feat: update .env file handling and streamline build process for desktop app release:patch

Author: ralyodio

.github/workflows/desktop-release.yml

@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install -y libarchive-tools rpm
 
+      - name: Write .env file
+        run: printenv ENV_FILE > apps/desktop/.env
+        env:
+          ENV_FILE: ${{ secrets.ENV_FILE }}
+
       - name: Build desktop app
         run: pnpm --filter @pairux/desktop build
         env:
@@ -109,11 +114,6 @@ jobs:
           # Windows signing
           WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD }}
 
-      - name: Write .env file
-        run: printenv ENV_FILE > apps/desktop/.env
-        env:
-          ENV_FILE: ${{ secrets.ENV_FILE }}
-
       - name: Package desktop app
         working-directory: apps/desktop
         run: npx electron-builder --${{ matrix.platform }} --${{ matrix.arch }} --publish never

apps/desktop/electron-builder.yml

@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ extraResources:
     to: icons
     filter:
       - '**/*'
-  - from: .env
-    to: .env
 
 asar: true
 asarUnpack:

apps/desktop/electron.vite.config.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { defineConfig, externalizeDepsPlugin } from 'electron-vite';
 import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
 import { resolve } from 'path';
+import { config } from 'dotenv';
+
+// Load .env so build-time values can be injected via `define`
+config();
 
 export default defineConfig({
   main: {
@@ -42,5 +46,10 @@ export default defineConfig({
         '@': resolve(__dirname, 'src/renderer'),
       },
     },
+    define: {
+      'process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_LIVEKIT_URL': JSON.stringify(
+        process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_LIVEKIT_URL ?? ''
+      ),
+    },
   },
 });

apps/desktop/src/main/index.ts

@@ -11,13 +11,11 @@ import { setMainWindow as setStreamingMainWindow } from './streaming';
 // Must match the .desktop file name (pairux.desktop) and electron-builder executableName.
 app.setName('pairux');
 
-// Load environment variables from .env file
-// In dev: __dirname is dist/main, so go up 2 levels to apps/desktop/.env (symlink to root)
-// In prod: extraResources places .env in the resources directory
-const envPath = app.isPackaged
-  ? resolve(process.resourcesPath, '.env')
-  : resolve(__dirname, '../../.env');
-config({ path: envPath });
+// Load environment variables from .env file in development only.
+// In production, env vars are injected at build time by electron-vite.
+if (!app.isPackaged) {
+  config({ path: resolve(__dirname, '../../.env') });
+}
 
 // Detect display server (X11 vs Wayland)
 const isWayland =