After reading app-builder-lib/winPackager.js line 216 + 231 directly:
signAndEditExecutable is the ACTUAL hardcoded gate that short-circuits
both signApp() (which signs Hermes.exe + every shouldSignFile match
including bundled prebuilds) AND createTransformerForExtraFiles().
None of signtoolOptions.sign / sign:null / sign:<custom-fn> gate the
winCodeSign download — that happens before they're consulted.
What we lose: rcedit also runs through signAndEditResources, so
disabling this drops PE metadata (file properties showing 'Hermes' /
'Nous Research' / file description). Cost is real but bounded:
* Hermes.exe filename, icon, asar contents, app identity intact
* Task Manager shows 'Hermes.exe' (the filename) not 'Hermes' (PE
description) — minor downgrade
* Start menu, taskbar, window title all work normally
* SmartScreen will warn once (unsigned, same as before)
When the cert lands, flip signAndEditExecutable back to default true,
both signing AND rcedit return, PE metadata is restored.
Removes the no-op sign function (build-noop-sign.cjs) since
signAndEditExecutable=false prevents signtool from being invoked at
all — the custom hook never gets called either.
emozilla
060c4f64a8