Sparkle
Gives developers instant self-update functionality.
Free
Absolutely Free
Sparkle overview
Sparkle is a module that developers can stick in their Cocoa applications (five-step install!) to get instant self-update functionality. By that, I mean that your app will be able to update itself, not just check for new versions: it'll read the update information from an appcast on your server, download, extract, install, restart, and even offer to show the users release notes before they decide if they want to update.
It's free, it's easy, and it'll make using a Mac better for everyone, so go for it! Make sure to visit Sparkle's homepage to see a video of it in action.
Features- True self-updating - no action required from the user.
- Supports appcasts for release information. Appcasts are cool.
- Extracts updates from .tar, .tbz, and .tgz archives.
- Displays a detailed status window to the user.
- Can display release notes to the user before updating.
- Seamless app integration - there's no mention of Sparkle anywhere; your app's name and icon are inserted everywhere automatically.
- Really, really easy to install.
- You don't have to put any glue code for Sparkle anywhere in your project (it's all through IB), so it's trivial to upgrade or remove the module.
- (Should be) good about error handling in bad conditions.
What’s new in version 1.26.0
Updated on Aug 02 2021
Version 1.26.0:
- Flat package support from
- Correct generate_appcast -s command line argument usage help
- Fix -f command line argument handling
- Fix progress for guided pkg install
- Fix XQuartz update failing because NSLog caused issues
- Update localization
- Various fixes to SPM logic
Information
App requirements
- Intel 64
- OS X 10.9 or later
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User Ratings
Apr 2 2017
Version: 1.17.0
A pretty great framework which, unfortunately, is being confused with another Sparkle--a WYSIWYG website design app which is also pretty great. This Sparkle, the framework, has been around for at least ten years The younger, web development Sparkle.has slightly changed its name with "One" and "Pro" suffixes but it is meager disambiguation. We are now doomed to have cross-posting at MU (and elsewhere) until the end of time. At least both Sparkles are worthy of attention; it could be worse.
Jun 16 2016
Version: 1.13.1
WTF .. macOS 10.12 has a new security added that disables you to down load apps in zip or other compressed format. This makes things like Sparkle not working anymore.
In other words, all apps that are using Sparkle cannot auto update anymore.
Damn...
Aug 25 2014
Version: 1.8.0
Great to see movement on this. Without sparkle OSX world would have a problem. Very thankful for this tool. Let's me avoid using the flawed MAS.
Thanks Andy for inventing Sparkle and Jake and other contributors for picking up development!
Jun 17 2009
Version: 1.5b5
THis is my favorite Mac updater. I hope more developers use it. Very clear and intuituve.
Aug 14 2008
Version: 1.5b5
Sparkle is indispensable if you're a small developer. Until Apple releases something that handles what Sparkle does at an operating system level I'll be including the Sparkle framework in all of my apps.
Absolutely brilliant, Andy - keep up the great work!
Jul 26 2008
Version: 1.5b4
Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?
Applications that don't need to access the network, shouldn't. The Mac OS is moving toward a sandbox security model in which applications can be selectively allowed access to kernel facilities such as I/O and networking. This framework conflicts with that model.
A security-conscious user should have an admin account that is used only for administrative tasks such as software installation. Only the apps that are required for those tasks should run in that account. All other work should be done in another account, without admin privileges. Sparkle conflicts with that model, too.
The one time I tried it, Sparkle installed an app bundle with wrong, wide open, permissions.
Unfortunately, more and more developers are included this waste of disk space in their products, and you can't remove it, because then the apps won't launch.
Jun 6 2008
Version: 1.5b1
The concept is really nice. But unfortunately the implementation is very buggy. There are some critical bugs, and it has a huge chance to lead to namespace clashes, due to its implementation of many categories on Cocoa objects. Due to the nature of this framework, as a simple drop-in utility, this is pretty serious. Moreover the localizations are missing.
Anyone should be aware this is a *beta* version. MU should have noted this, probably this version should not have been listed at all.
I strongly advice developers not to use this version. And if you do, be aware that you *must* fix its bugs and be very well aware of the namespace problems.
Mar 31 2007
Version: 1.1
Too bad the dev's site has been down for some time now. Is this stil being developped?
Jul 16 2006
Version: 1.1
It would be great if you two could cooperate and create a quasi standard for the mac platform - something similar to Growl, just for software updates.
Jan 26 2006
Version: 0.1.1
Really easy to use, code all commented. Very well done.
I like it ;)
Thanks a lot.
Jan 25 2006
Version: 0.1.1
sounds like a good updating app plugin. I cannot tell you the amount of times when I saw an update for an app, but wanted it to be a 2-click job, rather than loading the disk image, copying, replacing, etc....
this would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 10 2006
Version: 0.1
Cool I am basically working at the same. I did it with a framework and a system preference and am thinking of integrating more features like updating all apps. instantly using the framework, mirror downloads with crc check. How about a coop? Would be cool if you could drop me a message - sascha!muellner.de
Kind regards,
Sascha
Free
Absolutely Free
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