Provide a MacOS app bundle

[gagarine]

Today cherrytree can only be installed by command line package manager such as brew or MacPort.

This is not the traditional way to install app on MacOS. Most people don't know how to use a CLI. It's also very fragile and may crash on update.

Describe the solution you'd like Provide app bundle inside a .dmg archive. So user can install the app like most app on MacOS: download the archive and install the app by copying it in the /Applications folder.

This may help: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1596945/building-osx-app-bundle https://github.com/auriamg/macdylibbundler/

[giuspen]

I tried in the past and gave up, I'll try again

[secfb]

Hi giuspen, It would be really nice if a solution like this could be found. I use it on windows and linux without any problems. We would be very happy if this solution is brought in Mac osx. Cherrytree is a really good application and it is constantly updated. Thank you very much for your effort. Have a good day.

[giuspen]

It is in my mind, the fact that it requires a good amount of time and a way to run on mac exists even if not straightforward made me put this to lower priority, still I have to admit I haven't looked yet at https://github.com/auriamg/macdylibbundler/ which I will try to follow

[phillips321]

would love to see a native app package

[dehesselle]

@giuspen I can build a native macOS app for Cherrytree if you're interested, building and packaging GTK apps for macOS is my specialty. You can take my work for Zim (https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/zim_macos) as a reference of how that will look like.

[phillips321]

@giuspen I can build a native macOS app for Cherrytree if you're interested, building and packaging GTK apps for macOS is my specialty. You can take my work for Zim (https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/zim_macos) as a reference of how that will look like.

I’m sure many people will be pleased if you are capable?

[giuspen]

@dehesselle that would surely be appreciated. I had a quick look to your build system for zim and I noticed that you are rebuilding everything including the libraries. Is there a reason to not try and bundle the built libraries/binaries from homebrew which is what I wanted to try in the first place?

[dehesselle]

I don't want to discourage you from trying to use Homebrew, it's just not what I'm offering to do. I'm looking to use my build stack to bring more GTK based apps to macOS. That way a project gets an app and I can further mature my build stack.

I also have technical reasons, but they might not carry as much weight for you as they do for me:

• When I started building GTK for macOS, I decided against Homebrew/MacPorts/... and to go as native as possible, i.e. build GTK how GNOME/GTK people themselves are doing it, so I won't have any problems in case I need support ("This is a GTK problem, talk to them!" - "This is a Homebrew-based build, talk to them!").
• Both Homebrew and MacPorts follow the rolling release model and do not support selecting and sticking to specific versions of software. That's a big "no-no" if you want to create reliable and reproducible builds or just need to be picky to circumvent bugs and/or regressions.
• Supporting older macOS versions can range from "cumbersome" to "impossible" depending on age.

[giuspen]

@dehesselle I'm happy with your approach and to eventually link your result and/or use your scripts (which one you prefer) for the benefit of the users

[dehesselle]

The first release is ready for testing.

• project page: https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/cherrytree_macos
• downloads: https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/cherrytree_macos/-/releases
• I have not tested the arm version.
• macOS Ventura is to be considered not supported at this time; it runs but many UI items don't react to mouse events (upstream issue)

Questions:

• Is the t in Cherrytree supposed to be upper or lower case?
• The menu bar is not integrated with the macOS menu bar (and that's not specific to my packaging), correct?

[giuspen]

Many thanks for your work @dehesselle I'm going to link your releases page from https://www.giuspen.net/cherrytree/#downl It is not really important but personally I prefer either all lowercase (cherrytree) or camelcase (CherryTree)

[dehesselle]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to change a few places to camelcase (it's also camelcase in the title bar).

You can ping me when you release a new version/bugfix/... and I'll create the app for it.

[giuspen]

Ho @dehesselle I issued a new version 0.99.52 would be useful if you try and upgrade your installer when you have time, thanks!

[dehesselle]

@giuspen I'll have it ready in a few hours.

[dehesselle]

@giuspen Done.

[giuspen]

Thank you very much @dehesselle

[dehesselle]

Shall we close this issue?

[mmajchrowicz-afine]

Could we ask for 1.0.0 app bundle ? :)

[dehesselle]

@mmajchrowicz-afine Done.

[sectroyer]

@dehesselle Thanks works awesome. Also a lot of (Mac OS X 10.13 specific) bugs fixed 😄 Good job 👍

[phillips321]

@mmajchrowicz-afine Done.

Is this via brew or a standalone app? If so where is the app? Thanks

[mmajchrowicz-afine]

@phillips321 It's available here: https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/cherrytree_macos/-/releases

@dehesselle works great.

[phillips321]

@phillips321 It's available here: https://gitlab.com/dehesselle/cherrytree_macos/-/releases

@dehesselle works great.

Can we link this on the main repo Readme?

[giuspen]

Ok @phillips321 I will mention also in https://github.com/giuspen/cherrytree/blob/master/README.md ( currently only in https://www.giuspen.net/cherrytree/#downl )