feat: add Windows and Linux desktop support

README.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 ## What is this?
 
-**Paperclip Desktop** is an unofficial [Electron](https://www.electronjs.org/) wrapper around [Paperclip](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip). It bundles Paperclip (via the official `@paperclipai/server` npm package) inside a native desktop app for macOS. Windows and Linux builds are coming soon.
+**Paperclip Desktop** is an unofficial [Electron](https://www.electronjs.org/) wrapper around [Paperclip](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip). It bundles Paperclip (via the official `@paperclipai/server` npm package) inside a native desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
 
 The goal is simple: **make running Paperclip as easy as opening an app.**
 
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ The goal is simple: **make running Paperclip as easy as opening an app.**
 - 📦 **Paperclip inside** — ships an unmodified build of the upstream Paperclip server and UI. What you get in the app is exactly what you'd get by cloning and running the main repo.
 - 🔄 **Auto-updates** — pulls new desktop releases automatically via GitHub Releases.
 - 🖥 **Native menus, windowing, and system tray** — the Paperclip UI, but as a real desktop app.
-
-Under the hood, the app can either:
+- 🪟 **Cross-platform** — macOS (Apple Silicon + Intel), Windows (x64), and Linux (x64).
 
 1. Run the embedded local server flow
 2. Or verify a remote Paperclip origin via `/api/health` and `/api/auth/get-session` before loading it in a restricted remote-safe Electron window
@@ -59,15 +58,11 @@ This is an **independent community distribution**. It is not an official Papercl
 Download the latest installer for your platform from the [Releases page](https://github.com/aronprins/paperclip-desktop/releases):
 
 - **macOS** — `.dmg` (Apple Silicon and Intel)
-- **Windows** — _coming soon_
-- **Linux** — _coming soon_
+- **Windows** — `.exe` NSIS installer (x64)
+- **Linux** — `.AppImage` or `.deb` (x64)
 
 Open the app. Paperclip starts automatically and the dashboard opens in the app window. That's it.
 
-### Prefer the original?
-
-If you'd rather run Paperclip yourself from source (no desktop wrapper), follow the upstream instructions:
-
 ```bash
 npx paperclipai onboard --yes
 ```
@@ -99,6 +94,8 @@ pnpm build-ui          # Stage the Paperclip UI
 pnpm pack              # Build an unpacked app directory (no installer)
 pnpm dist              # Build full installers for the current platform
 pnpm dist:mac          # macOS (.dmg + .zip, signed/notarized via local script)
+pnpm dist:win          # Windows (.exe NSIS installer + portable)
+pnpm dist:linux        # Linux (.AppImage + .deb)
 ```
 
 Key files:
@@ -108,8 +105,8 @@ Key files:
 - `src/launcher-html.ts` — Internal launcher UI for the chooser, remote connect flow, saved connections, and local boot states
 - `src/preload.ts` — Preload script for the renderer
 - `src/updater.ts` — Auto-update wiring (`electron-updater` against GitHub Releases)
-- `electron-builder.yml` — Packaging config; bundles the `@paperclipai/server` npm package plus a platform-specific Node.js binary into `Resources/app-server/`
-- `scripts/` — Build and release automation (server staging, macOS notarization, etc.)
+- `electron-builder.yml` — Packaging config; bundles the `@paperclipai/server` npm package plus a platform-specific Node.js binary
+- `scripts/` — Build and release automation (server staging, packaging, notarization)
 
 <br/>
 

package.json

@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
     "onlyBuiltDependencies": [
       "@embedded-postgres/darwin-arm64",
       "@embedded-postgres/darwin-x64",
+      "@embedded-postgres/linux-x64",
+      "@embedded-postgres/win32-x64",
       "electron",
       "electron-winstaller",
       "esbuild"

scripts/build-ui.mjs

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * be simplified to just copy from node_modules.
  */
 
-import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { execFileSync, execSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { existsSync, readFileSync, mkdirSync, rmSync, cpSync, readdirSync } from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
@@ -127,10 +127,19 @@ if (!cloneSuccess) {
 // ── Install dependencies and build UI ───────────────────────────────────────
 
 console.log("[build-ui] Installing upstream dependencies...");
-execFileSync("pnpm", ["install", "--frozen-lockfile"], { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+const isWindows = process.platform === "win32";
+if (isWindows) {
+  execSync("pnpm install --frozen-lockfile", { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+} else {
+  execFileSync("pnpm", ["install", "--frozen-lockfile"], { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+}
 
 console.log("[build-ui] Building UI...");
-execFileSync("pnpm", ["--filter", "@paperclipai/ui", "build"], { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+if (isWindows) {
+  execSync("pnpm --filter @paperclipai/ui build", { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+} else {
+  execFileSync("pnpm", ["--filter", "@paperclipai/ui", "build"], { cwd: cloneDir, stdio: "inherit", timeout: 300000 });
+}
 
 // ── Copy UI dist to server bundle ───────────────────────────────────────────
 

scripts/prepare-server.mjs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * into the app.
  */
 
-import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { execFileSync, execSync } from "node:child_process";
 import {
   cpSync,
   existsSync,
@@ -183,20 +183,14 @@ for (const arch of targetArches) {
     ),
   );
 
-  execFileSync(
-    "npm",
-    ["install", "--production", `--os=${nodePlatform}`, `--cpu=${arch}`, `--arch=${arch}`],
-    {
-      cwd: stagingDir,
-      stdio: "inherit",
-      env: {
-        ...process.env,
-        npm_config_arch: arch,
-        npm_config_platform: nodePlatform,
-        npm_config_target_arch: arch,
-      },
-    },
-  );
+  const npmInstallCmd = `npm install --production --os=${nodePlatform} --cpu=${arch} --arch=${arch}`;
+  if (process.platform === "win32") {
+    execSync(npmInstallCmd, { cwd: stagingDir, stdio: "inherit", env: { ...process.env, npm_config_arch: arch, npm_config_platform: nodePlatform, npm_config_target_arch: arch } });
+  } else {
+    execFileSync("npm", ["install", "--production", `--os=${nodePlatform}`, `--cpu=${arch}`, `--arch=${arch}`], {
+      cwd: stagingDir, stdio: "inherit", env: { ...process.env, npm_config_arch: arch, npm_config_platform: nodePlatform, npm_config_target_arch: arch },
+    });
+  }
 
   console.log(`[prepare-server] Assembling server bundle for ${variant}...`);
   mkdirSync(bundleServerDir, { recursive: true });
@@ -255,21 +249,13 @@ for (const arch of arches) {
   console.log(`[prepare-server] Downloading Node ${NODE_VERSION} for ${nodeDownloadPlatform}-${arch}...`);
 
   if (platform === "win32") {
-    execFileSync(
-      "powershell",
-      ["-NoProfile", "-Command", "Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $args[0] -OutFile $args[1]", url, archivePath],
-      { stdio: "inherit" },
-    );
+    execSync(`powershell -NoProfile -Command "Invoke-WebRequest -Uri '${url}' -OutFile '${archivePath}'"`, { stdio: "inherit" });
   } else {
     execFileSync("curl", ["-fsSL", "-o", archivePath, url], { stdio: "inherit" });
   }
 
   if (platform === "win32") {
-    execFileSync(
-      "powershell",
-      ["-NoProfile", "-Command", "Expand-Archive -Path $args[0] -DestinationPath $args[1] -Force", archivePath, destDir],
-      { stdio: "inherit" },
-    );
+    execSync(`powershell -NoProfile -Command "Expand-Archive -Path '${archivePath}' -DestinationPath '${destDir}' -Force"`, { stdio: "inherit" });
     cpSync(path.join(destDir, archiveName, "node.exe"), destBin);
     rmSync(path.join(destDir, archiveName), { recursive: true, force: true });
   } else {

src/main.ts

@@ -261,6 +261,8 @@ function findNodeBinary(): string {
     // ignore
   }
 
+
+  // macOS / Linux fallbacks
   const candidates: string[] = [];
   const home = process.env.HOME ?? "";
   const nvmDir = process.env.NVM_DIR ?? path.join(home, ".nvm");
@@ -287,6 +289,11 @@ function findNodeBinary(): string {
 }
 
 function resolveShellPath(): string {
+  // ponytail: on Windows, process.env.PATH is authoritative; no login shell needed.
+  if (process.platform === "win32") {
+    return process.env.PATH ?? "";
+  }
+
   const fallbackDirs = [
     "/usr/local/bin",
     "/opt/homebrew/bin",
@@ -333,6 +340,7 @@ function resolveShellPath(): string {
     : basePath;
 }
 
+
 function getPidFilePath(): string {
   return path.join(app.getPath("userData"), PID_FILE_NAME);
 }
@@ -475,7 +483,7 @@ function startServer(port: number): ChildProcess {
         stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
         detached: !isWindows,
       })
-    : spawn("node", [path.join(root, "node_modules", "@paperclipai", "server", "dist", "index.js")], {
+    : spawn("node", [path.join(root, "build", "server-bundle", `${process.platform === "win32" ? "win" : process.platform}-${process.arch}`, "server", "dist", "index.js")], {
         cwd: root,
         env: {
           ...process.env,
@@ -1521,6 +1529,7 @@ function registerLauncherIpc(): void {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function rebuildAppMenu(): void {
+  if (process.platform !== "darwin") return;
   const template: MenuItemConstructorOptions[] = [
     {
       label: "Paperclip",
@@ -1676,7 +1685,11 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
   killOrphanedServer();
   connectionStore = new ConnectionStore(getConnectionsFilePath(app.getPath("userData")));
   registerLauncherIpc();
-  rebuildAppMenu();
+  if (process.platform === "darwin") {
+    rebuildAppMenu();
+  } else {
+    Menu.setApplicationMenu(null);
+  }
 
   const startupProfileId = connectionStore.getStartupProfileId();
   if (startupProfileId) {
@@ -1752,7 +1765,11 @@ app.on("before-quit", async (event) => {
   app.quit();
 });
 
-for (const signal of ["SIGTERM", "SIGINT", "SIGHUP"] as const) {
+const shutdownSignals: NodeJS.Signals[] = ["SIGTERM", "SIGINT"];
+if (process.platform !== "win32") {
+  shutdownSignals.push("SIGHUP");
+}
+for (const signal of shutdownSignals) {
   process.on(signal, () => {
     isQuitting = true;
     void killServer().then(() => app.quit());