feat: Linux/KDE support, nix flake, and distro packaging (v2.4.0)

.cargo/config.toml

@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
-[build]
+# Static-link the C runtime so the Windows .exe ships with zero runtime
+# dependencies (msvcrt). Scoped to Windows only — on Linux/macOS forcing
+# crt-static pulls in static libc which most systems don't ship.
+[target.'cfg(windows)']
 rustflags = ["-C", "target-feature=+crt-static"]

.github/workflows/rust.yaml

@@ -115,10 +115,129 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
+  # Build Linux binary and produce distro packages:
+  # portable .tar.gz, .deb, .rpm, and a portable AppImage.
+  build-linux:
+    name: Build Linux packages
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: |
+            ~/.cargo/bin/
+            ~/.cargo/registry/index/
+            ~/.cargo/registry/cache/
+            ~/.cargo/git/db/
+            target/
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
+      - uses: actions-rs/toolchain@v1
+        with:
+          profile: minimal
+          toolchain: stable
+          override: true
+
+      - name: Build release binary
+        run: cargo build --release
+
+      - name: Build portable tarball
+        run: ./build_linux.sh
+
+      - name: Install packaging tools
+        run: |
+          # cargo-deb builds .deb packages
+          cargo install --locked cargo-deb
+          # cargo-generate-rpm builds .rpm packages
+          cargo install --locked cargo-generate-rpm
+
+      - name: Build .deb
+        run: cargo deb --no-strip --output RustCat-linux-x86_64.deb
+
+      - name: Build .rpm
+        run: cargo generate-rpm
+
+      - name: Stage .rpm artifact
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p rpm-out
+          cp target/generate-rpm/*.rpm rpm-out/RustCat-linux-x86_64.rpm
+
+      - name: Build AppImage
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -e
+          mkdir -p appimage/AppDir/usr/bin
+          mkdir -p appimage/AppDir/usr/share/applications
+          mkdir -p appimage/AppDir/usr/share/icons
+          cp target/release/rust_cat appimage/AppDir/usr/bin/
+          cp assets/rustcat.desktop appimage/AppDir/usr/share/applications/
+          cp assets/appIcon.ico appimage/AppDir/usr/share/icons/rustcat.ico
+          # AppImage desktop entry must point to the binary inside the AppDir
+          sed -i 's|^Exec=.*|Exec=rust_cat|' appimage/AppDir/usr/share/applications/rustcat.desktop
+
+          ARCH=$(uname -m)
+          export VERSION=$(grep '^version' Cargo.toml | head -1 | sed 's/version = "\(.*\)"/\1/')
+          export OUTPUT=RustCat-${VERSION}-${ARCH}.AppImage
+          wget -qO linuxdeploy https://github.com/linuxdeploy/linuxdeploy/releases/latest/download/linuxdeploy-${ARCH}.AppImage
+          chmod +x linuxdeploy
+          ./linuxdeploy --appdir appimage/AppDir \
+            --desktop-file appimage/AppDir/usr/share/applications/rustcat.desktop \
+            --icon-file appimage/AppDir/usr/share/icons/rustcat.ico \
+            --output appimage
+          mv appimage/*.AppImage "${OUTPUT}"
+
+      - name: Check for release
+        id: is-release
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          unset IS_RELEASE
+          if [[ $GITHUB_REF =~ ^refs/tags/v[0-9].* ]]; then IS_RELEASE='true'; fi
+          echo "IS_RELEASE=${IS_RELEASE}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+      - name: Upload Linux tarball
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: RustCat-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
+          path: RustCat-*.tar.gz
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+      - name: Upload Linux .deb
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: RustCat-linux-x86_64.deb
+          path: RustCat-linux-x86_64.deb
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+      - name: Upload Linux .rpm
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: RustCat-linux-x86_64.rpm
+          path: rpm-out/RustCat-linux-x86_64.rpm
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+      - name: Upload Linux AppImage
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: RustCat-x86_64.AppImage
+          path: RustCat-*.AppImage
+          if-no-files-found: error
+
+      - name: Publish Linux release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        if: steps.is-release.outputs.IS_RELEASE
+        with:
+          files: |
+            RustCat-*.tar.gz
+            RustCat-linux-x86_64.deb
+            rpm-out/RustCat-linux-x86_64.rpm
+            RustCat-*.AppImage
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
   # Auto-approve Dependabot PRs if build succeeds
   dependabot-auto-approve:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: [build-windows, build-macos]
+    needs: [build-windows, build-macos, build-linux]
     if: github.actor == 'dependabot[bot]' && github.event_name == 'pull_request_target'
     steps:
       - name: Auto-approve PR

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,40 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to
 [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [2.4.0] - 2026-07-07
+
+### Added
+
+- Linux/KDE support via the freedesktop StatusNotifierItem (SNI) protocol over
+  D-Bus — the tray cat now runs natively on KDE Plasma (and other SNI-aware
+  trays)
+- Linux platform module mirroring the Windows/macOS architecture: CPU usage
+  from `/proc/stat`, settings persisted to `~/.config/rustcat/settings.conf`,
+  autostart via a freedesktop `~/.config/autostart/rustcat.desktop` file
+- Native KDE integration: dark/light theme detection via `kreadconfig`,
+  dialogs via `kdialog`, system monitor via `plasma-systemmonitor`
+- Nix flake (`flake.nix`) using crane, with `packages`, `devShells`, and `apps`
+  outputs; runtime helper tools wrapped onto `PATH`
+- Distro packaging for Linux: `.deb` (cargo-deb), `.rpm` (cargo-generate-rpm),
+  and a portable AppImage (linuxdeploy), all built in CI alongside the
+  portable `.tar.gz` bundle
+- `assets/rustcat.desktop` freedesktop entry and `build_linux.sh` build script
+
+### Changed
+
+- Scoped the `crt-static` rustflag to Windows only (`.cargo/config.toml`); it
+  was intended for MSVC static linking and forced static-glibc linking on
+  Linux, which most distros (and Nix) don't provide
+- Refactored `ui_update` in `app.rs` to apply to all non-macOS targets
+  (Windows + Linux), since the trayicon D-Bus backend is thread-safe
+- Added standard crates.io metadata (description, license, repository,
+  keywords, categories) to `Cargo.toml`
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Linux builds now link dynamically against glibc instead of failing on
+  missing static libc
+
 ## [2.3.0] - 2025-07-10
 
 ### Added

Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 [package]
 name = "rust_cat"
-version = "2.3.0"
+version = "2.4.0"
 edition = "2021"
+description = "An animated tray cat (or parrot) whose animation speed tracks real-time CPU usage"
+license = "Apache-2.0"
+authors = ["Bearice Ren"]
+repository = "https://github.com/bearice/RustCat"
+homepage = "https://github.com/bearice/RustCat"
+keywords = ["tray", "cpu", "monitor", "cat", "kde"]
+categories = ["system-monitoring", "gui"]
 
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
@@ -13,6 +20,9 @@ flate2 = "1.1"
 [target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
 winreg = "0.56.0"
 
+[target.'cfg(target_os = "linux")'.dependencies]
+dirs = "6.0"
+
 [target.'cfg(target_os = "macos")'.dependencies]
 objc2 = "0.6"
 objc2-app-kit = { version = "0.3" }
@@ -47,3 +57,42 @@ winres = "0.1"
 OriginalFilename = "rust_cat.exe"
 FileDescription = "💻 => 🐈😺😸😹😻😼😽🐈‍⬛"
 LegalCopyright = "Copyright © 2021 Bearice Ren <https://github.com/bearice/RustCat>"
+
+# --- Debian package metadata (cargo-deb) ---
+# Build with: cargo deb
+[package.metadata.deb]
+name = "rustcat"
+maintainer = "Bearice Ren <https://github.com/bearice/RustCat>"
+copyright = "2021-2026, Bearice Ren <https://github.com/bearice/RustCat>"
+section = "utils"
+priority = "optional"
+extended-description = """\
+RustCat is a lightweight tray application that displays an animated cat or \
+parrot icon whose animation speed reflects real-time CPU usage. On Linux it \
+integrates with KDE Plasma's system tray via the freedesktop \
+StatusNotifierItem (SNI) protocol over D-Bus."""
+# The binary only needs the standard C runtime; the helper tools are
+# recommended (the app degrades gracefully if they are absent).
+depends = "$auto"
+recommends = "kdialog, plasma-systemmonitor | ksysguard | gnome-system-monitor"
+assets = [
+    ["target/release/rust_cat", "usr/bin/", "755"],
+    ["assets/rustcat.desktop", "usr/share/applications/", "644"],
+    ["assets/appIcon.ico", "usr/share/pixmaps/rustcat.ico", "644"],
+    ["README.md", "usr/share/doc/rustcat/README", "644"],
+    ["LICENSE", "usr/share/doc/rustcat/LICENSE", "644"],
+]
+
+# --- RPM package metadata (cargo-generate-rpm) ---
+# Build with: cargo generate-rpm
+[package.metadata.generate-rpm]
+name = "rustcat"
+license = "Apache-2.0"
+summary = "Animated tray cat whose speed tracks CPU usage"
+description = "RustCat displays an animated cat or parrot tray icon whose animation speed reflects real-time CPU usage. Integrates with KDE Plasma via the StatusNotifierItem D-Bus protocol."
+recommends = ["kdialog", "plasma-systemmonitor"]
+assets = [
+    { source = "target/release/rust_cat", dest = "/usr/bin/rust_cat", mode = "755" },
+    { source = "assets/rustcat.desktop", dest = "/usr/share/applications/rustcat.desktop", mode = "644" },
+    { source = "assets/appIcon.ico", dest = "/usr/share/pixmaps/rustcat.ico", mode = "644" },
+]

README.md

@@ -16,12 +16,44 @@ Speedy Cat Visuals: Watch your system load as a tiny cat dashes across your task
 
 No Runtime Baggage: Written in Rust, so it’s leaner than a whisker. (In human language: It's small and uses less memory.)
 
-Platform Flair: Supports Windows and macOS with native theme detection.
+Platform Flair: Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux/KDE with native theme detection.
 
 Auto Theme Matching: Your cat’s colors shift with your system's light/dark mode — drama-free style.
 
 ## 🧩 Installation
 Visit the [Releases page](https://github.com/bearice/RustCat/releases) and grab the file. Double-click, and let the cat out.
 
+### Linux / KDE
+
+On Linux the tray icon uses the freedesktop StatusNotifierItem (SNI) protocol over D-Bus, so it integrates natively with KDE Plasma's system tray.
+
+```bash
+# from source (needs a Rust toolchain)
+cargo build --release
+# the binary is at target/release/rust_cat
+```
+
+### Nix / NixOS
+
+A `flake.nix` is provided:
+
+```bash
+# run directly
+nix run github:bearice/RustCat
+
+# build into a profile / your config
+nix build .#default
+# -> result/bin/rust_cat, plus result/share/applications/rustcat.desktop
+
+# dev shell
+nix develop
+```
+
+Runtime helper tools (`kdialog`, `plasma-systemmonitor`) are wrapped onto `PATH` automatically; the app degrades gracefully if a tool is missing.
+
+> Build note for packagers: the repo's `.cargo/config.toml` only enables
+> `crt-static` on Windows. On Linux the build links dynamically against glibc,
+> which is what most distros (and Nix) expect.
+
 ## 💬 Quote from the Dev
 “RustCat doesn’t monitor your CPU. It vibes with it.” — Bearice

assets/rustcat.desktop

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=RustCat
+Comment=CPU usage monitor with an animated tray cat
+Exec=rust_cat
+Icon=rustcat
+Terminal=false
+Categories=System;Monitor;
+Keywords=CPU;monitor;tray;cat;

build_linux.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Linux build script for RustCat
+# This script handles all Linux-specific build tasks including:
+# - Building the release binary
+# - Bundling the binary with a .desktop entry and icon into a tarball
+#
+# The binary is dynamically linked against glibc. For a fully portable,
+# reproducible build use the Nix flake (`nix build .#default`).
+
+set -e
+
+echo "🐧 Starting Linux build process..."
+
+# Configuration
+APP_NAME="RustCat"
+BIN_NAME="rust_cat"
+VERSION=$(grep '^version' Cargo.toml | head -1 | sed 's/version = "\(.*\)"/\1/')
+ARCH=$(uname -m)
+PKG_DIR="${APP_NAME}-${VERSION}-linux-${ARCH}"
+
+echo "📦 Building release binary..."
+cargo build --release
+
+# Verify the binary
+echo "✅ Verifying binary..."
+file target/release/${BIN_NAME}
+
+# Assemble a redistributable package directory
+echo "🎨 Assembling package..."
+rm -rf "${PKG_DIR}"
+mkdir -p "${PKG_DIR}/bin" "${PKG_DIR}/share/applications" "${PKG_DIR}/share/pixmaps"
+
+cp target/release/${BIN_NAME} "${PKG_DIR}/bin/"
+cp assets/rustcat.desktop "${PKG_DIR}/share/applications/"
+cp assets/appIcon.ico "${PKG_DIR}/share/pixmaps/rustcat.ico"
+
+# A small install/uninstall helper for users not on Nix
+cat > "${PKG_DIR}/install.sh" <<'INSTALL_EOF'
+#!/bin/bash
+# Simple installer: copies the bundled files into ~/.local
+set -e
+PREFIX="${PREFIX:-${HOME}/.local}"
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+
+install -Dm755 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/bin/rust_cat" "${PREFIX}/bin/rust_cat"
+install -Dm644 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/share/applications/rustcat.desktop" "${PREFIX}/share/applications/rustcat.desktop"
+install -Dm644 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/share/pixmaps/rustcat.ico" "${PREFIX}/share/pixmaps/rustcat.ico"
+
+echo "Installed RustCat to ${PREFIX}. Run with: rust_cat"
+INSTALL_EOF
+chmod +x "${PKG_DIR}/install.sh"
+
+# Archive it
+echo "📦 Creating tarball..."
+tar -czf "${PKG_DIR}.tar.gz" "${PKG_DIR}"
+
+echo "✅ Done: ${PKG_DIR}.tar.gz"