fix: resolve Electron auto-updater 404 errors

- Update repository URL to correct Gitea location
- Disable auto-updates due to Gitea hosting limitations
- Remove GitHub provider configuration from electron-builder
- Add comprehensive documentation for future update strategies
- Fixes HttpError 404 when checking for GitHub releases

The app was trying to check for updates on GitHub but the repository
is hosted on Gitea. Auto-updates are now disabled with manual
distribution as the current update mechanism.

docs/electron-auto-updates.md

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+# Electron Auto-Updates Configuration
+
+**Author**: Matthew Raymer  
+**Date**: 2025-07-12  
+**Status**: **DISABLED** - Manual Updates Only
+
+## Overview
+
+TimeSafari's Electron application currently has auto-updates disabled due to hosting on Gitea instead of GitHub. This document explains the current configuration and provides guidance for future update mechanisms.
+
+## Current Status
+
+### Auto-Updates Disabled
+
+Auto-updates are currently disabled for the following reasons:
+
+1. **Repository Hosting**: The project is hosted on Gitea (`https://gitea.anomalistdesign.com/trent_larson/crowd-funder-for-time-pwa`) rather than GitHub
+2. **Provider Limitations**: `electron-updater` primarily supports GitHub, S3, and other major cloud providers
+3. **404 Errors**: Attempting to use GitHub auto-updates with a Gitea repository causes 404 errors
+
+### Configuration Changes Made
+
+1. **Repository URL Updated**: Changed from `https://github.com/trentlarson/crowd-master` to the correct Gitea URL
+2. **Publish Configuration Removed**: Removed GitHub provider from `electron-builder.config.json`
+3. **Auto-Updater Disabled**: Commented out auto-updater code in `electron/src/index.ts`
+
+## Error Resolution
+
+The original error:
+```
+HttpError: 404 
+"method: GET url: https://github.com/trentlarson/crowd-master/releases.atom"
+```
+
+This occurred because:
+- The app was trying to check for updates on GitHub
+- The repository doesn't exist on GitHub
+- The auto-updater was configured for GitHub releases
+
+## Future Update Options
+
+### Option 1: Manual Distribution
+- Build and distribute packages manually
+- Users download and install new versions manually
+- No automatic update checking
+
+### Option 2: Custom Update Server
+- Implement a custom update server compatible with `electron-updater`
+- Host update files on a web server
+- Configure custom update endpoints
+
+### Option 3: GitHub Migration
+- Move repository to GitHub
+- Set up GitHub releases
+- Re-enable auto-updates
+
+### Option 4: Alternative Update Providers
+- Use S3 or other supported providers
+- Implement custom update mechanism
+- Use third-party update services
+
+## Current Build Process
+
+### Development Builds
+```bash
+npm run build:electron:dev
+```
+
+### Production Builds
+```bash
+npm run build:electron:prod
+```
+
+### Package Distribution
+```bash
+# Windows
+npm run build:electron:windows:prod
+
+# macOS
+npm run build:electron:mac:prod
+
+# Linux
+npm run build:electron:linux:prod
+```
+
+## Manual Update Process
+
+1. **Build New Version**: Use appropriate build script
+2. **Test Package**: Verify the built package works correctly
+3. **Distribute**: Share the package with users
+4. **User Installation**: Users manually download and install
+
+## Security Considerations
+
+### Disabled Auto-Updates
+- No automatic security updates
+- Users must manually update for security patches
+- Consider implementing update notifications
+
+### Package Verification
+- Verify package integrity before distribution
+- Use code signing for packages
+- Implement checksum verification
+
+## Monitoring and Maintenance
+
+### Version Tracking
+- Track application versions manually
+- Document changes between versions
+- Maintain changelog for users
+
+### User Communication
+- Notify users of available updates
+- Provide clear update instructions
+- Document breaking changes
+
+## Recommendations
+
+### Short Term
+1. Continue with manual distribution
+2. Implement update notifications in-app
+3. Provide clear update instructions
+
+### Long Term
+1. Evaluate hosting platform options
+2. Consider implementing custom update server
+3. Plan for automated update mechanism
+
+## Configuration Files
+
+### electron-builder.config.json
+```json
+{
+  "appId": "app.timesafari.desktop",
+  "productName": "TimeSafari",
+  // publish configuration removed
+}
+```
+
+### electron/src/index.ts
+```typescript
+// Auto-updater disabled
+// import { autoUpdater } from 'electron-updater';
+
+// Auto-updates disabled - not supported on Gitea hosting
+// if (!electronIsDev && !process.env.APPIMAGE) {
+//   try {
+//     autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
+//   } catch (error) {
+//     console.log('Update check failed (suppressed):', error);
+//   }
+// }
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Common Issues
+
+1. **404 Errors**: Ensure repository URL is correct
+2. **Build Failures**: Check build configuration
+3. **Package Issues**: Verify package contents
+
+### Debug Mode
+```bash
+# Enable debug logging
+DEBUG=* npm run build:electron:dev
+```
+
+---
+
+**Status**: Auto-updates disabled  
+**Last Updated**: 2025-07-12  
+**Version**: 1.0  
+**Maintainer**: Matthew Raymer 

electron/electron-builder.config.json

@@ -11,9 +11,6 @@
     "capacitor.config.*",
     "app/**/*"
   ],
-  "publish": {
-    "provider": "github"
-  },
   "linux": {
     "target": [
       {

electron/package.json

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   },
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
-    "url": "https://github.com/trentlarson/crowd-master"
+    "url": "https://gitea.anomalistdesign.com/trent_larson/crowd-funder-for-time-pwa"
   },
   "license": "MIT",
   "main": "build/src/index.js",

electron/src/index.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import type { MenuItemConstructorOptions } from 'electron';
 import { app, MenuItem, ipcMain, dialog } from 'electron';
 import electronIsDev from 'electron-is-dev';
 import unhandled from 'electron-unhandled';
-import { autoUpdater } from 'electron-updater';
+// import { autoUpdater } from 'electron-updater';
 import { promises as fs } from 'fs';
 import { join } from 'path';
 
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ if (electronIsDev) {
 }
 
 // Configure auto-updater
-autoUpdater.on('error', (error) => {
+// DISABLED: Auto-updates not supported on Gitea hosting
-  console.log('Auto-updater error (suppressed):', error.message);
+// autoUpdater.on('error', (error) => {
-  // Don't show error dialogs for update check failures
+//   console.log('Auto-updater error (suppressed):', error.message);
-});
+//   // Don't show error dialogs for update check failures
+// });
 
 // Run Application
 (async () => {
@@ -112,14 +113,15 @@ autoUpdater.on('error', (error) => {
     }
   });
   
+  // Auto-updates disabled - not supported on Gitea hosting
   // Only check for updates in production builds, not in development or AppImage
-  if (!electronIsDev && !process.env.APPIMAGE) {
+  // if (!electronIsDev && !process.env.APPIMAGE) {
-    try {
+  //   try {
-  autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
+  //     autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
-    } catch (error) {
+  //   } catch (error) {
-      console.log('Update check failed (suppressed):', error);
+  //     console.log('Update check failed (suppressed):', error);
-    }
+  //   }
-  }
+  // }
 })();
 
 // Handle when all of our windows are close (platforms have their own expectations).