macOS: move-to-Applications prompt + fix Sparkle helper permissions#12
Merged
Conversation
Sparkle cannot update an app running from Downloads, a mounted DMG, or an App Translocation path. Prompt once at startup, copy the bundle to /Applications (falling back to ~/Applications), strip quarantine so Gatekeeper does not translocate the copy, trash the old copy when deletable, and relaunch from the new location.
johnqherman
force-pushed
the
feat/move-to-applications
branch
from
July 3, 2026 21:43
185f201 to
d1ac86e
Compare
install(DIRECTORY) defaults every file to 644, which stripped the execute bits from Sparkle's Autoupdate, Updater.app, and XPC helpers. launchd then refused to run them (errno 13) and every macOS update died with Sparkle's generic updater error.
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Sign up for free
to join this conversation on GitHub.
Already have an account?
Sign in to comment
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.This suggestion is invalid because no changes were made to the code.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is closed.Suggestions cannot be applied while viewing a subset of changes.Only one suggestion per line can be applied in a batch.Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.Applying suggestions on deleted lines is not supported.You must change the existing code in this line in order to create a valid suggestion.Outdated suggestions cannot be applied.This suggestion has been applied or marked resolved.Suggestions cannot be applied from pending reviews.Suggestions cannot be applied on multi-line comments.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is queued to merge.Suggestion cannot be applied right now. Please check back later.
Two macOS updater fixes:
1. Move to Applications prompt. Sparkle refuses to update an app running from its download location (Downloads, mounted DMG, App Translocation path). On launch, when the bundle is outside /Applications, offer to move it: copy to /Applications (fallback ~/Applications), strip quarantine so the copy is not translocated, trash the old bundle when deletable, relaunch. Declining is remembered.
2. Sparkle helpers shipped non-executable. install(DIRECTORY) defaults files to 644, stripping execute bits from Sparkle's Autoupdate, Updater.app, and XPC services. launchd refused to exec them (errno 13, confirmed in Console logs) and every update failed with Sparkle's generic updater error. Fixed with USE_SOURCE_PERMISSIONS.