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Hydraulic Conveyor is a developer tool for desktop app distribution. Its core goal is to unify packaging, signing, notarization, installation, and automatic updates into a single workflow. The copy emphasizes that it requires “no special servers or code changes” and aims to use each platform’s native update mechanisms wherever possible, making it suitable for teams that need to deliver desktop applications to real users.
Conveyor covers the Electron, Flutter, and JVM ecosystems. For Electron, it highlights that Squirrel is not required, while native platform updaters and efficient delta updates are supported. For Flutter, it can read pubspec.yaml, package Windows VC++ DLLs, and replace the default icon. For JVM apps, it supports Jetpack Compose, JavaFX, CLI apps, Gradle/Maven, jdeps/jlink, JAR optimization, and native code signing. On macOS, it uses Sparkle to support distribution outside the App Store, and can complete signing and notarization in non-Mac environments. On Windows, it supports one-click installation, publishing via a website or Microsoft Store, background updates, and runtime file reuse. Enterprise-oriented features include support for internal signing servers, custom signing scripts, and custom TLS root certificates.
Conveyor 15 adds an update control API, allowing apps to check for new versions and trigger the update process from Electron, JVM, and native code. Electron users get @hydraulic/conveyor-control, while JVM users get dev.hydraulic.conveyor:conveyor-control:1.1+. However, the text clearly states that this update API is currently not supported on Linux. On the documentation side, the website provides tutorials, a quick-start guide, sample apps, a user guide, and a large number of blog posts. The page also includes configuration and code snippets, making the documentation fairly practical and actionable.
Open-source projects can use it for free, provided the project uses an OSI-approved license. The Standard plan costs $45/month, includes 3 apps, and provides email and chat support; VAT is not included. The Source plan requires contacting sales and includes unlimited projects, full source code access, private modifications, and an option for bundling it as part of a SaaS product. The page does not disclose supported payment methods.
Its strengths are a complete cross-platform release pipeline, deep support for Electron/Flutter/JVM, strong delta update capabilities, and enterprise signing features. It is also well suited to Linux CI environments. Limitations include its commercial subscription model, the limited number of apps in the Standard plan, licensing restrictions around service-based usage, and the lack of Linux support for the update control API for now. It is best suited for small and medium-sized teams as well as enterprise engineering teams that need to commercially release desktop apps and want to reduce the cost of handling platform differences.
The text does not provide information about access from mainland China, network nodes, or payment methods, so accessibility from China is unknown. If access or payment is restricted, alternatives to consider include electron-builder, Electron Forge, Sparkle, jpackage, Flutter’s official packaging tools, and each platform’s native signing and publishing workflows.
⚠ This review is compiled from public sources and does not constitute a purchase recommendation. Verify all facts on the vendor's official site. Verify on hydraulic.dev official site.
hydraulic.dev is an United States Dev Tools provider. TG4G tracks its product information, an overall rating of 8.0/10, and a China-accessibility score of China direct-connect friendly. Click "Visit Official Site" to reach hydraulic.dev directly.