macOS client in the Dock spawns a new copy after restart

[tsilcher]

I confirm (by marking "x" in the [ ] below: [x]):

• This is not a troubleshooting question. Troubleshooting questions go here: http://www.mattermost.org/troubleshoot/.
• This doesn't reproduce on web browsers (such as in Chrome). If it does, issue reports go to the Mattermost Server repository.
• I have read contributing guidelines.

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https://mattermost.atlassian.net/browse/MM-14169

Summary

Steps to reproduce

Please include:

• Operating System: macOS 10.12.6
• Mattermost Desktop App version: Version 4.0.0 (4.0.0.43)
• Mattermost Server version: Version: 4.5.0
• Clear steps to reproduce the issue:

1. Add the Mattermost client to the Dock
2. Click on it to launch the app
3. A new copy of the client is spawned and appears on the right of the Dock
4. Move this copy to the left inside the Dock to save it as a shortcut
5. Restart OS
6. The second copy has now disappeared
7. (Loop...)

Expected behavior
After adding the Mattermost client to the Dock it should open the same app (bouncing icon like every macOS app, default behavior)

Observed behavior
After adding the Mattermost client to the Dock it open a new copy of the app displaying two Mattermost icons in the Dock.

Please include relevant error messages and/or screenshots:

[jasonblais]

@tsilcher Did you see the issue previously, or is it something new with the new version (v4.0.0)?

[tsilcher]

This was the same behavior on version 3.x for macOS.

[jasonblais]

@tsilcher Thanks!

@yuya-oc If we bundled the Mac app as a .dmg (#588), would it fix the issue? Since then the Mattermost app would always be considered as an "Application" by Mac. I think right now it's not always considered as such, unless the user deliberately moves the file to the Applications folder.

[tsilcher]

Looking a bit deeper I noticed that it is indeed spawning a new instance from a temporary path besides the actual path inside /Applications/. For example:

1. /Applications/Mattermost.app/Contents/MacOS/Mattermost
2. /private/var/folders/pk/lcw3xyw97s1416f7thvvlmkht_dlhg/T/AppTranslocation/26A33EB6-428B-4DDA-8D3B-656B2644596F/d/Mattermost.app/Contents/MacOS/Mattermost

[yuya-oc]

@jasonblais Possibly .dmg might fix the issue. I have found issues which are similar to ours.

• Downloaded electron app shortcut icon becomes question mark and unable to be executed after reboot electron/electron#9293
• VSCode icon will disappear from dock once restart the mac microsoft/vscode#13389

In the issue, a workaround is posted: electron/electron#9293 (comment)

[jasonblais]

Does that workaround help you @tsilcher?

[tsilcher]

It does not work for me. It seems to be a problem with the Electron framework.

[jasonblais]

Yeah, seems to be a bug with Electron.

I see a note in electron/electron#9293 that Chrome browser for mac is a dmg file that requires user to drag its executive program to ~/Applications... and doesn't reproduce for it. So hopefully the .dmg file would resolve this.

[amyblais]

Jira ticket for tracking: https://mattermost.atlassian.net/browse/MM-14169.

[esethna]

Should be fixed in v4.2. Please comment if not and we can reopen