Is there a roadmap for GUI app fully featured for macOS?

Nitrokeys FIDO2 / Nitrokey 3
1

Normal users are not used to handle commandline tools like nitropy.

Please, is there a roadmap for an app with GUI which is fully featured for a Nitrokey3 - for macOS?

Independent of that:

Is it true, that an installed nitropy version has no option for an update to the latest version of nitropy?

Where can i find a step-by-step manual how to download the latest version of nitropy for macOS and how install it?

Thanks.

2

Hi fermion, thanks for your message!

Please, is there a roadmap for an app with GUI which is fully featured for a Nitrokey3 - for macOS?

The Nitrokey 3 is supported by the Nitrokey-App 2. Which you can find here. The macOS support is still not completely done, but we want to fix that in the next few versions. It’s on our list…

Is it true, that an installed nitropy version has no option for an update to the latest version of nitropy?

Correct, nitropy doesn’t contain an integrated updater. Updates depend on how you installed the application. The easiest is probably to install it through pipx. The documentation covers this here. As you seem to be on ARM64 macOS, let me quickly add that we only recently got access to a test machine and we are working on it to provide better support. This includes the applications, but also the documentation.

Where can i find a step-by-step manual how to download the latest version of nitropy for macOS and how install it?

See above.

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Hi Markus,
good to know, that you are working on a

Unfortunately, I don’t understand how to install this app on macOS.
I (and other Mac users) am used to using DMGs.

What functions are missing from the Nitrokey App 2 that Nitropy offers?

4

Hi fermion,

then let me help you to get started.

  1. The latest version you can always find here.
    A little side note: The application has a feature to check if a new version is available, but you need to consciously request it to check. Also, it doesn’t support to update the application automatically. We decided so because we want to respect the privacy of the users and don’t want to introduce any unexpected network communications.
  2. On the page, scroll down to the heading “Assets”, where you can see two pages ending in “.pkg”. One is for Intel-based Macs and the other for ARM64 (the new M chips). Download the respective one for your kind of Mac.
    Let me address your note about DMG files. We know that macOS users are used to DMG files. Yet we decided to use PKG instead. There are two reasons behind this decision. One, it gives us more flexibility for future changes. Two, it’s also the format the App Store uses.
  3. Find the downloaded file in Finder and execute it. It will start the macOS installation wizard, which guides you through the installation. During the installation and execution of the installed application you will encounter security warnings, because the application doesn’t have a digital signature yet. We’re aware and working on it.

Let me conclude with a few words regarding the functionality. We know that the update process in the application is a bit bumpy and working on the underlying problem, which was unfortunately caused by an external dependency. The visual appearance of the application will change in the next version, making it feel more consistent with the rest of macOS. We’re committed to add new features, but decided to first fix the current issues.

You can also follow our blog for more information about releases. If you have feedback or bug reports, please write here in the forum or open an issue on the repository.

5

@markus-nitrokey

Thanks for your hints. The installation works fine : )

I suggest that you offer the PKG as a deeplink directly on your page: https://docs.nitrokey.com/software/nk-app2/index or better on https://www.nitrokey.com/download

That’s were users are expecting the links.
At the moment there’s no link at all for macOS on first page I mentioned. And there’s even a wrong information: “support for macOS is planned”.
Normal users do not like to search on platforms like github.

Please allow me 2 question please about the app:

1 The app shows a message “Nitrokey 3 (old firmware)”
That’s wrong. It contains the latest firmware.
When you choose “Check for updates” the result is correct.

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2 The options for settings and password are grayed. How can I reset the key or how can set a new pin, show credentials, delete single credentials, …?

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I suggest that you offer the PKG as a deeplink directly on your page: Nitrokey App 2 - Nitrokey Documentation or better on https://www.nitrokey.com/download
That’s were users are expecting the links.
At the moment there’s no link at all for macOS on first page I mentioned. And there’s even a wrong information: “support for macOS is planned”.
Normal users do not like to search on platforms like github.

Thanks for the feedback! We will add the links soon there as well. Currently we still want to fix some issues, before we release it officially for macOS.

1 The app shows a message “Nitrokey 3 (old firmware)”
That’s wrong. It contains the latest firmware.
When you choose “Check for updates” the result is correct.

This problem is known. A colleague is working on it.

2 The options for settings and password are grayed. How can I reset the key or how can set a new pin, show credentials, delete single credentials, …?

This likely has to do with the old firmware warning above. If the firmware on the Nitrokey is too old, the application will disable the features which are not available. Please try to unplug the Nitrokey, close the application and repeat in opposite order. If it still occurs please let us know!