OSX / macOS > disk space requirements when downloading / installing software & other content

Question

Level 4

3,048 points

OSX / macOS > disk space requirements when downloading / installing software & other content

Hi everyone, this is not OSX / macOS version-specific question. In a nutshell, I got in a heated debate about how much free disk space macOS requires when it downloads / installs software and other content. To be more specific, we argued on how much free disk space is required for Logic Pro X to install its sound library content.

Full debate here (for context): https://www.logicprohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=140200

My position was that it requires disk space BOTH for downloaded installation packages and for the data to be installed into its target destination. In short, when it comes to sound library content (i.e. data that does not compress well) that means macOS would require free disk space of almost twice the size of data being installed. At least for the time of the installation process, as the installation packages are removed after it's done.

As I understood him, my opponent argued that files were downloaded and installed directly to their target destination, so as long as the target drive has enough space to accommodate that data everything is fine.

So, who's right and who's not in this case and why? And more importantly, how does the math works exactly when macOS calculates available disk space required for software and content installation via download?

Thanks in advance!

Posted on Dec 23, 2018 10:46 AM

Reply

Answer 1

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Dec 23, 2018 11:38 AM in response to Radarhus

And, as an additional thought: if you need to argue about the space required for an install, you do not have enough empty space. The absolute minimum empty space at all times recommended is 10 - 15 GB. If you work with images/files/videos rendering and editing, the recommendation is to have at least asmuch space as you have temp files in your projrct. That, for me, is about 100 - 150 GB for a one hour HD video project. You have to remember that your drive is more than storage - it is the thing that reads/writes/makes your device work and it needs room to do that in order to work efficiently.

Reply

Answer 2

Radarhus Author

Level 4

3,048 points

Dec 23, 2018 2:25 PM in response to babowa

babowa, yes I did, and your comment does not address the issue I'm asking about. Please, read the question once again and get back here with a response, if you have anything of value to contribute, of course.

Once again, I'm not interested in what the minimal empty disk space should be, nor in how storage works. I know these things, more or less. Neither am I interested in a recommendation for how much storage space should I have. These things are not relevant in this case.

Cheers!

Reply

Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,568 points

Dec 23, 2018 2:56 PM in response to Radarhus

I’m not going to repeat myself.

Since I always maintain adequate empty space, it is irrelevant to me which one of you is correct (or not) and I do not need to know how the OS calculates needed space.

You may have better luck asking this in the Developer forums.

Reply