it works for both MacOS and Windows, we have it working on both. @lijy91 instead of references other tickets it might be good to update the readme.

[Bahrom2101]

@Bahrom2101 it works for both MacOS and Windows, we have it working on both. @lijy91 instead of references other tickets it might be good to update the readme.

Can you provide your appcast make and read details?

[ollyde]

Sure, here is an example of an app cast.

@Bahrom2101 also keep in mind, for Apple you will need to Notorise your app for it to install without making users go though weird security loops.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:sparkle="http://www.andymatuschak.org/xml-namespaces/sparkle">
    <channel>
        <title>MyApp</title>
        <description>Most recent updates to MyApp</description>
        <language>en</language>
        <item>
            <title>Version 1.0.2</title>
            <description>
                <h1>New update</h1>
                <p>Welcome to MyApp 1.0.2!</p>
            </description>
            <!-- Build number, what it uses to update. -->
            <sparkle:version>18</sparkle:version>
            <sparkle:shortVersionString>1.0.2</sparkle:shortVersionString>
            <pubDate>Sun, 7 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <enclosure url="https://storage.googleapis.com/MyApp-dev/macos_builds/MyApp_macos_1.0.2+18.zip"
                       sparkle:edSignature="yeScRLFcBlFsZGns0gMr36yiqXCKqeIkV+CxXeak+t8CSaVuS5dQcHZ5EMERcwI8aMomhBA=="
                       sparkle:os="macos"
                       length="28781045"
                       type="application/octet-stream" />
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Version 1.0.2</title>
             <description>
                <h1>New update</h1>
                <p>Welcome to MyApp 1.0.2!</p>
            </description>
            <!-- Build number is broken on Windows -->
            <sparkle:version>1.0.2</sparkle:version>
            <pubDate>Sun, 7 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
            <enclosure url="https://storage.googleapis.com/MyApp-dev/windows_builds/MyApp-1.0.1+15.exe"
                       sparkle:dsaSignature="MEQCIBVHZCZR6wThDoEXN/xx0AXAiAuNgBi5B4yH/qagELEMCFiMAEzz3C64lIGRrIDDuRvqg=="
                       sparkle:os="windows"
                       length="0"
                       type="application/octet-stream" />
        </item>
    </channel>
</rss>

[ollyde]

@Bahrom2101 you also need to update the runner.rc manually, since flutter doesn't update it.

[GolnazMirzaie]

@lijy91 @ollyde this is my appcast.xml file after second update (I add some changes to the project, then release windows with flutter_distributor command, sign the app after update, and then create appcast file like below) :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:sparkle="http://www.andymatuschak.org/xml-namespaces/sparkle">
    <channel>
        <title>kiosk app update</title>
<description>Most recent updates to kiosk</description>
<language>en</language>
<item>
<title>Version 1.0.2</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 6 June 2024 10:28:00 +0800</pubDate>
<enclosure url="url for exe" sparkle:dsaSignature="MD0CHQCRaSvLRZOaPRQegfbgis9qoY/pazzyAhoGskDBAhxhBTg3bVvOKFqGrUnT9d/0LKk/8b0qR5fUHsLp" sparkle:version="1.0.2+1" sparkle:os="windows" length="0" type="application/octet-stream"/>
</item>
    </channel>
</rss>

but when ever I open the app, it checks for updates and it detects that there is a newer version, it starts downloading updates but in the middle, it gives this message:

an error occured in retrieving update information, are you connected to internt? please try again later.

my Runner.rc:

#if defined(FLUTTER_VERSION_MAJOR) && defined(FLUTTER_VERSION_MINOR) && defined(FLUTTER_VERSION_PATCH) && defined(FLUTTER_VERSION_BUILD)
#define VERSION_AS_NUMBER FLUTTER_VERSION_MAJOR,FLUTTER_VERSION_MINOR,FLUTTER_VERSION_PATCH,FLUTTER_VERSION_BUILD
#else
#define VERSION_AS_NUMBER 1,0,2,1
#endif

#if defined(FLUTTER_VERSION)
#define VERSION_AS_STRING FLUTTER_VERSION
#else
#define VERSION_AS_STRING "1.0.2.1"
#endif

version in pubspec.yaml: 1.0.2+1

I dont know what I'm doing wrong! should I run "flutter windows build" after each update??