Re: Package

On Oct 22, 2009, at 2:00 PM, [email protected] wrote:

> Send MacOSX-dev mailing list submissions to
> 	[email protected]
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> 	http://www.omnigroup.com/mailman/listinfo/macosx-dev
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> 	[email protected]
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> 	[email protected]
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of MacOSX-dev digest..."
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Package (SD)
>   2. Re: Package (Stephane Sudre)
>   3. Re: Package (SD)
>   4. Re: Package (Brian Bechtel)
>   5. Re: Package (Brian Bechtel)
>   6. Re: Package (objectwerks inc)
>
> From: SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org>
> Date: October 21, 2009 4:14:36 PM CDT
> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Package
>
>
> Hey all,
>
>  I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is on  
> Mac OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation about  
> this I can point them to.
>
> SD.
>
> -- 
> ==========================================
> SD
>
> WARNING: Programming may be habit forming.
>
>
>
>
> From: Stephane Sudre <[email protected]>
> Date: October 21, 2009 5:38:09 PM CDT
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Package
>
>
>
> On Oct 21, 2009, at 11:14 PM, SD wrote:
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>>  I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is  
>> on Mac OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation  
>> about this I can point them to.
>
> A package as in Installation package or a bundle?
>
>
>
>
>
> From: SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org>
> Date: October 21, 2009 7:18:01 PM CDT
> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Package
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 21, 2009, at 11:14 PM, SD wrote:
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>>  I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is  
>> on Mac OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation  
>> about this I can point them to.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> Previous message from Stephane Sudre on 10/22/09 at 12:38 AM +0200
> **********************************************************************
>> A package as in Installation package or a bundle?
>
> -------------
>
> As in bundles/applications.
>
> Thanx. SD.
>
> -- 
> ==========================================
> SD
>
> WARNING: Programming may be habit forming.
>
>
>
>
> From: Brian Bechtel <[email protected]>
> Date: October 21, 2009 10:55:58 PM CDT
> To: SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org>
> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Package
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 5:18 PM, SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org 
> > wrote:
>
>>>  I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is  
>>> on Mac
>>> OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation about this  
>>> I can
>>> point them to.
>> As in bundles/applications.
>
>
> http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/OSX_Technology_Overview/UserExperience/UserExperience.html
>
> search on that page for "bundle"
>
>
>
>
> From: Brian Bechtel <[email protected]>
> Date: October 21, 2009 10:58:35 PM CDT
> To: SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org>
> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Package
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 5:18 PM, SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org 
> > wrote:
>>>  I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is  
>>> on Mac
>>> OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation about this  
>>> I can
>>> point them to.
>
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ykbrac7
>
> also helps :)
>
>
>
>
> From: objectwerks inc <chad+macosx-AU1NHruoRJaEK/[email protected]>
> Date: October 22, 2009 12:54:10 AM CDT
> To: SD <macosxdevlist-LS+HbC+WUqxt2bImrQXijVaTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org>
> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Package
>
>
>
> On Oct 21, 2009, at 3:14 PM, SD wrote:
>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> I'm trying to explain to a non-apple developer what a package is on  
>> Mac OS X.  Anyone know if Apple has some good documentation about  
>> this I can point them to.
>
>
> This may be of help
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_Bundle
>

Bundles are essentially folders/directories with a special purpose.  
They look like files/binaries to Finder and thus to the end user.
Application bundles are one type of bundle.
Packages are installer bundles.
Kernel extensions and plugins are other types of bundles.
Internally bundles contain a standardized hierarchy of files that the  
system expects to see.
At the command line, you can normally traverse a bundle just like any  
directory.
In the Finder, you can normally right-click or control-click on a  
bundle to "View Contents" and access its contents in Finder.

Bundles are an essential design pattern in Mac OS X.
Bundles keep things nice and tidy, and they should contain all of the  
content of an app that does not change. Data generated by an app goes  
in other places such as the Application Support folder or Preferences  
folder. (or a document/file saved by the user)
They should be zipped to transfer to another Mac. (otherwise you face  
permissions issues)
They allow install/usage without using an installer, which means they  
tend to run with the user's priviledges (UID) whereas installers tend  
to ask for passwords and run as root.
Bundles are good.

Please be sure they read up on the documentation and see bundles in  
action on the OS.