[only21mil]

Problem

On Linux, Settings > About says "Automatic updates on Linux require the AppImage or the .deb package." when the app is packaged but has neither $APPIMAGE nor the .deb marker. The AUR packages hit this case: their PKGBUILDs download the official AppImage, extract it, and launch the extracted payload. So AUR users read that they need the AppImage, when the AppImage is exactly what they installed. The message doesn't tell them what to do instead.

Change

Only that one reason string changes. It now says that automatic updates work only for the AppImage and .deb downloads, and that other installs, such as AUR packages, update with the tool that installed them.

The code still checks the same two signals, $APPIMAGE and the .deb package-type marker. The new text names AUR packages only as an example, so it makes no claim the code can't back up. Update enablement and every other disabled reason stay the same.

Scope and approval

This is a very small fix for misleading copy, with no behavior change, so it qualifies without a prior issue. I kept it to the copy and added no package detection. #13178 had per-package-manager messages and was folded into #13177, and #13575 replaced that PR and shipped without them.

Verification

Before: the AUR t3code-nightly-bin package (0.1.6-nightly.20261031.3977), opened as a separate instance with fresh, isolated app data. I clicked Settings, then About.

After: this branch built with node scripts/build-desktop-artifact.ts --platform linux --target dir --arch x64. I added the AUR package's app-update.yml to resources/, since a dir build doesn't write one, then launched linux-unpacked the same way: no $APPIMAGE and no package-type marker, like the AUR install. I clicked Settings, then About.

• vp test run src/updates/DesktopUpdates.test.ts in apps/desktop: 35 passed. The existing Linux case still shows .deb installs as enabled and unmarked installs as disabled.
• vp run check:changed 1d626d02d95f9a2343553f6498037ee82290d304: format, lint, knip, typecheck and tests pass.

I didn't add a test, because AGENTS.md says to leave out tests for copy text. The captures are the proof.

Not checked:

• A real .deb or standalone AppImage launch. Neither can reach this string, and the code that enables them is unchanged.
• Other non-AppImage Linux installs, such as Nix or a manual unpack. They get the same string, and I checked the wording only by reading it.
• Mobile and web-only clients. They have no desktop updater.

Prior PRs

• feat(release): ship a Linux .deb that updates itself #13575 by t3dotgg made the .deb update itself and added the current message.
• fix(desktop): tell apt, dnf, and AUR users how to update #13178 by t3dotgg proposed per-package-manager update messages and was folded into feat(release): ship .deb and .rpm packages that update through apt and dnf #13177 by t3dotgg, which feat(release): ship a Linux .deb that updates itself #13575 replaced.

Generated with Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-6.1 Sol in T3 Code Nightly

[macroscopeapp]

Approvability

Verdict: Approved at d910ce2

Macroscope's review found this PR approvable — Clarifies the Linux update message so AUR and other package users know to update using their installation tool. Automatic-update eligibility and behavior are unchanged.

^{You can add or adjust custom eligibility rules. Learn more.}

[coderabbitai]

No actionable comments were generated in the recent review.

Recent review info

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• Source mode: Auto
• Repository: pingdotgg/t3code
• Branch: main
• File: .coderabbit.config.ts
• Commit: 3fd2b85
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• Review profile: CHILL
• Plan: Advanced
• Run ID: 218faea1-b4de-422b-aa2b-c56bf526cbbe

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Reviewing files that changed from the base of the PR and between 3fd2b85 and d910ce2.

Files selected for processing: 1

• apps/desktop/src/updates/DesktopUpdates.ts

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Walkthrough

The Linux automatic-update disabled reason now specifies that automatic updates support AppImage and .deb downloads. It advises other installations, including AUR packages, to use their installation tool. The eligibility condition is unchanged.

Changes: Linux update notice

Layer / File(s)	Summary
Update eligibility message apps/desktop/src/updates/DesktopUpdates.ts	When Linux is detected without an AppImage or .deb package, the disabled reason now directs users to update other installations with their installation tool.

Estimated code review effort: 1 (Trivial) | ~4 minutes

Change: Other

Possibly related PRs

• pingdotgg/t3code#27644: Updates Linux package detection and the disabled-update message in DesktopUpdates.
• pingdotgg/t3code#13575: Introduces Linux .deb update eligibility and the related disabled-update message.

Suggested reviewers: t3dotgg

Merge Risk: Minimal · up to d910c

No actionable merge-blocking risk remains in this copy-only update.

Pre-merge checks: 4

Check name	Status	Explanation
Title check		The title clearly and concisely describes the Linux update message change for AUR users.
Description check		The description includes the problem, change, scope rationale, verification steps, test results, screenshots, and unchecked cases. It follows the required template and is specific to the pull request.
Linked Issues check		Check skipped because no linked issues were found for this pull request.
Out of Scope Changes check		Check skipped because no linked issues were found for this pull request.

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