App will only run via Executable file in Terminal

Question

Level 8

42,656 points

App will only run via Executable file in Terminal

Ok so I have an app that will not run by selecting in the usual manner via double-clicking. I can however Control-click on the app select Show Package Contents and navigate to the apps Executable file (Contents/MacOS).

I can then drop this executable file into Terminal and press Return and the app will start. So is there anything that can be done to get back to the usual launch behaviour, is there something I can do to take the package contents and create my own working .app.

Mac Pro, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2), 6Gb Ram Nvidea GT120

Posted on Jul 12, 2018 11:31 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eau Rouge Author

Level 8

42,656 points

Jul 16, 2018 3:48 AM in response to VikingOSX

Hello thanks for replying. The app in question is Universal Media Server, which I use to stream media to my television.

The developer of the app really just says there are versions available for Apple. The latest version which is 7.1.0 opens and runs fine on both El Capitan and Sierra, but will not open conventionally on High Sierra. Their forum is not very helpful and offers no more help than it is Apples fault, and they don't like or trust Apple, super helpful.

Anyway I have found a solution which involves typing a command into Terminal, the command being.

sudo xattr -rd com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Universal\ Media\ Server.app

pressing Return and entering my password now means the app will open in the expected manner.

Reply

Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,764 points

Jul 13, 2018 2:56 AM in response to Eau Rouge

No. You cannot reverse engineer the application bundle into another working application from the package contents because you do not have the source code, build script, or other dependencies necessary to build the original application.

More importantly, what does the original developer state that are requirements to run the application bundle? Is it actually supported on HIgh SIerra? Does it require the optional XQuartz, or some other dependency that is not installed? What is this application?

Running the internal binary external to its application bundle may not deliver the same functionality as the developer intended.

Reply

App will only run via Executable file in Terminal

Similar questions