distribution?

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Paul - 22 May 2007 07:38 GMT

Hi,

I noticed some Mac software is downloaded as a .dmg and some as a .zip
and some are even a zip of a dmg - is there any point in that?

Thanks,

Paul

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Gregory Weston - 22 May 2007 12:23 GMT

> Hi,
>
> I noticed some Mac software is downloaded as a .dmg and some as a .zip
> and some are even a zip of a dmg - is there any point in that?

A zip of a dmg is pointless.

The choice between a zipped folder and a dmg is pretty much up to the
individual developer, but dmgs have some subtle advantages.

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Reinder Verlinde - 22 May 2007 13:43 GMT

> A zip of a dmg is pointless.

...except for cases where one is not in control of the configuration of
one's web server. A server may be configured to serve .dmg files as text
files, stripping high bits.

> The choice between a zipped folder and a dmg is pretty much up to the
> individual developer, but dmgs have some subtle advantages.

For the original poster:

<http://boredzo.org/blog/archives/2007-05-13/disk-images-suck-an-examinat
ion-of-why-and-of-the-alternatives> gives a decent overview of the
available options.

<http://developer.apple.com/documentation/DeveloperTools/Conceptual/Softw
areDistribution/index.html> contains Apple's current guidelines.

<http://developer.apple.com/referencelibrary/UserExperience/idxFilesSoftw
areInstallation-date.html> may also be useful as an entry point.

Reinder

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Gregory Weston - 22 May 2007 16:49 GMT

> > A zip of a dmg is pointless.
>
> ...except for cases where one is not in control of the configuration of
> one's web server. A server may be configured to serve .dmg files as text
> files, stripping high bits.

I suppose, but I'd be complaining to the admin pretty fast if the server
was transmitting modified data inappropriately.

G

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Michael Ash - 22 May 2007 17:14 GMT

>> > A zip of a dmg is pointless.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> I suppose, but I'd be complaining to the admin pretty fast if the server
> was transmitting modified data inappropriately.

You don't need modified data. An incorrect MIME time can result in, say,
dumping the contents of the dmg into the browser window instead of to a
file. Hopefully you can get the admin to fix things, but there are rare
occasions where it's just too hard to get cooperation on this.

Signature

Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software

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Mac Forum / Programming / Mac Programming / May 2007

distribution?