Linux Flatpak — Expo Web bundle in a Flatpak shell #188

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opened 2026-06-20 15:45:00 +00:00 by james · 0 comments

james commented

2026-06-20 15:45:00 +00:00

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Package the Expo Web bundle as a Linux Flatpak so it installs from Flathub-style channels and runs as a native-feeling desktop app.

React Native → Linux native is not a real path. The path that works: ship the Expo Web bundle inside a thin shell that loads it.

Scope

Pick a shell. Recommend Tauri — Rust footprint is tiny, Flatpak story is well-trodden, and it gives a native-feeling window without dragging in Electron. Alternatives: a minimal gtk-webkit2 wrapper, or a configured Epiphany/GNOME Web profile.
Bundle the Expo Web build at apps/client/dist/ inside the shell.
Settings screen handles the API URL same as Android.
Tag-driven release builds a Flatpak bundle and attaches it to the Forgejo release.

Acceptance criteria

A Flatpak bundle installs cleanly on Fedora 43+ and Ubuntu 26.04+.
The app launches, prompts for an API URL on first run, and exercises the full feature set.
Tag-driven release publishes the Flatpak to the Forgejo release.

Out of scope

Flathub submission — separate later step.
macOS / Windows packaging.

Composes with

Android build, Release pipeline (ADR-0014), Expo client scaffolding.

Part of

#176

Package the Expo Web bundle as a **Linux Flatpak** so it installs from Flathub-style channels and runs as a native-feeling desktop app. React Native → Linux native is not a real path. The path that works: ship the Expo Web bundle inside a thin shell that loads it. ## Scope - Pick a shell. **Recommend Tauri** — Rust footprint is tiny, Flatpak story is well-trodden, and it gives a native-feeling window without dragging in Electron. Alternatives: a minimal `gtk-webkit2` wrapper, or a configured Epiphany/GNOME Web profile. - Bundle the Expo Web build at `apps/client/dist/` inside the shell. - Settings screen handles the API URL same as Android. - Tag-driven release builds a Flatpak bundle and attaches it to the Forgejo release. ## Acceptance criteria - [ ] A Flatpak bundle installs cleanly on Fedora 43+ and Ubuntu 26.04+. - [ ] The app launches, prompts for an API URL on first run, and exercises the full feature set. - [ ] Tag-driven release publishes the Flatpak to the Forgejo release. ## Out of scope - Flathub submission — separate later step. - macOS / Windows packaging. ## Composes with Android build, Release pipeline (ADR-0014), Expo client scaffolding. ## Part of #176

james added the

area:ci

area:native

feature

labels

2026-06-20 15:45:28 +00:00

james referenced this issue

2026-06-21 05:46:51 +00:00

feat(client): scaffold @carol/client — Expo Router + RN Web (#183) #198

james referenced this issue

2026-06-21 13:09:48 +00:00

feat: single-container deployment — API serves the Expo Web bundle (#186) #204