Re: Any up-to-date documentation about os x software distribution?
Re: Any up-to-date documentation about os x software distribution?
- Subject: Re: Any up-to-date documentation about os x software distribution?
- From: Karl Kuehn <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 06 May 2011 08:17:14 -0700
On May 6, 2011, at 2:48 AM, Ulf Dunkel wrote:
> A rough comparison between ZIP and DMG
> --------------------------------------
>
> Download a ZIP from a website.
> + It is automatically unzipped by the browser.
> + You can either run it directly from the Downloads folder, or
> + you can drag it to any place on your computer.
> + The
>
> Download a DMG from a website.
> + It is automatically decompressed and mounted by the browser/system.
> + You can run it directly from the mounted virtual drive (silly).
> + You can drag it to any place on your computer.
>
> - When it contains more than one component (we often see Readme.RTF, Manual.PDF, Purchase.webloc and other stuff), you will have to open a Finder window for the Applications folder, create an app subfolder there, then drag all components from the virtual drive to this subfolder, in order not to clutter your Applications folder.
>
> - You have to unmount the virtual drive by clicking on the Eject icon in a Finder window, by dragging the drive icon to the Trash in the Dock or by using a context menu command. (Not too intuitive.)
>
> - You have to remove the DMG from your Downloads folder yourself.
I think you have missed "Internet Enabled" DMG's, and an important point about .zip's in this process. So, to recap:
Zips:
+ Can be automatically decompressed by the browser (depending on browser and setting, may be a security problem)
- In most cases this leaves the .zip behind, requiring client to clean up
+ Widely known and handled by both people and web servers
- Does not mount as filesystem, so pretty background graphics explaining to drag things to /Applications will usually not show
DMGs:
+ Stores a complete filesystem, so always will support any metadata that Apple allows
+ Allows for EULAs, password protection (in a standardized way), remote mounting over http, other tricks...
- Not an open standard: only works on MacOS
+ Allows for "Internet Enabled" versions that are decompressed ad the .dmg wrapper automatically thrown away
- Confuses many people into using applications from inside dmg's, leading to "mysterious" behaviors (note: it is fairly easy to handle this case within programs)
- Some web servers (IIS) don't know what a .dmg is, and so can mess up downloads
And we all on this list should know that either of these methods winds up with the "wrong" permissions on the .app when it is then dragged to /Applications. In theory Apple could solve that issue by doing something automatic when things get copied to /Applications, but any solution there is going to have problems associated with it. The App Store does of course solve all of those problems, but introduces many of its own, especially in the area of licensing.
There is no perfect answer, and .zip certainly is not the best answer. If you think it is, please try "Internet Enabled" dmg's. They are at least a step better for Mac-only distribution.
--
Karl Kuehn
email@hidden
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