olivetin/docs/modules/dev/pages/signing.adoc

# Release signing

OliveTin signs release binaries on two platforms:

* **macOS** — Developer ID + notarization via [quill](https://github.com/anchore/quill) inside GoReleaser (optional only when `MACOS_SIGN_P12` is unset).
* **Windows** — Authenticode via [SignPath Foundation](https://signpath.org/) in a separate GitHub Actions job (signed zip/MSI are uploaded after the release is published).

## macOS release signing

Release builds can sign and notarize the `darwin` binaries using [quill](https://github.com/anchore/quill) via GoReleaser. This runs on the existing Linux CI runner; no macOS runner or Xcode is required.

Signing is **optional** only when `MACOS_SIGN_P12` is unset — GoReleaser then skips macOS signing and publishes unsigned binaries. When `MACOS_SIGN_P12` is set, the companion macOS secrets below are required or the release fails.

### Prerequisites

- An active [Apple Developer Program](https://developer.apple.com/programs/) membership.
- A **Developer ID Application** certificate (not "Apple Development" or "Mac App Distribution").
- An [App Store Connect API key](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/access/integrations/api) with at least **Developer** access.

### One-time setup

#### 1. Create the signing certificate (OpenSSL, no Mac/Xcode)

Work in a private directory. Keep the private key offline and never commit it.

```sh
mkdir -p ~/apple-signing && cd ~/apple-signing
chmod 700 .

openssl genrsa -out developer_id_app.key 2048
openssl req -new -key developer_id_app.key -out developer_id_app.csr \
  -subj "/emailAddress=you@example.com/CN=Your Name/C=GB"
```

1. Open [Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles](https://developer.apple.com/account/resources/certificates/list).
2. Create a certificate of type **Developer ID Application**. Prefer **G2 Sub-CA** if the portal asks.
3. Upload `developer_id_app.csr` and download the resulting `.cer` (often named `developerID_application.cer`).

Build a `.p12` that includes Apple's Developer ID G2 intermediate:

```sh
curl -fsSLO https://www.apple.com/certificateauthority/DeveloperIDG2CA.cer

openssl x509 -inform DER -in developerID_application.cer -out developerID_application.pem
openssl x509 -inform DER -in DeveloperIDG2CA.cer -out DeveloperIDG2CA.pem

# Export password becomes MACOS_SIGN_PASSWORD.
# On OpenSSL 3 (e.g. Fedora), -legacy improves compatibility with some tooling:
openssl pkcs12 -export -legacy \
  -inkey developer_id_app.key \
  -in developerID_application.pem \
  -certfile DeveloperIDG2CA.pem \
  -out Certificates.p12
```

If you already have a Mac with the certificate in Keychain Access, you can export a `.p12` from there instead; the OpenSSL path above is enough when you do not.

#### 2. Create the notarization API key

1. Open [App Store Connect → Users and Access → Integrations → App Store Connect API](https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/access/integrations/api).
2. Create a key with **Developer** role (or Admin).
3. Download the `.p8` file once (it cannot be downloaded again). Note the **Key ID** shown in the portal and the **Issuer ID** at the top of the API keys page.

#### 3. Base64-encode the key files

Run on a machine that has the files (Linux or macOS):

```sh
base64 -w0 < ./Certificates.p12    # MACOS_SIGN_P12
base64 -w0 < ./AuthKey_XXXXXX.p8   # MACOS_NOTARY_KEY
```

On macOS without GNU coreutils, use `base64 -i file | tr -d '\n'`.

#### 4. Add GitHub repository secrets

In **Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions**, create:

| Secret | Value |
|--------|-------|
| `MACOS_SIGN_P12` | Base64 contents of the `.p12` file |
| `MACOS_SIGN_PASSWORD` | Password used when exporting the `.p12` |
| `MACOS_NOTARY_KEY` | Base64 contents of the `.p8` file |
| `MACOS_NOTARY_KEY_ID` | Key ID from App Store Connect (e.g. `ABC123DEF4`) |
| `MACOS_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID` | Issuer UUID from App Store Connect |

All five must be present for signing to run. GoReleaser enables the step when `MACOS_SIGN_P12` is set; missing companion secrets will fail that release.

### Renewal

| Item | Typical lifetime | What to do |
|------|------------------|------------|
| Developer ID Application certificate | ~5 years | Create a new certificate in the Apple portal, export a new `.p12`, update `MACOS_SIGN_P12` and `MACOS_SIGN_PASSWORD`. |
| App Store Connect API key | Does not expire, but can be revoked | Create a new key if compromised or lost; update `MACOS_NOTARY_KEY`, `MACOS_NOTARY_KEY_ID`, and optionally `MACOS_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID`. |
| Apple Developer Program | Annual subscription | Renew membership before it lapses; existing certificates stop working if the account is inactive. |

After updating secrets, the next release on `main` (via semantic-release) will use the new credentials automatically.

### Verifying a signed release

On a Mac, download a `OliveTin-darwin-*.tar.gz` release artifact and run:

```sh
tar -xzf OliveTin-darwin-arm64.tar.gz
spctl -a -vv -t execute OliveTin-darwin-arm64/OliveTin
```

A signed and notarized binary should report `accepted` with `source=Notarized Developer ID`.

### Configuration reference

- GoReleaser: `notarize.macos` in link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/.goreleaser.yml[`.goreleaser.yml`]
- CI secrets: link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml[`.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml`] (`release` step)
- link:https://goreleaser.com/customization/notarize/[GoReleaser notarization docs]

## Windows release signing (SignPath)

Windows Authenticode signing uses [SignPath Foundation](https://signpath.org/) (free for qualifying open-source projects). It does **not** use GoReleaser Pro.

GoReleaser publishes a GitHub release **without** Windows zip/MSI assets. A separate `sign-windows` job submits the unsigned Windows files (as workflow artifacts) to SignPath, then uploads the signed zip/MSI and updates `checksums.txt` on the already-published release.

Signed artifacts:

* `OliveTin.exe` inside `OliveTin-windows-amd64.zip`
* nested `OliveTin.exe` and the `OliveTin-windows-amd64.msi` installer (deep signing)

If SignPath secrets/vars are missing or signing fails, the release still publishes; Windows assets are simply missing until a successful `sign-windows` run. Install URLs for the Windows zip may 404 until signing finishes.

### Prerequisites

- Approval for the [SignPath Foundation open-source program](https://signpath.io/product/open-source).
- The SignPath GitHub App installed on the OliveTin organization/repository.
- A SignPath project linked to this repository, with a release signing policy.

### One-time setup

#### 1. Apply for SignPath Foundation

1. Open https://signpath.io/product/open-source and apply with the OliveTin GitHub repository URL.
2. After approval, create (or confirm) the organization and project in the SignPath portal.

#### 2. Install the SignPath GitHub App

1. Install the SignPath GitHub App and grant access to the OliveTin repository.
2. Link the Trusted Build System **GitHub.com** to the SignPath project (required so SignPath can verify the workflow artifact origin).

#### 3. Create artifact configurations

In the SignPath project, create two artifact configurations with these slugs (must match CI). Paste the XML from the reference copies in this repo (SignPath does **not** load them automatically):

* slug `windows-zip` ← link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/docs/modules/dev/signpath/windows-zip.xml[`signpath/windows-zip.xml`]
* slug `windows-msi` ← link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/docs/modules/dev/signpath/windows-msi.xml[`signpath/windows-msi.xml`]

Use **Custom** XML in the SignPath UI and paste the file contents. Do **not** use **Upload an artifact sample** on these `.xml` files — SignPath will treat them as XML documents to sign (`xml-file`), which is unavailable on the Foundation/Open Source plan. See link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/docs/modules/dev/signpath/README.md[`signpath/README.md`].

#### 4. Add GitHub secrets and variables

In **Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions**:

| Kind | Name | Value |
|------|------|-------|
| Secret | `SIGNPATH_API_TOKEN` | CI submitter API token from SignPath |
| Variable | `SIGNPATH_ORGANIZATION_ID` | SignPath organization ID |
| Variable | `SIGNPATH_PROJECT_SLUG` | SignPath project slug (e.g. `olivetin`) |
| Variable | `SIGNPATH_SIGNING_POLICY_SLUG` | Signing policy slug (e.g. `release-signing`) |

#### 5. Pipeline behaviour

On a new semantic-release from `main`:

1. GoReleaser publishes container images and a GitHub release **without** Windows zip/MSI assets (those are built locally for SignPath only).
2. The build job uploads the unsigned Windows files as GitHub Actions artifacts.
3. The `sign-windows` job submits each artifact to SignPath, waits for completion, then runs `var/windows/signpath-publish-signed.sh` to upload the signed files and refresh `checksums.txt`.

All jobs in this chain use GitHub-hosted runners (required by SignPath for OSS projects).

### Verifying a signed release

On Windows, download `OliveTin-windows-amd64.msi` or extract `OliveTin.exe` from the zip, then either:

* Right-click → **Properties** → **Digital Signatures**, or
* Run:

```bat
signtool verify /pa OliveTin.exe
signtool verify /pa OliveTin-windows-amd64.msi
```

### Configuration reference

- Release publish (no Windows assets initially): `release.draft: false` and `release.ids` in link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/.goreleaser.yml[`.goreleaser.yml`]
- CI job: `sign-windows` in link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml[`.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml`]
- Publish helper: link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/var/windows/signpath-publish-signed.sh[`var/windows/signpath-publish-signed.sh`]
- SignPath artifact configs (reference only): link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/docs/modules/dev/signpath/windows-zip.xml[`signpath/windows-zip.xml`], link:https://github.com/OliveTin/OliveTin/blob/main/docs/modules/dev/signpath/windows-msi.xml[`signpath/windows-msi.xml`]
- link:https://docs.signpath.io/trusted-build-systems/github[SignPath GitHub Actions docs]
- link:https://docs.signpath.io/artifact-configuration/examples[SignPath artifact configuration examples]