Blog
· 3 min read
Why Gatekeeper says your app is damaged, and how to fix it
Gatekeeper's "damaged and can't be opened" message almost always means a broken or incomplete code signature, not a corrupted download — running codesign -vvv --deep --strict and spctl -vvv --assess --type exec on the app shows exactly which check failed.
· 3 min read
Notarization rejected? How to read the notarytool log
When notarization comes back Invalid, run xcrun notarytool log with the submission id to download a JSON file, then read its issues array, where each entry gives a message, the path of the file at fault and a severity.
· 3 min read
What does stapling a notarization ticket actually do?
Stapling attaches Apple's notarization ticket to your app, disk image or installer package, so Gatekeeper can confirm the notarization even when the Mac has no network connection. Without it, Gatekeeper has to look the ticket up online.
· 3 min read
How to make a Mac app launch at login with SMAppService
On macOS 13 and later, call SMAppService.mainApp.register() to open your app at login and unregister() to stop, and read SMAppService.mainApp.status to show the real state in your settings.
· 1 min read
How Sparkle signs Mac app updates, and why it matters
Sparkle signs each update with an EdDSA private key kept in your login Keychain, and every installed copy checks that signature against the public key in its Info.plist before installing anything.
· 1 min read
Mac App Store vs selling your Mac app directly
The Mac App Store takes a commission on each sale (15% for small developers) and handles everything; selling directly costs a merchant-of-record fee instead, and you keep the customer relationship and your own licensing.
· 2 min read
Do you need to notarize a Mac app you sell yourself?
Yes — an app you distribute outside the Mac App Store should be signed with a Developer ID certificate and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper lets people open it without a warning.
Topics: #codesign (2)#distribution (3)#login-items (1)#notarization (4)#notarytool (1)#payments (1)#sparkle (1)#swift (1)#updates (1)