[Bug] Will not run on linux, requires `root`, requires `--no-sandbox` fails due to missing `latest-linux.yml`

[krstp]

Describe the bug
The run on ubuntu requires fuse installation, which is OK. However, further executioion of executable chmod +x .AppImage will not run claiming the execution requires root. Even sudo-ing it will require --no-sandbox, which is further not good. Ultimately will fail complaining from underlying electron's node execution such as:

(node:9747) UnhandledPromiseRejectionWarning: Error: Cannot find latest-linux.yml in the latest release artifacts (https://github.com/smol-ai/GodMode/releases/download/v1.0.0-beta.10/latest-linux.yml): HttpError: 404

To Reproduce

 sudo ./GodMode-1.0.0-beta.10.AppImage --no-sandbox

Expected behavior
I expected the application to run, instead an empty window launches with electron unable to create UI.

Screenshots

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS:

OS: Linux X11 ubuntu 24.04
Memory: 15.3 GiB
Architecture: x86_64

• GodMode Version GodMode-1.0.0-beta.10.AppImage

Additional context
N/A

[SifuDanFerrera]

I investigated the current main branch and the published Linux release.

npm run package-lin successfully builds both x64 and ARM64 AppImages and generates:

latest-linux.yml
latest-linux-arm64.yml
However, the published v1.0.0-beta.10 GitHub release includes the AppImages but does not include those Linux updater manifests (or associated blockmap files).

src/main/main.ts always runs:

TypeScript

autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
without handling a rejected promise. This matches the Cannot find latest-linux.yml startup failure in this issue.

Suggested immediate fix:

TypeScript

class AppUpdater {
constructor() {
// Disable Linux auto-update until release artifacts include
// latest-linux.yml / latest-linux-arm64.yml and blockmaps.
if (!app.isPackaged || process.platform === 'linux') return;

log.transports.file.level = 'info';
autoUpdater.logger = log;
autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify().catch((error) => {
  log.error('Automatic update check failed:', error);
});

}
}
Additional Linux issues found:

The “start at login” code uses Windows-only Update.exe logic on Linux.
The project currently only ships AppImages. A .deb build would be substantially better for Debian/Crostini/ChromeOS users.
AppImages can hit Electron chrome-sandbox restrictions in Crostini. The app should not recommend running as root or with --no-sandbox.
A release workflow should upload generated Linux update files, including latest-linux*.yml and *.blockmap.
I recommend first landing a small startup-stability patch, then adding x64/ARM64 .deb artifacts and a Linux release CI workflow.

That adds useful, reproducible technical detail directly where the current Linux problem is already tracked.

2. Open a separate, focused issue for Chromebook/Crostini support
   Don’t combine the updater defect, packaging, provider breakage, and security modernization in one giant issue. A good second issue could be:

Title:

text

[Feature] First-class Debian/Crostini packages for Chromebook users
Body:

Markdown

Context

GodMode builds Linux AppImages, including ARM64 builds, but Chromebook Linux
(Crostini) users can encounter FUSE and Electron sandbox restrictions with
AppImages.

Request

Please add .deb targets for x64 and ARM64 Linux releases in addition to
AppImage:

• x86_64 / amd64 for Intel and AMD Chromebooks
• arm64 for ARM Chromebooks
• proper launcher integration in the Linux container
• a release workflow that uploads all generated update metadata

Suggested electron-builder target

"linux": {
  "target": [
    { "target": "AppImage", "arch": ["x64", "arm64"] },
    { "target": "deb", "arch": ["x64", "arm64"] }
  ],
  "category": "Development"
}
Why .deb matters
Crostini is Debian-based. A .deb package is more suitable than AppImage for
desktop integration and Electron sandbox installation behavior.

uname -m can identify the required artifact:

x86_64 → amd64
aarch64 → arm64
text


## 3. Best option: send a pull request

Maintainers are most likely to act on a PR that is small, builds cleanly, and solves one bug. The first PR should **not** attempt to revive every provider integration.

Suggested PR title:

```text
Fix Linux startup update failure and guard Windows-only login settings
Suggested scope:

Handle/reject update-check failures.
Disable Linux auto-updates temporarily, or only enable them once release metadata is published.
Prevent Linux from using the Windows Update.exe startup path.
Hide or disable “Start at login” in the Linux UI.
Add a short Linux/Crostini troubleshooting note to the README.
You can create it through GitHub:

Click Fork on the [GodMode repository](https://github.com/smol-ai/GodMode).
Make a branch called fix/linux-startup.
Commit the narrow change.
Click Contribute → Open pull request.
Describe the test command:
Bash

npm ci --force
npm run package-lin
Link the PR to [issue #299](https://github.com/smol-ai/GodMode/issues/299).
4. Tag a maintainer politely, once
The organization owns the repository, and @swyxio has historically maintained and merged changes. In the issue or PR, a single respectful tag is fine:

text

@​swyxio — I traced this to the Linux auto-updater/release metadata path.
I’d be happy to test a patched build in ChromeOS Crostini.
Avoid repeated pings or unsolicited messages. A well-written issue plus a working PR is much more useful than a long direct message.

5. Keep the provider/security overhaul separate
GodMode’s last release is from 2023, and service integrations such as ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini, Claude, Bing/Copilot, and others have changed heavily since then. That should be a third issue or a roadmap discussion, not bundled into the initial Linux bug fix.

A sensible order is:

Make Linux startup reliable.
Ship .deb and AppImage releases correctly.
Modernize Electron/dependencies.
Refresh provider URLs, selectors, and login behavior.

[SifuDanFerrera]

Godmode Linux Startup patch:

diff --git a/src/main/main.ts b/src/main/main.ts
index c031379..e0828ac 100644
--- a/src/main/main.ts
+++ b/src/main/main.ts
@@ -33,9 +33,16 @@ let store = new Store();

class AppUpdater {
constructor() {

•   // The published Linux release currently lacks the updater manifest files
  

•   // (latest-linux.yml and latest-linux-arm64.yml). Do not start a failing
  

•   // update check until the release workflow uploads those artifacts.
  

•   if (!app.isPackaged || process.platform === 'linux') return;
  

•   log.transports.file.level = 'info';
    autoUpdater.logger = log;
  

•   autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
  

•   autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify().catch((error) => {
  

•   	log.error('Automatic update check failed:', error);
  

•   });
  

  }
  }

@@ -69,40 +76,46 @@ ipcMain.on('get-always-on-top', async (event, property, val) => {
event.returnValue = bool;
});

-const appFolder = path.dirname(process.execPath);
-const updateExe = path.resolve(appFolder, '..', 'Update.exe');
-const exeName = path.basename(process.execPath);

-ipcMain.on('enable-open-at-login', async (event, property, val) => {

• app.setLoginItemSettings({

•   openAtLogin: true,
  

•   path: updateExe,
  

•   args: [
  

•   	'--processStart',
  

•   	`"${exeName}"`,
  

•   	'--process-start-args',
  

•   	`"--hidden"`,
  

•   ],
  

• });
  +const supportsLoginItemSettings = ['darwin', 'win32'].includes(

• process.platform,
  +);

+function setOpenAtLogin(openAtLogin: boolean) {

• if (!supportsLoginItemSettings) return;
• if (process.platform === 'win32') {

•   const appFolder = path.dirname(process.execPath);
  

•   const updateExe = path.resolve(appFolder, '..', 'Update.exe');
  

•   const exeName = path.basename(process.execPath);
  

•   app.setLoginItemSettings({
  

•   	openAtLogin,
  

•   	path: updateExe,
  

•   	args: [
  

•   		'--processStart',
  

•   		`"${exeName}"`,
  

•   		'--process-start-args',
  

•   		`"--hidden"`,
  

•   	],
  

•   });
  

•   return;
  

• }
• // macOS starts the app directly; Update.exe is a Windows-only helper.
• app.setLoginItemSettings({ openAtLogin });
  +}

+ipcMain.on('enable-open-at-login', () => {

• setOpenAtLogin(true);
  });

-ipcMain.on('disable-open-at-login', async (event, property, val) => {

• app.setLoginItemSettings({

•   openAtLogin: false,
  

•   path: updateExe,
  

•   args: [
  

•   	'--processStart',
  

•   	`"${exeName}"`,
  

•   	'--process-start-args',
  

•   	`"--hidden"`,
  

•   ],
  

• });
  +ipcMain.on('disable-open-at-login', () => {

• setOpenAtLogin(false);
  });

ipcMain.handle('get-open-at-login', () => {

• const openAtLogin = app.getLoginItemSettings().openAtLogin;
• console.log(openAtLogin);
• return openAtLogin;

• if (!supportsLoginItemSettings) return false;
• return app.getLoginItemSettings().openAtLogin;
  });

ipcMain.on('prompt-hidden-chat', async (event, channel: string, prompt) => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/settings.tsx b/src/renderer/components/settings.tsx
index 8f94cd1..6733aa5 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/settings.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/settings.tsx
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ export default function SettingsMenu({
const [shortcut, setShortcut] = useState<string[]>([]);
const [validShortcut, setValidShortcut] = useState<string[]>([]);
const [isRecording, setIsRecording] = useState(false);

• const [metaKey, setMetaKey] = useState('');

• const [platform, setPlatform] = useState('');
  const [openAtLogin, setOpenAtLogin] = useState(false);

• const [openAtLoginLoaded, setOpenAtLoginLoaded] = useState(false);
  const [superpromptFocus, setSuperpromptFocus] = useState(false);

• const supportsOpenAtLogin = ['darwin', 'win32'].includes(platform);

  function classNames(...classes) {
  return classes.filter(Boolean).join(' ');
  @@ -73,13 +75,13 @@ export default function SettingsMenu({
  if (key === 'Escape') setIsRecording(false);
  }

• // Set the meta key on mount based on platform (cmd on mac, ctrl on windows)

• // Fetch the platform once so platform-specific settings can be shown safely.
  useEffect(() => {
  const fetchPlatform = async () => {

•   	const platform = await settings.getPlatform();
  

•   	setMetaKey(platform === 'darwin' ? 'CmdOrCtrl' : 'Control');
  

•   	const currentPlatform = await settings.getPlatform();
  

•   	setPlatform(currentPlatform);
    };
  

•   if (isValidShortcut(shortcut)) fetchPlatform();
  

•   fetchPlatform();
  

  }, []);

  // Set the initial super prompt focus and shortcut states from the main process on mount
  @@ -137,18 +139,25 @@ export default function SettingsMenu({
  }, [open]);

  useEffect(() => {

•   if (!supportsOpenAtLogin) return;
  

•   const fetchOpenAtLogin = async () => {
    	const isOpen = await settings.getOpenAtLogin();
    	setOpenAtLogin(isOpen);
  

•   	setOpenAtLoginLoaded(true);
    };
    fetchOpenAtLogin();
  

• }, []);

• }, [supportsOpenAtLogin]);

  useEffect(() => {

•   // Do not change a setting before its current value has loaded, and do
  

•   // not call Electron's macOS/Windows-only login-item API on Linux.
  

•   if (!supportsOpenAtLogin || !openAtLoginLoaded) return;
  

•   openAtLogin
    	? window.electron.browserWindow.enableOpenAtLogin()
    	: window.electron.browserWindow.disableOpenAtLogin();
  

• }, [openAtLogin]);

• }, [openAtLogin, openAtLoginLoaded, supportsOpenAtLogin]);

  return (
  
  @@ -156,33 +165,35 @@ export default function SettingsMenu({
  
  Settings
  

•   		<Switch.Group as="div" className="flex items-center justify-between">
  

•   			<span className="flex flex-col flex-grow">
  

•   				<Switch.Label
  

•   					as="span"
  

•   					className="text-sm font-medium leading-6 text-gray-900"
  

•   					passive
  

•   				>
  

•   					Automatically Open GodMode at Login
  

•   				</Switch.Label>
  

•   			</span>
  

•   			<Switch
  

•   				checked={openAtLogin}
  

•   				onChange={setOpenAtLogin}
  

•   				className={classNames(
  

•   					openAtLogin ? 'bg-indigo-600' : 'bg-gray-200',
  

•   					'relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-full border-2 border-transparent transition-colors duration-200 ease-in-out focus:outline-none',
  

•   				)}
  

•   			>
  

•   				<span
  

•   					aria-hidden="true"
  

•   		{supportsOpenAtLogin && (
  

•   			<Switch.Group as="div" className="flex items-center justify-between">
  

•   				<span className="flex flex-col flex-grow">
  

•   					<Switch.Label
  

•   						as="span"
  

•   						className="text-sm font-medium leading-6 text-gray-900"
  

•   						passive
  

•   					>
  

•   						Automatically Open GodMode at Login
  

•   					</Switch.Label>
  

•   				</span>
  

•   				<Switch
  

•   					checked={openAtLogin}
  

•   					onChange={setOpenAtLogin}
    					className={classNames(
  

•   						openAtLogin ? 'translate-x-5' : 'translate-x-0',
  

•   						'pointer-events-none inline-block h-5 w-5 transform rounded-full bg-white shadow ring-0 transition duration-200 ease-in-out',
  

•   						openAtLogin ? 'bg-indigo-600' : 'bg-gray-200',
  

•   						'relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-full border-2 border-transparent transition-colors duration-200 ease-in-out focus:outline-none',
    					)}
  

•   				/>
  

•   			</Switch>
  

•   		</Switch.Group>
  

•   				>
  

•   					<span
  

•   						aria-hidden="true"
  

•   						className={classNames(
  

•   							openAtLogin ? 'translate-x-5' : 'translate-x-0',
  

•   							'pointer-events-none inline-block h-5 w-5 transform rounded-full bg-white shadow ring-0 transition duration-200 ease-in-out',
  

•   						)}
  

•   					/>
  

•   				</Switch>
  

•   			</Switch.Group>
  

•   		)}
    		<Switch.Group as="div" className="flex items-center justify-between">
    			<span className="flex flex-col flex-grow">
    				<Switch.Label