macOS and Linux support (long-term goal)

[rowkav09]

Long-term goal (backlog, not current work). Requested by Rowan on 23 Sep 2026 as a goal for later.

Goal

Run nowplaying on macOS and Linux as well as Windows, with the same setup wizard, provider sign-in, Discord presence and hosted card features.

Scope (when picked up)

• Platform audit: list every Windows-only piece (WinForms setup window, Credential Manager adapter, Start with Windows, tray, installer, signing).
• Credential storage: macOS Keychain and Linux Secret Service (libsecret) adapters behind createCredentialStore.
• Setup UI: a cross-platform path (browser /setup fallback already exists; decide native vs browser per OS).
• Autostart: LaunchAgent on macOS, XDG autostart / systemd user unit on Linux.
• Packaging: macOS universal build (dmg or zip) and Linux (AppImage or tar.gz), added to the rolling dev build and releases.
• CI: macOS and Linux runners for tests and smoke checks.

Out of scope for now

Blocked behind the Windows v0.2.0 testable release. Split into small issues when started.

Done when

• A macOS and a Linux build install, run setup, sign in to a provider, and show Discord presence from saved settings.
• CI covers all three platforms and the dev build ships all three.

[rowkav09]

Picking up a thin first slice for the oldest-first lane: the local server and card running on Linux and macOS without the tray. Everything is in small PRs, and Windows behaviour stays the same.

Platform audit (what's Windows-only today):

• Paths: config, setup draft, device id and log all come from %LOCALAPPDATA% (windowsConfigPath, windowsSetupDraftPath, windowsLogPath). The log is only written on win32.
• Entry point: scripts/windows-entry.js is the only start/setup command. First-run setup only happens on win32.
• Credentials: only windows-credential-adapter.js (Credential Manager) sits behind createCredentialStore.
• Setup UI: the native window is WinForms/PowerShell. The browser /setup page is already cross-platform.
• Windows-only by nature, and deferred: tray (PowerShell), Start with Windows, the Inno Setup installer, signing and the updater asset names.
• Already cross-platform: providers, card renderer, HTTP server, settings/status pages, and Discord IPC (Unix socket paths in discordIpcPaths).

Planned slices:

1. Per-OS app paths: XDG on Linux, ~/Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Logs on macOS, unchanged on Windows.
2. Credential adapters behind createCredentialStore: Linux Secret Service via secret-tool, and macOS Keychain. Secrets never go on a command line.
3. A cross-platform start/setup entry that uses the browser setup page and no tray.
4. CI running the test suite on macOS as well as Linux.

Packaging, autostart and the tray come later, as separate issues.