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Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

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Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#121

Post by nth_order »

wingerlang wrote: post #118
eddi wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the latest newsletter „Clean my Mac X“ is listed. I always assumed that this is some form of malware, because they advertise so aggressively. Does it really make sense to „clean“ your mac?

It cleans it in terms of identifying large files, duplicate files/images, shows you caches for apps, uninstaller, which apps and files are old and never/rarely used. And so on. It's more of a convenience tool than anything. Don't recall other features. I think there is a certain type of company that go for fairly generic(named) software with a lot of SEO and marketing to be able to earn a lot of money. I guess there…

Agreed, their marketing can really sketch one out but CleanMyMac X is tremendously useful. I use almost every function it has once it a while. The app updater for example, it not only updates Sparkle apps but also lists outdated Mac App Store apps. The MAS itself fails to list those updates for some reason most of the time in its "Updates" pane.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#122

Post by haqlootydoot »

longnguyen wrote: post #28

Sparkles is a godsend. I use it on all my indie apps and it saves so much time. The best part is I could release with confidence knowing that I don’t have to ask for AppStore Review for each release. The new version with delta updates and flags for critical updates is amazing. 10/10

*Sparkle. Please learn proper English.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#123

Post by haqlootydoot »

favorited wrote: post #95
api wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has Homebrew, which many people use and is great. It also has its App Store but nobody uses it for anything non-trivial because it's so jailed.

> nobody uses it for anything non-trivial I guess the Microsoft Office suite, LibreOffice, Adobe Lightroom, Pixelmator, Sketch, OmniGraffle, etc. are trivial?

Parent commenter is in the business of building fake open source (BSL) software. Take their opinion with a grain of salt.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#124

Post by freedomben »

RedComet wrote: post #81
freedomben wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not my serious argument, but it's not intended as a strawman. Please, I genuinely would like to know, why do those arguments apply to iOS but not to macOS? Where do you see a strawman in what I wrote?

They don't apply to iOS either. It isn't their device once someone else purchases it. Furthermore, not allowing "sideloading" and bootloader unlocking is wrong. And I'd like to see EU and other governments crack down on Apple following Apple's scummy pseudocompliance with the DMA.

Thanks, I fully agree with you, but I'm interested in hearing from someone who does think they apply to iOS but not to macOS. I'm very curious to know how they reconcile that. I suspect it will be a helpful insight into the way they think

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#125

Post by LoganDark »

haqlootydoot wrote: post #122
longnguyen wrote: post #28

Sparkles is a godsend. I use it on all my indie apps and it saves so much time. The best part is I could release with confidence knowing that I don’t have to ask for AppStore Review for each release. The new version with delta updates and flags for critical updates is amazing. 10/10

*Sparkle. Please learn proper English.

Username checks out.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#126

Post by bandergirl »

gzer0 wrote: post #88
bandergirl wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nowhere near as how many people use Chrome obviously, even on Mac.

Data from analytics.usa.gov [1] reveals that Chrome leads browser usage at 48%, closely followed by Safari at 35.7%, highlighting the competitive proximity of Safari to Chrome. Definitely much higher share than I thought. [1] https://analytics.usa.gov/

“Safari” doesn’t mean “Safari Desktop”. We’re talking about the Mac here.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#127

Post by alkonaut »

prmoustache wrote: post #66
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…

>Can't see how that's a difference based on what OS you are on? I have been a linux and openbsd user for the most part of the last 3 decades with only short stints on windows in a professionnal setting or when fixing up my partner's issues and nearly 0 experience of macOS apart from launching it in a VM out of curiosity 3 times so I was genuinely surprised and not aware of potential restrictions of app store. I know…

What I mean is: assume you use a software update system (Whether it's a "store", a "package manager" or just my own system I set up for one single app - it's irrelevant). The system needs to "phone home" to query what updates there are. There is no way around it. And unless you want to submit to a centralized store (Steam, a linux package repository, Windows store) then you are usually left to make the call individually for each app. And that applies regardless of OS of course. A self-updating linux app that dowloads its patch from acme inc is no different from the same app running under windows. It might be more or less idiomatic to do so for an individual app under different OS'es, but technically it's of course the same thing.

Re: Sparkle: A software update framework for macOS

#128

Post by zZorgz »

veeti wrote: post #111
adamomada wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The modal popup is the single thing I can’t stand about sparkle updates. Why oh why can’t they use the regular notification system and respect DND. It always seems so random as well, it’s not when the application starts or quits, just some rando timer polling for updates to surprise me with an interruption I can’t ignore

Nothing worse than starting iTerm and typing half a command when suddenly this thing interrupts you.

Modern versions of Sparkle are a less random in when to show the update alert (lots of software, iTerm including, use ancient versions of Sparkle)

DND is not properly/reliably detectable for 3rd parties. Support for Notification Center is not well designed for a framework to control and works as an auxiliary/supplemental (not primary) functionality for 3rd parties, so apps themselves would have to opt into using it along with adding a lightweight UI indicator which may need to be tailored to the app in question.

Further support is available for apps to support more gentle reminders -- https://sparkle-project.org/documentation/gentle-reminders/ which is a mechanism that iTerm developer wanted but developer has other priorities.

Users can opt into automatically downloading/installing updates too which may minimize prompts

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