Auto-Update macOS app outside of MacAppStore

Question

Created Sep ’23

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I have a sandboxed/hardened app that is distributed outside of the MacAppStore. I want to allow the app to auto-update itself.

I currently have the ability in the app to figure out if there is a newer version which then informs the user and gives them an option to download the app (currently it downloads to ~/Downloads in the app container). The app comes as a simple zip file that only includes the app itself. Once downloaded, then NSWorkspace.shared.open(URLtoDownloadedUpdate) will expand the zip and place the app in ~/Downloads.

What I want is it to replace the current version of the app w/ this newly downloaded version. Is this possible?

First, how do I find out where the old app is stored? And then how do I replace it with the new version when the old app is still running?

I realize many people use Sparkle to do this instead of rolling their own. I simply do not want to depend on a third party.

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Answer 1

parker9 OP

Sep ’23

I couldn't figure out how to do either one. So, after downloading, I simply open a Finder window with the update highlighted. I'll leave it up to the user to figure out the rest.

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Answer 2

JWWalker OP

Sep ’23

For the first thing, finding the running app’s own location, you can use NSBundle.mainBundle.bundleURL. Typed from memory, away from my Mac.

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Answer 3

galad87 OP

Sep ’23

If the app is sandboxed, it won't have permission to replace itself. Sparkle works around this issue by using a non sandboxed helper. It's open source, so you can check exactly what's Sparkle is doing and replace it if you want.

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