Updates
Once a day, in the background, Bref asks GitHub whether a newer version exists. If so, a discreet banner at the bottom of the window says so.
Updating
Where Bref can install itself, the banner offers Update (also Update Bref to … in the palette). It downloads the new version, installs it, and restarts. Your notes are saved first.
| Installed with | What Update does |
|---|---|
| Windows installer | runs the new installer silently. It replaces bref.exe and opens Bref again. |
macOS .dmg | replaces Bref.app in place, and opens it again. It needs write access to the folder that holds it: /Applications for most people. |
| Arch, prebuilt package | installs the new package with pacman -U, through pkexec, which asks for your password in a desktop window |
Elsewhere (Windows zip, compiled from source, bref-git, other Linux distributions), the banner links to the download page. Follow Upgrading.
If an update fails, Bref stays as it was and says why.
Trust
Bref checks nothing but HTTPS. The files are not signed (see Install), so an update is as trustworthy as downloading the same file by hand from the repository's releases.
Privacy
The check is the only network request the app makes until you press Update. It runs curl against api.github.com/repos/alarboulletmarin/bref/releases/latest, which sees your IP address and the client name bref, and nothing else. Without curl, or offline, nothing is shown.
Controls
- Check now: type
check for updates nowin the palette. Bref answers that it is up to date, or shows the banner. This works even when the daily check is off. - Stop or resume the daily check: type
updatesin the palette. The choice is kept asupdates=offin thesettingsfile, and the time of the last check in theupdatefile, both in the configuration folder.