JPackage via maven and missing .desktop file and icon

`pom.xml`

I have a set of modular maven projects and a parent pom project. Under the parent there's also a converter.jlink project. In its pom I use the maven-jlink-plugin to create a runnable image in its target folder. It runs fine but now I want to package it up as a deb install file. I've added this to the converter.jlink pom:

<plugin>
    <groupId>com.github.akman</groupId>
    <artifactId>jpackage-maven-plugin</artifactId>
    <version>0.1.5</version>
    <configuration>
        <dest>target/dist/</dest>
        <name>Converter</name>
        <appversion>${project.version}</appversion>
        <type>PLATFORM</type> <!-- deb -->
        <icon>src/main/resources/converter.svg</icon>
        <vendor>Footeware.ca</vendor>
        <verbose>true</verbose>
        <runtimeimage>target/maven-jlink/default/</runtimeimage>
        <linuxshortcut>true</linuxshortcut>
        <linuxdebmaintainer>CraigFoote@gmail.com</linuxdebmaintainer>
        <licensefile>src/main/resources/gpl-3.0.txt</licensefile>
        <resourcedir>src/main/resources/</resourcedir>
    </configuration>
    <executions>
        <execution>
            <id>jpackage-image</id>
            <phase>verify</phase>
            <goals>
                <goal>jpackage</goal>
            </goals>
        </execution>
    </executions>
</plugin>

The converter

The jlink's src/main/resources contains an app icon, a license file, and a converter.desktop file that I read somewhere had to be added via "resourcedir" to get found. The packaging seems to work - I've used "verbose" true but I see next to nothing from the maven output of jpackage. There is a deb file created that installs into /opt fine. But my $HOME/.local/share/applications folder doesn't get a converter.desktop file created. I've used "linuxshortcut" true but I see no shortcut. I've added an "icon" directive but I don't know where to look for it. It's not in $HOME/.local/share/icons. I've tried running jpackage on the cli but I'm getting the same results. What am I missing or doing wrong?

Solution

Specific Answer for https://github.com/CraigFoote/ca.footeware.swing.converter

Only Modify sub poject: converter.app

converter.app Tree

converter.app
├── pom.xml
└── src
    └── main
        ├── java
        ├── jpackage-data (1) DIR
        │   ├── converter.app.jpackage.settings (2)
        │   ├── converter.mime.properties (3)
        │   └── linuxOverride (4) DIR
        │       ├── converter.desktop (5)
        │       ├── postinst (6)
        │       └── postrm   (7)
        └── resources-extra  (8) DIR
            ├── gpl-3.0.txt  (9)
            └── images       (10) DIR
                └── converter_32.png (11)

converter.app.jpackage.settings

The parameter can not put direct to pom.xml,

because mail format have < and >

--copyright "Copyright (c) 2024 Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>"
--vendor "Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>"

converter.mime.properties

You can modify for your need.

mime-type=application/txt
extension=txt
description=TXT

converter.desktop

Append %f in Exec=/opt/converter/bin/converter

Let System can let this app in Open With App List.

[Desktop Entry]
Name=converter
Comment=An application with a set of tab panels each doing some sort of conversion.
Exec=/opt/converter/bin/converter %f
Icon=/opt/converter/lib/converter.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility
MimeType=application/txt

postinst

it will run after deb install finish.
add converter to /usr/bin/
you can open terminal in any directory , then run command converter (Like set PATH to your app folder)

#!/bin/sh
# postinst script for jpdfbookmarks
#
# see: dh_installdeb(1)

set -e

# summary of how this script can be called:
#        * <postinst> `configure' <most-recently-configured-version>
#        * <old-postinst> `abort-upgrade' <new version>
#        * <conflictor's-postinst> `abort-remove' `in-favour' <package>
#          <new-version>
#        * <postinst> `abort-remove'
#        * <deconfigured's-postinst> `abort-deconfigure' `in-favour'
#          <failed-install-package> <version> `removing'
#          <conflicting-package> <version>
# for details, see https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ or
# the debian-policy package

case "$1" in
    configure)
xdg-desktop-menu install /opt/converter/lib/converter-converter.desktop
        # register /usr/bin/converter as a converter in the alternatives system
        update-alternatives \
            --install \
                /usr/bin/converter \
                converter \
                /opt/converter/bin/converter \
                50
    ;;

    abort-upgrade|abort-remove|abort-deconfigure)
    ;;

    *)
        echo "postinst called with unknown argument \`$1'" >&2
        exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

postrm

it will run remove deb install finish.

#!/bin/sh
# postrm script for jpdfbookmarks
#
# see: dh_installdeb(1)

set -e

# summary of how this script can be called:
#        * <postrm> `remove'
#        * <postrm> `purge'
#        * <old-postrm> `upgrade' <new-version>
#        * <new-postrm> `failed-upgrade' <old-version>
#        * <new-postrm> `abort-install'
#        * <new-postrm> `abort-install' <old-version>
#        * <new-postrm> `abort-upgrade' <old-version>
#        * <disappearer's-postrm> `disappear' <overwriter>
#          <overwriter-version>
# for details, see https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ or
# the debian-policy package

case "$1" in
    purge|remove)
           update-alternatives --remove converter /usr/bin/converter || true 
    ;;
    
    upgrade|failed-upgrade|abort-install|abort-upgrade|disappear)
    ;;

    *)
        echo "postrm called with unknown argument \`$1'" >&2
        exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

gpl-3.0.txt

copy gpl-3.0.txt from converter.jlink/src/main/resources/gpl-3.0.txt

converter_32.png

copy converter.svg from converter.jlink/src/main/resources/converter.svg

Please note that jpackage --icon does not accept svg(converter.svg), so we must convert svg to png file.

My method for converting svg files to png files:

# install tool: inkscape
sudo apt install inkscape

# convert `converter.svg` to `converter_32.png`

inkscape converter.svg \
  --export-width=32 \
  --export-height=32 \
  --export-png=converter_32.png

delete converter.svg only keep converter_32.png

put converter_32.png in converter.app/src/main/resources-extra/images

pom.xml

<project xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

    <artifactId>converter.app</artifactId>

    <parent>
        <groupId>ca.footeware.swing</groupId>
        <artifactId>converter.parent</artifactId>
        <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
        <relativePath>../converter.parent</relativePath>
    </parent>

    <properties>
        <maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source>
        <maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target>
        <maven.compiler.encoding>UTF-8</maven.compiler.encoding>
        <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
        <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
    </properties>

    <licenses>
        <license>
            <name>GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0</name>
            <url>http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt</url>
            <distribution>repo</distribution>
        </license>
    </licenses>

    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>ca.footeware.swing</groupId>
            <artifactId>converter.spi</artifactId>
            <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>

    <build>
        <plugins>
            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                <artifactId>license-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>2.4.0</version>
            </plugin>
            <plugin>
                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.8.1</version>
                <configuration>
                    <compilerArgs>
                        <arg>-Xlint:all</arg>
                        <!--<arg>-verbose</arg> -->
                        <!--<arg>-Xlint:all,-options,-path</arg> -->
                    </compilerArgs>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>
            <plugin>
                <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.4.2</version>
                <configuration>
                    <archive>
                        <manifest>
                            <addClasspath>true</addClasspath>
                            <mainClass>converter.app.Converter</mainClass>
                        </manifest>
                        <manifestEntries>
                            <built-by/>
                            <!-- add empty for not add user name -->
                            <Class-Path>.</Class-Path>
                            <App-Version>${project.version}</App-Version>
                        </manifestEntries>
                    </archive>
                    <excludes>
                        <exclude>**/jpackage-files/**</exclude>
                        <exclude>**/images/**</exclude>
                    </excludes>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>

            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                <artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.2.0</version>
                <executions>
                    <execution>
                        <id>copy-resources</id>
                        <phase>process-resources</phase>
                        <goals>
                            <goal>copy-resources</goal>
                        </goals>
                        <configuration>
                            <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib</outputDirectory>
                            <resources>
                                <resource>
                                    <directory>src/main/resources-extra</directory>
                                    <includes>
                                        <include>**/*</include>
                                    </includes>
                                </resource>
                            </resources>
                        </configuration>
                    </execution>
                </executions>
            </plugin>

            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                <artifactId>appassembler-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>2.1.0</version>
                <executions>
                    <execution>
                        <phase>package</phase>
                        <goals>
                            <goal>assemble</goal>
                        </goals>
                    </execution>
                </executions>
                <configuration>
                    <programs>
                        <program>
                            <mainClass>converter.app.Converter</mainClass>
                            <id>converterapp</id>
                        </program>
                    </programs>
                    <extraJvmArguments>
                        -Duser.language=en
                        -Duser.country=US
                        -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
                        -Xms128M
                        -Xmx756M
                    </extraJvmArguments>
                    <repositoryLayout>flat</repositoryLayout>
                    <useWildcardClassPath>true</useWildcardClassPath>
                    <binFileExtensions>
                        <!--<unix>.sh</unix> -->
                    </binFileExtensions>
                    <repositoryName>lib</repositoryName>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>

            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.0.0</version>
                <executions>
                    <execution>
                        <id>jpackage-linux-deb</id>
                        <phase>pre-integration-test</phase>
                        <goals>
                            <goal>exec</goal>
                        </goals>
                        <configuration>
                            <executable>jpackage</executable>
                            <arguments>
                                <argument>@${project.basedir}/src/main/jpackage-data/converter.app.jpackage.settings
                                </argument>
                                <argument>--name</argument>
                                <argument>converter</argument>
                                <argument>--input</argument>
                                <argument>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib</argument>
                                <argument>--license-file</argument>
                                <argument>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib/gpl-3.0.txt</argument>
                                <argument>--icon</argument>
                                <argument>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib/images/converter_32.png</argument>
                                <argument>--main-jar</argument>
                                <argument>converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar</argument>
                                <argument>--description</argument>
                                <argument>An application with a set of tab panels each doing some sort of conversion.
                                </argument>
                                <argument>--app-version</argument>
                                <argument>0.0.1</argument>
                                <argument>--linux-app-release</argument>
                                <argument>snapshot-1</argument>
                                <argument>--add-modules</argument>
                                <argument>java.base,java.desktop</argument>
                                <argument>--file-associations</argument>
                                <argument>${project.basedir}/src/main/jpackage-data/converter.mime.properties</argument>
                                <argument>--java-options</argument>
                                <argument>-ms64m</argument>
                                <argument>--java-options</argument>
                                <argument>-mx512m</argument>
                                <argument>--linux-shortcut</argument>
                                <argument>--linux-app-category</argument>
                                <argument>Utility</argument>
                                <argument>--linux-menu-group</argument>
                                <argument>Utility</argument>
                                <argument>--about-url</argument>
                                <argument>http://Footeware.ca</argument>
                                <argument>--resource-dir</argument>
                                <argument>${project.basedir}/src/main/jpackage-data/linuxOverride</argument>

                            </arguments>
                            <workingDirectory>${project.build.directory}</workingDirectory>
                        </configuration>
                    </execution>
                </executions>
            </plugin>

        </plugins>

    </build>

</project>

Build

mvn clean package exec:exec@jpackage-linux-deb

Now you can find output file in target\converter_0.0.1-snapshot-1_amd64.deb

Install deb

sudo dpkg -i converter_0.0.1-snapshot-1_amd64.deb

Check install (For Ubuntu Desktop UI)

Check Desktop UI

In your app start point , you can find converter Icon.
(relate to converter.desktop file)

then you can click and run.

Terminal Check you can call it from any directory

# in home (`~/`)
~$ converter

# in Downloads (`~/Downloads`)
~$ cd Downloads
~/Downloads$ converter

Check `Open With`

In File Explorer , Select XXX.txt , mouse Right Click , popup menu Open With Other Application

Find your application in List

Select converter, then click Select

Remove your app

sudo apt remove -y converter

My Package

converter.app/target/appassembler
├── bin (NOT IMPORTANT)
│   ├── converterapp
│   └── converterapp.bat
└── lib (YOUR APP)
    ├── converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar
    ├── converter.spi-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar
    ├── gpl-3.0.txt
    └── images
        └── converter_32.png

pom.xml - plugin maven-jar-plugin

set jar as executable jar (set mainClass)
add classpath (other dependency jar) to jar

pom.xml - plugin maven-resources-plugin

copy gpl-3.0.txt to /target/appassembler/lib
copy converter_32.png to /target/appassembler/lib/images

pom.xml - plugin appassembler-maven-plugin

create target/appassembler
we will only use then target/appassembler/lib

target/appassembler
├── bin
│   ├── converterapp
│   └── converterapp.bat
└── lib
    ├── converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar
    ├── converter.spi-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar
    ├── gpl-3.0.txt
    └── images
        └── converter_32.png

pom.xml - plugin exec-maven-plugin

run jpackage command

Same command like this:

jpackage \
  --name converter \
  --input target/appassembler/lib \
  --license-file "target/appassembler/lib/gpl-3.0.txt" \
  --icon         "target/appassembler/lib/images/converter_32.png" \
  --main-jar converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar \
  --description "An application with a set of tab panels each doing some sort of conversion." \
  --vendor "Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>" \
  --copyright "Copyright (c) 2024 Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>" \
  --app-version 0.0.1 \
  --linux-app-release snapshot-1 \
  --add-modules java.base,java.desktop \
  --file-associations src/main/jpackage-data/converter.mime.properties \
  --java-options "-ms64m" \
  --java-options "-mx512m" \
  --linux-shortcut \
  --linux-app-category "Utility" \
  --linux-menu-group "Utility" \
  --about-url "http://Footeware.ca" \
  --resource-dir src/main/jpackage-data/linuxOverride

pom.xml use jpackage-maven-plugin

use jpackage-maven-plugin

<project xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

    <artifactId>converter.app</artifactId>

    <parent>
        <groupId>ca.footeware.swing</groupId>
        <artifactId>converter.parent</artifactId>
        <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
        <relativePath>../converter.parent</relativePath>
    </parent>

    <properties>
        <maven.compiler.source>17</maven.compiler.source>
        <maven.compiler.target>17</maven.compiler.target>
        <maven.compiler.encoding>UTF-8</maven.compiler.encoding>
        <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
        <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
    </properties>

    <licenses>
        <license>
            <name>GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0</name>
            <url>http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt</url>
            <distribution>repo</distribution>
        </license>
    </licenses>

    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>ca.footeware.swing</groupId>
            <artifactId>converter.spi</artifactId>
            <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>

    <build>
        <plugins>
            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                <artifactId>license-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>2.4.0</version>
            </plugin>
            <plugin>
                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.8.1</version>
                <configuration>
                    <compilerArgs>
                        <arg>-Xlint:all</arg>
                        <!--<arg>-verbose</arg> -->
                        <!--<arg>-Xlint:all,-options,-path</arg> -->
                    </compilerArgs>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>
            <plugin>
                <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.4.2</version>
                <configuration>
                    <archive>
                        <manifest>
                            <addClasspath>true</addClasspath>
                            <mainClass>converter.app.Converter</mainClass>
                        </manifest>
                        <manifestEntries>
                            <built-by/>
                            <!-- add empty for not add user name -->
                            <Class-Path>.</Class-Path>
                            <App-Version>${project.version}</App-Version>
                        </manifestEntries>
                    </archive>
                    <excludes>
                        <exclude>**/jpackage-files/**</exclude>
                        <exclude>**/images/**</exclude>
                    </excludes>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>

            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
                <artifactId>maven-resources-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>3.2.0</version>
                <executions>
                    <execution>
                        <id>copy-resources</id>
                        <phase>process-resources</phase>
                        <goals>
                            <goal>copy-resources</goal>
                        </goals>
                        <configuration>
                            <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib</outputDirectory>
                            <resources>
                                <resource>
                                    <directory>src/main/resources-extra</directory>
                                    <includes>
                                        <include>**/*</include>
                                    </includes>
                                </resource>
                            </resources>
                        </configuration>
                    </execution>
                </executions>
            </plugin>

            <plugin>
                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
                <artifactId>appassembler-maven-plugin</artifactId>
                <version>2.1.0</version>
                <executions>
                    <execution>
                        <phase>package</phase>
                        <goals>
                            <goal>assemble</goal>
                        </goals>
                    </execution>
                </executions>
                <configuration>
                    <programs>
                        <program>
                            <mainClass>converter.app.Converter</mainClass>
                            <id>converterapp</id>
                        </program>
                    </programs>
                    <extraJvmArguments>
                        -Duser.language=en
                        -Duser.country=US
                        -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
                        -Xms128M
                        -Xmx756M
                    </extraJvmArguments>
                    <repositoryLayout>flat</repositoryLayout>
                    <useWildcardClassPath>true</useWildcardClassPath>
                    <binFileExtensions>
                        <!--<unix>.sh</unix> -->
                    </binFileExtensions>
                    <repositoryName>lib</repositoryName>
                </configuration>
            </plugin>

          <plugin>
            <groupId>com.github.akman</groupId>
            <artifactId>jpackage-maven-plugin</artifactId>
            <version>0.1.5</version>            
                        <configuration>
                        <name>converter</name>
                        <dest>${project.build.directory}/</dest>
                        <input>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib</input>
                        <licensefile>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib/gpl-3.0.txt</licensefile>
                        <icon>${project.build.directory}/appassembler/lib/images/converter.png</icon>
                        <mainjar>converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar</mainjar>
                        <argument>--</argument>
                        <description>An application with a set of tab panels each doing some sort of conversion.</description>
                        <appversion>0.0.1</appversion>
                        <linuxapprelease>snapshot-1</linuxapprelease>
                        <addmodules>java.base,java.desktop</addmodules>

                        <fileassociations>${project.basedir}/src/main/jpackage-data/converter.mime.properties</fileassociations>
                        <javaoptions>-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 -ms64m -mx512m</javaoptions>
                        <linuxshortcut></linuxshortcut>
                        <linuxappcategory>Utility</linuxappcategory>
                        <linuxmenugroup>Utility</linuxmenugroup>
                        <abouturl>http://Footeware.ca</abouturl>
                        <resourcedir>${project.basedir}/src/main/jpackage-data/linuxOverride</resourcedir>
                        <vendor>Craig Foote &lt;CraigFoote@gmail.com&gt;</vendor>
                        <copyright>Copyright (c) 2024 Craig Foote &lt;CraigFoote@gmail.com&gt;</copyright>

                        </configuration>

             </plugin>                   
             
        </plugins>

    </build>

</project>

build

mvn clean package jpackage:jpackage

Check mapping to jpackage command

mvn -e -X clean package jpackage:jpackage

it will show command , you can check

[DEBUG] 
# jpackage
--dest /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/target
--app-version '0.0.1'
--copyright 'Copyright (c) 2024 Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>'
--description 'An application with a set of tab panels each doing some sort of conversion.'
--name 'converter'
--vendor 'Craig Foote <CraigFoote@gmail.com>'
--icon /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/target/appassembler/lib/images/converter.png
--input /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/target/appassembler/lib
--main-jar 'converter.app-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar'
--java-options '-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 -ms64m -mx512m'
--file-associations /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/src/main/jpackage-data/converter.mime.properties
--license-file /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/target/appassembler/lib/gpl-3.0.txt
--resource-dir /your-path/ca.footeware.swing.converter-master/converter.app/src/main/jpackage-data/linuxOverride
--linux-menu-group 'Utility'
--linux-app-release 'snapshot-1'
--linux-app-category 'Utility'
--add-modules java.base,java.desktop

Now you can use maven command:

in converter.app

# version 1 pom.xml - use exec plugin
mvn clean package exec:exec@jpackage-linux-deb

# version 2 pom.xml -use jpackage plugin
mvn clean package jpackage:jpackage

And you don't need converter.jlink

I still have to remind you again why I recommend using the command line command jpackage to test. After the test command is successful, you can switch to the pom.xml exec plugin setting. Only when you use the command do you find that jpackage --icon does not accept svg files.

Please note that some file names are standardized and must be consistent with your launcher name. (this example: launcher name is converter) Please refer to the documentation https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/21/jpackage/packaging-tool-user-guide.pdf (Packaging Tool User's Guide).

JPackage via maven and missing .desktop file and icon

pom.xml

The converter

converter.app Tree

converter.app.jpackage.settings

converter.mime.properties

converter.desktop

postinst

postrm

gpl-3.0.txt

converter_32.png

pom.xml

Build

Install deb

Check install (For Ubuntu Desktop UI)

Check Desktop UI

Terminal Check you can call it from any directory

Check Open With

Find your application in List

Remove your app

My Package

pom.xml - plugin maven-jar-plugin

pom.xml - plugin maven-resources-plugin

pom.xml - plugin appassembler-maven-plugin

pom.xml - plugin exec-maven-plugin

pom.xml use jpackage-maven-plugin

build

Check mapping to jpackage command

`pom.xml`

Check `Open With`