Uninstaller question

[Richmond Mathewson]

On 2/1/2018 5:38 pm, Rick Harrison via use-livecode wrote:
> Hi Graham,
>
> Most applications on the Mac do not have uninstaller as
> they are usually very easy to uninstall by deleting the
> application.  Most users are smart enough to know they
> have to delete any aliases in the dock.  They usually know
> that the prefs file for the application should be deleted
> as well if they run into problems.
>
> Many times a good support webpage with clear instructions
> on how to completely delete the app and how to install
> the new version correctly is all that is needed.  You can
> also remind users how to use the “Find” File menu option
> in the Finder to look for your rogue versions if you feel
> it is necessary.
>
> You can always tag your files with some information which
> will always be unique to your program.  If you use the
> “Find” File menu option, and then click on options you
> will find a whole list of potential meta-data fields you
> could exploit to create your unique program profile.
>
> Never recommend Mac Keeper or Mac Cleaner as they
> are considered to be Malware/Spyware/Annoyance-ware
> and are difficult for some users to eradicate.

Indeed: these are terrible, as well as the fact that I get spam windows 
in my browsers for them.

Richmond.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Rick
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Jan 2, 2018, at 6:00 AM, Graham Samuel via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:
>>
>> I’m developing a very simple uninstaller for a Mac app. I have an installer, thanks to DropDMG.
>>
>> The uninstallation process isn’t difficult - it’s just a matter of deleting all the involved files (some are slightly tricky to find, like dock aliases, but I guess there’s a way around that). But there’s one issue that I’m unsure about: what to do if the user has not obeyed the installer's instructions to place the app in the Applications folder, or has maybe got a beta copy that wasn’t installed using the installer, or has made a ‘spare’ copy somewhere on their hard disk which I don’t know about. I can’t see any way to detect these ‘rogue’ copies - can anyone else think of one? I know there are some big hitters in this area like CleanMyMac that claim to be able to find everything to do with an installed app, but I am not that ambitious - I just don’t want to miss anything obvious.
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Graham
>>
>> PS When I crack this, I’ll have to do the same thing for a PC version of the app. But first things first.
>> _______________________________________________
>> use-livecode mailing list
>> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
>> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences:
>> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
>
> _______________________________________________
> use-livecode mailing list
> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences:
> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode