Which executable to run from /Contents/MacOS?

Question

Which executable to run from /Contents/MacOS?

How does MacOS determine which executable to run from within the /Contents/MacOS folder inside an /Applications/application.app ?

I am trying to distribute the application jalview within my organisation (using Munki).

When the application is installed directly by dragging from the dmg it runs the correct executable when the icon is clicked.

(/Applications/Jalview.app/Contents/MacOS/jalview)

but when I package the application via Munki or convert it into an installation package the result always runs the wrong executable when the icon is clicked.

(/Applications/Jalview.app/Contents/MacOS/JavaApplicationStub)

I'm guessing there must be away to fix which executable should be run?

Posted on Dec 5, 2022 7:31 AM

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Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

56,500 points

Dec 5, 2022 7:44 AM in response to Zzzzzz Zzzzzz

The associated info.plist defines the executable. Just look at any existing, functional app on your computer and you can see how it should work.

With Java, your "executable" may be a shell script that runs the Java executable and loads your jar file. Copy whatever the DMG is doing correctly.

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Answer 2

MrHoffman

Level 10

145,867 points

Dec 5, 2022 7:51 AM in response to Zzzzzz Zzzzzz

munkipkg can be used to extract a working package (in addition to building and signing packagrs), if you already have one to work from:

https://www.munki.org/munki-pkg/

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Answer 3

Dec 6, 2022 4:30 AM in response to MrHoffman

Unfortunately it turns out that the application has been set to run owned by the user who drags the application from the DMG to the /Applications folder rather then being owned by the System user, So this is why the application won't install via Munki

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Answer 4

Dec 6, 2022 4:26 AM in response to etresoft

Whilst the

<key>CFBundleExecutable</key>

certainly seems to indicate which executable should be run, changing it doesn't seem to alter the behaviour of the application

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Which executable to run from /Contents/MacOS?

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