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Re: Modifying system files
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Re: Modifying system files


  • Subject: Re: Modifying system files
  • From: Aaron Wallis <email@hidden>
  • Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:07:16 +1000

Hi all and thanks for the many words of warning :P
The app I'm building is simply a utility to allow people to change the audio files in the core audio component in a considerably less intrusive manner than via the terminal etc.
I found my computer illiterate partner hacking away at my laptop to change a sound... a drag and drop interface is WWWHHHAAAAYYYY better than a n00b learning how to use the terminal in /System/Library )


It is known now, and always will be known as a "use at your own risk" stye application (not to mention possibly become redundant in 5 days time :P)

Thanks again for your help and warnings.
- Az

On 10/06/2007, at 12:46 AM, Ricky Sharp wrote:


On Jun 9, 2007, at 9:26 AM, Shawn Erickson wrote:

To echo what Wain stated... DO NOT modify files under /System unless it is required as part of an Apple approved / supported pathway (aka install KEXTs, etc.). If you still feel you need to do this you must fully understand the security and stability issues involved and you must inform your customers of what you are doing. You must take extra care in implementing you software so that it itself or by way of what it modifies doesn't expose or become a vulnerability. This means fully understanding how to utilize authorization services, how to install your application securely, how to keep it secure, and also how to ensure you keep proper file permission, etc. on the files you modify.

Additionally you will be modify files that Apple is free to rename, change the format of, etc. on a whim because they are not part of the public API for Mac OS X. You expose your customers up to all kinds of potential issues with every security update, patch release, and major revision.. and open yourself up to a possibly bad support situation.

Personally somethings just shouldn't be done even if you and your customers think it would be a cool thing... I rate this type of product as one of those.

I'll also add a couple things here (if Shawn and others have not already convinced folks that this is a bad idea :)


(1) Tiger and Leopard work with resolution-independence. Thus, your new artwork would need to be able to work flawlessly at various scaling factors.

(2) More importantly, I believe there are many APIs in both Cocoa and Carbon that return back sizes of controls. If your artwork is not the exact same size as what Apple provides, you introduce a high risk of those APIs returning incorrect info. For example, it may be the case where sizes may be hard-coded as opposed to being dynamic based upon actual image sizes.

___________________________________________________________
Ricky A. Sharp         mailto:email@hidden
Instant Interactive(tm)   http://www.instantinteractive.com


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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: Modifying system files
      • From: John Stiles <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Modifying system files (From: Aaron Wallis <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Modifying system files (From: Wain Glaister <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Modifying system files (From: Shawn Erickson <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Modifying system files (From: Ricky Sharp <email@hidden>)

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