# Macos Auto Update

Add Sparkle auto-update support to a native macOS app.

- Repository: https://github.com/fayazara/macos-app-skills (688 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-05-27
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add fayazara/macos-app-skills --skill macos-auto-update -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add fayazara/macos-app-skills --skill macos-auto-update -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add fayazara/macos-app-skills --skill macos-auto-update -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add fayazara/macos-app-skills --skill macos-auto-update -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Add Sparkle auto-update support to a native macOS app. Use this skill whenever the user wants to add auto-updates, implement Sparkle, set up an appcast feed, add "Check for Updates" to their app, or integrate automatic update checking. Also trigger when the user mentions Sparkle, appcast, SUFeedURL, EdDSA signing, or update notifications. This covers the full setup: adding the Sparkle SPM dependency, creating the UpdaterManager singleton, wiring it into the app delegate and UI, configuring Info.plist, and generating the initial appcast.xml.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Sparkle Auto-Update for macOS Apps

This skill adds [Sparkle](https://sparkle-project.org/) auto-update support to a native macOS app. Sparkle is the standard open-source framework for macOS app updates outside the Mac App Store.

## Overview

The implementation has 4 parts:

1. **SPM dependency** -- add the Sparkle package to the Xcode project
2. **UpdaterManager.swift** -- a singleton that wraps `SPUStandardUpdaterController`
3. **Info.plist keys** -- `SUFeedURL` and `SUPublicEDKey`
4. **UI integration** -- "Check for Updates" button in settings/menu bar

## Step 1: Add Sparkle via SPM

In Xcode: File > Add Package Dependencies > enter:

```
https://github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle
```

Use the "Up to Next Major Version" rule with `2.0.0`. Add the `Sparkle` framework to your app target.

Or add it to `Package.swift` if your project uses one:

```swift
.package(url: "https://github.com/sparkle-project/Sparkle", from: "2.0.0")
```

## Step 2: Create UpdaterManager.swift

Copy `references/UpdaterManager.swift` into your project. This is a singleton that:

- Creates `SPUStandardUpdaterController` early (before `applicationDidFinishLaunching` returns)
- Publishes `canCheckForUpdates` for UI binding
- Exposes `automaticallyChecksForUpdates` toggle
- Skips all update logic in DEBUG builds (so you don't get update prompts during development)
- For menu-bar-only apps: temporarily switches to `.regular` activation policy before showing the update window

The key design decisions in this file:

- **`startingUpdater: false`** in the initializer, then calling `start()` explicitly in `applicationDidFinishLaunching`. This gives you control over timing.
- **DEBUG guards** on `start()` and `checkForUpdates()`. Sparkle should never run in debug builds -- it would try to update your debug app with a release build.
- **`ObservableObject` with `@Published`** (not `@Observable`) because we need the Combine `publisher(for:)` bridge from Sparkle's KVO.

The rest: https://github.com/fayazara/macos-app-skills/blob/HEAD/auto-update/SKILL.md