New(?) Idea for Standalones

[Roger Guay]

Jacque,

You always come thru with such great clarity and thoroughness. I remember going thru this process a few years ago, but I thought this back door approach was closed by Apple within the last couple of OS releases. Indeed, looking at my Security&Privacy tab of System Preferences in OS 11.2, I do not see the “Open Anyway” button as illustrated in your link for Mac OS. Is it possible this button only appears if the OS senses that user is trying to open an unauthorized app?

Roger



> On Mar 27, 2021, at 3:22 PM, J. Landman Gay via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:
> 
> Roger Guay wrote:
>> 
>> In the good ol days, I could build a standalone for the Mac,
>> Windows and Linux and distribute it willy-nilly.
> 
> On desktop you still can, sort of, if you don't mind instructing your users how to get around the security blocks that both Windows and Mac OS have adopted. If your users are just family and friends, this is viable. Someone more familiar with Linux can say whether this method works there.
> 
> Here is a skeletal outline off the top of my head (so I may have missed something,) but it should give you the idea. A "runner" app is easy to make, basically a stack with one card and a single button. The button script:
> 
> on mouseup
>  answer file "Choose a stack to open:"
>  if it is empty then exit to top
>  go stack it
> end mouseup
> 
> Add an openStack handler on the card so that resources can be shared:
> 
> on openStack
>  start using this stack
> end openStack
> 
> 
> That's the whole stack. Now set up standalone settings for the desired build platform. Include all extensions, libraries, widgets, etc. that your stacks need, or you think they might need in the future. Your app will be limited to the inclusions your license permits.
> 
> Build the app. Send it to friends along with your stacks.
> 
> Now the part where you do some explaining. Since the app isn't notarized by Apple or authorized by Microsoft, explain to them how to bypass the blockage and get the app to open. They only need to do this once on first launch. There are lots of hits if you search for "how to open unnotarized app on big sur" or "open unauthorized app on windows."
> 
> Here's one for Mac OS: <https://eclecticlight.co/2020/11/19/getting-unnotarized-apps-out-of-quarantine/>
> 
> And one for Windows: <https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/unverified-app-change-your-app-recommendation/1b4dd654-c5a0-4833-866c-a354d8c24b69>
> 
> This won't work for mobile apps, though with some adjustments you can build a runner app for Android if you're willing to distribute from the internet.
> 
> Also note: The stacks you distribute cannot violate the LC license agreement. They can't reproduce IDE features or allow users to do things that only a licensed user can do. Please don't violate the license agreement; we all want LC to prosper.
> 
> -- 
> Jacqueline Landman Gay         |     jacque at hyperactivesw.com
> HyperActive Software           |     http://www.hyperactivesw.com
> 
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