Re: While we're on the subject of DMG's for software distribution...
Re: While we're on the subject of DMG's for software distribution...
- Subject: Re: While we're on the subject of DMG's for software distribution...
- From: Charles Srstka <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:18:45 -0500
On Sep 9, 2008, at 5:53 AM, Bill Cheeseman wrote:
on 2008-09-08 11:31 PM, Chris Markle at email@hidden wrote:
I'd prefer to ship this as a DMG... But if I understand DMG-based
delivery correctly, the idea is that Mac users are used to this and
"know" to copy the application bundle to the Applications folder.
Apple currently recommends that ALL applications be delivered in the
form of
an installer. See the "PackageMaker User Guide," last revised in
July 2007:
Here's what Apple says in the Software Delivery Guide (which I'd
assume to be more authoritative about which option you should use than
the PackageMaker manual), in the section under Managed Installs:
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/DeveloperTools/Conceptual/SoftwareDistribution/Managed_Installs/chapter_5_section_1.html#/
/apple_ref/doc/uid/10000145i-CH6-SW8
"As described in “Overview of Software Delivery,” managed installs
give you more control over the installation process, which, among
other things, allows you to fine-tune the user’s install experience.
However, when your product is made up of a single component that
doesn’t need to be placed at privileged locations in the file system,
such as /Applications or /Library, you should provide users with a
manual install for your product. Manual installs are faster and easier
to perform for novice and expert users alike. See “Manual Installs”
for details."
I must agree with this paragraph whole-heartedly - my single favorite
thing about OS X is the way so many applications can be installed by
dragging a simple icon somewhere, and can be uninstalled by dragging
that same icon to the Trash. No need to worry about an installer
dumping crap where you don't want it, no paranoia about trusting the
uninstaller to remove everything - just delete, and it's gone. It's a
brilliant idea, and although users coming from Windows might be used
to needing to run an installer all the time, once it's explained to
them, it's the most natural thing in the world. After all, if we're
designing solely for the benefit of doing what Windows users are used
to, they're also used to launching applications through a Start menu
in the lower-left corner. Do we need one of those too?
Charles_______________________________________________
Cocoa-dev mailing list (email@hidden)
Please do not post admin requests or moderator comments to the list.
Contact the moderators at cocoa-dev-admins(at)lists.apple.com
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
This email sent to email@hidden