https://github.com/figma/dynamic-universal-app

Size efficient alternative to macOS universal binaries
https://github.com/figma/dynamic-universal-app

Last synced: about 1 month ago
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Size efficient alternative to macOS universal binaries

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/figma/dynamic-universal-app
• Owner: figma
• Created: 2021-04-30T13:22:38.000Z (over 3 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2024-08-01T16:51:46.000Z (4 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-09-29T05:41:21.266Z (about 2 months ago)
• Language: Objective-C
• Size: 37.1 KB
• Stars: 57
• Watchers: 10
• Forks: 5
• Open Issues: 3
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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README

        
## Dynamic Universal App

Dynamic Universal App (DUA) is tiny bootstrap app that simplifies the user

download process for macOS applications with Intel and Apple Silicon builds.

It is an bandwidth efficient alternative to [universal fat binaries](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple-silicon/building-a-universal-macos-binary).

Users download the DUA bundle (customized with the real app name and icon)

instead of the real app. On launch, it will automatically download the

architecture specific build of your app, replace itself with the real app, and

finally switch over to the real app.



Compared to normal universal binaries or listing architecture specific

download links, this has the following benefits:

* Simpler download page for your users. They won't have to know what "Intel" or

  "Apple Silicon" means.

* Faster downloads. Normal universal binaries can make your app up to 2x

  larger.

* In the future, even faster downloads with XZ compression. Traditionally

  macOS apps are distributed as ZIPs or DMGs, but they offer subpar

  compression ratios. DUA will optionally able to download the real app from

  an XZ package to reduce download time even further. For basic Electron apps,

  XZ reduces the download from 80MB to 60MB.

### Notes

DUA will not work for enterprise deployments where the end-users do not have

write access to `/Applications`. You will likely want to provide direct links

to architecture-specfic builds somewheree for use by enterprise admins.

### Packaging

This needs to be automated, but here are manual steps:

```sh

xcodebuild -project DynamicUniversalApp.xcodeproj -configuration Release

APP_DIR="build/Release/DynamicUniversalApp.app"

INFO_PLIST="$APP_DIR/Contents/Info.plist"

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set CFBundleIdentifier com.figma.desktop.dynamic-universal-app' "$INFO_PLIST"

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set TargetAppName Figma' "$INFO_PLIST"

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set TargetDownloadURLs:aarch64 https://desktop.figma.com/mac-arm/Figma.zip' "$INFO_PLIST"

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'set TargetDownloadURLs:x86_64 https://desktop.figma.com/mac/Figma.zip' "$INFO_PLIST"

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'add CFBundleIconFile string icon.icns' "$INFO_PLIST"

cp /path/to/icon.icns "$APP_DIR/Contents/Resources/icon.icns"

mv DynamicUniversalApp.app Figma.app

codesign --force --options=runtime --timestamp --sign "Developer ID Application: ..." Figma.app

cd ~/figma/figma/desktop

node scripts/notarize.js com.figma.desktop.dynamic-universal-app "$APP_DIR"

```