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Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

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Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#41

Post by pantulis »

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?

You are correct. That's why Sparkle is still relevant these days and of course it requires the app to phone home.

Interesting things could happen with third party App Stores if they ever see the light in macOS.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#42

Post by whalesalad »

freedomben wrote: post #36

[flagged]

You cannot possibly be serious? This is absolutely brilliant if it is sarcasm.

Sparkle has been around for what feels like decades. It was around long before the app store even existed. It has been the defacto way to update apps for a long time. You have probably used it a half dozen times without realizing it.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#43

Post by usrusr »

watk wrote: post #4

This looks great. What would be the equivalent of this on Windows? It feels like everyone just invents their own.

On Windows, chances are that once you have a working installer you will be so deeply stockholmed that the idea that updates might go any other way than through a future incarnation of that installer is completely alien to you.

That being said, I think the way sparkle (and winsparkle, see sibling) present themselves looks delightfully NSIS (the good parts)

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#44

Post by ZekeSulastin »

whalesalad wrote: post #42
freedomben wrote: post #36

[flagged]

You cannot possibly be serious? This is absolutely brilliant if it is sarcasm. Sparkle has been around for what feels like decades. It was around long before the app store even existed. It has been the defacto way to update apps for a long time. You have probably used it a half dozen times without realizing it.

It’s an obvious strawman of arguments in favor of the iOS App Store.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#46

Post by stevoski »

This makes me somewhat nostalgic for the days when I would regularly encounter software that used Sparkle for updates.

The days when I’d mostly use downloadable native software for my Mac.

The days when most of the software I regularly used had a somewhat consistent UX.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#47

Post by seltzered_ »

whalesalad wrote: post #42
freedomben wrote: post #36

[flagged]

You cannot possibly be serious? This is absolutely brilliant if it is sarcasm. Sparkle has been around for what feels like decades. It was around long before the app store even existed. It has been the defacto way to update apps for a long time. You have probably used it a half dozen times without realizing it.

Sparkle was around in 2006 - before the iPhone, before the Mac App Store. The original author ( Andy Matuschak ) worked at Apple for a number of years after Sparkle was being fairly well used.

See https://sparkle-project.org/about/

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#48

Post by whalesalad »

stevoski wrote: post #46

This makes me somewhat nostalgic for the days when I would regularly encounter software that used Sparkle for updates. The days when I’d mostly use downloadable native software for my Mac. The days when most of the software I regularly used had a somewhat consistent UX.

I miss Adium.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#49

Post by masklinn »

destitude wrote: post #32
alkonaut wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Usually the point of "software update frameworks" is to make the app phone home and check if there is an update isn't it? I mean you can have an option to not make it check for updates if you want to provide a privacy option for people, but that just makes it a manual click-to-check-for-updates. Most people would probably leave the "check for updates on start" checked. Can't see how that's a difference based on what…

It's just downloading an xml file to see if there is an update available.

And talking about “XML file” is obscuring it, an “appcast” feed is an RSS feed with a few extensions.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#50

Post by whalesalad »

seltzered_ wrote: post #47
whalesalad wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You cannot possibly be serious? This is absolutely brilliant if it is sarcasm. Sparkle has been around for what feels like decades. It was around long before the app store even existed. It has been the defacto way to update apps for a long time. You have probably used it a half dozen times without realizing it.

Sparkle was around in 2006 - before the iPhone, before the Mac App Store. The original author ( Andy Matuschak ) worked at Apple for a number of years after Sparkle was being fairly well used. See https://sparkle-project.org/about/

I worked at a startup back in 2008 - we loved sparkle. Our entire app was ultimately stolen by Apple and implemented in iPhoto. We made the mistake of hiring an ex iPhoto team member as a contractor who ended up going back to Apple with our ideas. Wild time for startups.
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