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Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

github.com

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Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#12

Post by bluish29 »

pantulis wrote: post #7
prmoustache wrote: post #5

Are you telling me macOS doesn't have a package manager already?

In terms of apps no, it doesn't or basically it is the Mac App Store. You basically publish your app with all the dependencies and target a specific OS version which guarantees certain baseline frameworks. Apart from that, any update means publishing a new version to the App Store (if you are there). If you are self hosting the app, you need something like Sparkle to trigger app updates. In terms of proper package ma…

Many open source (and even proprietary apps) apps get published using homebrew casks [1]. Although they usually use that as supplementary method. And sometimes it is done by volunteers.

[1] https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#13

Post by prmoustache »

masklinn wrote: post #9
prmoustache wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OK so basically the point is to avoid Mac App Store fees and independence to third party project like homebrew. Doesn't that leads to the situation on windows where every single app is phoning home at startup?

Well the original point is that sparkle predates MAS by more than a decade, and the MAS limitations are a bigger issue than the fees. > Doesn't that leads to the situation on windows where every single app is phoning home at startup? Sparkle has a very clear and regular behaviour, its predictability and widespread use made it easy to manage.

Thanks for the history lesson.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#14

Post by Hamuko »

I've had to implement Sparkle once in a macOS app and it was actually quite simple. It also doesn't really take much more than an S3 bucket to facilitate updates. And as a user, it's a great user experience that updates are handled in a similar manner in almost all of the apps that I install.

Great piece of software.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#15

Post by Hamuko »

prmoustache wrote: post #8
pantulis wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of apps no, it doesn't or basically it is the Mac App Store. You basically publish your app with all the dependencies and target a specific OS version which guarantees certain baseline frameworks. Apart from that, any update means publishing a new version to the App Store (if you are there). If you are self hosting the app, you need something like Sparkle to trigger app updates. In terms of proper package ma…

OK so basically the point is to avoid Mac App Store fees and independence to third party project like homebrew. Doesn't that leads to the situation on windows where every single app is phoning home at startup?

Sparkle automatically limits update checking to once per 24 hours if that makes you feel any better.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#16

Post by haykuro »

pantulis wrote: post #7
prmoustache wrote: post #5

Are you telling me macOS doesn't have a package manager already?

In terms of apps no, it doesn't or basically it is the Mac App Store. You basically publish your app with all the dependencies and target a specific OS version which guarantees certain baseline frameworks. Apart from that, any update means publishing a new version to the App Store (if you are there). If you are self hosting the app, you need something like Sparkle to trigger app updates. In terms of proper package ma…

I switched to MacPorts after becoming tired of Brew tainting my filesystem.

MacPorts keeps things clean in /opt/.

https://www.macports.org/

https://saagarjha.com/blog/2019/04/26/thoughts-on-macos-pack...

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#18

Post by Y-bar »

Hamuko wrote: post #14

I've had to implement Sparkle once in a macOS app and it was actually quite simple. It also doesn't really take much more than an S3 bucket to facilitate updates. And as a user, it's a great user experience that updates are handled in a similar manner in almost all of the apps that I install. Great piece of software.

As a consumer of Mac OS software thank you! Seeing a Sparkle dialogue is such a nicety and it makes me feel good.
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