We have posted a new version of Installomator. This one brings with it major changes in how we assemble the actual script. Since this is such a big change, we decided to do a beta release first.
The changes in detail:
- script is now assembled from fragments. This helps avoid merging conflicts on git and allows the core team to work on the script logic while also accepting new labels. See the “Assemble Script ReadMe” for details.
- Change in finding installed apps. We now look in /Applications and /Applications/Utilities first. If not found there, we use spotligt to find it. (We discovered a problem when a user has Parallels Windows installed with Microsoft Edge in it. Then Installomator wanted to update the app all the time, becaus spotligt found that Windows version of the app that Parallels created.)
- Added bunch of new labels
- Improved
buildCaseStatement.sha lot. It is a great start when figuring out how to create a new label for an app, or a piece of software. - Mosyle changed their app name from Business to Self-Service
Why the changes?
Since the Installomator.sh script has grown to over 3000 lines, its management on git has become very unwieldy. The single file with all the logic and the data required to download and install the applications creates constant merge conflicts which add to the workload of the repo admins, especially when part of the team is working on the logic of the script while we still get PRs to add labels.
Because of that we have split the main script into multiple files which are easier to manage. Having multiple files results in less merge conflicts.
What changes when I use the script?
Nothing. When you just use the Installomator.sh, you still copy its contents from the Installomator.sh script at the root of the repository into your management service (don’t forget to change the DEBUG value). Or you install the script to the clients using the installer pkg from the Releases.
The changes will only affect you when you want to build your own application labels, modify existing labels or other wise modify the script.
How do I build my own labels now?
This is where you need to learn about the new system. To reduce merge conflicts, we have broken the big Installomator.sh script into smaller pieces. There is a utility script that can assemble the script from the pieces and even run it right away fro testing. You can get the details in the “Assemble script ReadMe”
We hope that these changes will make it easier for the Installomator team and other contributors to keep growing and improving the script.