How to use Github as an auto-update deployment server for Joomla 3.x extension

Question

I have gone through the two closest topics I could find here, but the auto-update extension still does not work.

I have created a 3rd party extension called paystack, that works with the Jeema SMS component here. I need its updates to be found and be installed successfully from the Joomla Extension Manager. So far I have tweaked the version.xml file and the manifest file itself.

I do not want to have to manually zip the file and upload to a release - I feel there has to be a way to utilize Github's autopilot archive naming convention. It would definitely be a lot easier. Here is the latest version of my version.xml before I gave up:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<updates>
 <update>
    <name>plg_jsms_payment_paystack</name>
    <description>Accept payments via Master Card, Visa and Verve using Paystack. Sign up at Paystack.com for your free account.</description>
    <element>paystack</element>
    <type>plugin</type>
    <folder>jeemasms</folder>
    <client>0</client>
    <version>1.0.1</version>
    <infourl title="Paystack URL">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/releases/tag/1.0.1</infourl>
    <downloads>
    <downloadurl type="upgrade" format="zip">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/archive/1.0.1.zip</downloadurl>
    </downloads>
    <maintainer>Daydah Concepts</maintainer>
    <maintainerurl>https://www.daydah.com</maintainerurl>
    <targetplatform name="joomla" version="3.0"/>
 </update>
 <update>
    <name>plg_jsms_payment_paystack</name>
    <description>Accept payments via Master Card, Visa and Verve using Paystack. Sign up at Paystack.com for your free account.</description>
    <element>paystack</element>
    <type>plugin</type>
    <folder>jeemasms</folder>
    <client>0</client>
    <version>1.0.2</version>
    <infourl title="Paystack URL">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/releases/tag/1.0.2</infourl>
    <downloads>
    <downloadurl type="upgrade" format="zip">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/archive/1.0.2.zip</downloadurl>
    </downloads>
    <maintainer>Daydah Concepts</maintainer>
    <maintainerurl>https://www.daydah.com</maintainerurl>
    <targetplatform name="joomla" version="3.0"/>
 </update>
 <update>
    <name>plg_jsms_payment_paystack</name>
    <description>Accept payments via Master Card, Visa and Verve using Paystack. Sign up at Paystack.com for your free account.</description>
    <element>paystack</element>
    <type>plugin</type>
    <folder>jeemasms</folder>
    <client>0</client>
    <version>1.0.3</version>
    <infourl title="Paystack URL">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/releases/tag/1.0.3</infourl>
    <downloads>
    <downloadurl type="upgrade" format="zip">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/archive/1.0.3.zip</downloadurl>
    </downloads>
    <maintainer>Daydah Concepts</maintainer>
    <maintainerurl>https://www.daydah.com</maintainerurl>
    <targetplatform name="joomla" version="3.0"/>
 </update>

 <update>
    <name>plg_jsms_payment_paystack</name>
    <description>Accept payments via Master Card, Visa and Verve using Paystack. Sign up at Paystack.com for your free account.</description>
    <element>paystack</element>
    <type>plugin</type>
    <folder>jeemasms</folder>
    <client>0</client>
    <version>1.0.4</version>
    <infourl title="Paystack URL">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/releases/tag/1.0.4</infourl>
    <downloads>
    <downloadurl type="upgrade" format="zip">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/archive/1.0.4.zip</downloadurl>
    </downloads>
    <maintainer>Daydah Concepts</maintainer>
    <maintainerurl>https://www.daydah.com</maintainerurl>
    <targetplatform name="joomla" version="3.0"/>
 </update>

 <update>
    <name>plg_jsms_payment_paystack</name>
    <description>Accept payments via Master Card, Visa and Verve using Paystack. Sign up at Paystack.com for your free account.</description>
    <element>paystack</element>
    <type>plugin</type>
    <folder>jeemasms</folder>
    <client>0</client>
    <version>1.0.6</version>
    <infourl title="Paystack URL">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/releases/tag/paystack-1.0.6</infourl>
    <downloads>
    <downloadurl type="upgrade" format="zip">https://github.com/DaydahConcepts/paystack/archive/paystack-1.0.6.zip</downloadurl>
    </downloads>
    <maintainer>Daydah Concepts</maintainer>
    <maintainerurl>https://www.daydah.com</maintainerurl>
    <targetplatform name="joomla" version="3.0"/>
 </update>
<updates>

As you can see, I have done a lot of testing. Versions 1.0.1 to 1.0.4 were seen by the Joomla Updates server, but it kept giving the Error: Invalid Extension Update as a result. The ones after 1.0.4 are not even visible. Someone please help! Thanks in advance!

PS: In addition, must I add an update section for every single update? I'm looking at a scenario of just replacing with the latest version, since its just a single extension.

EDIT: I have updated the version.xml file and its showing in Joomla Extension Update list. I changed the targetplatform version tag to '3.*'.

Answer 1

Have a look at the Weblinks repo It does exactly what you want to do. The updateserver points to the manifest hosted on that repo. Download packages are served from the repo as well. Of course you need to manually update the manifest file with each release.