Is there a way to download the OSX app without the Mac App Store?
Fine, some developers don't want to use the MAS. Their choice. I don't understand users not wanting to use it. It's the simplest possible way to install an app and get automatic updates for those apps.
Not using the Mac App Store gives you more control over your apps. It allows you to distribute apps to OSX machines without an internet connection, it allows you to rollback versions or choose not to update, etc.
It took me a year and threats to file complaints with the FTC&FCC to get unsubscribed from their bullshit emails. That's what spam.
> It allows you to distribute apps to OSX machines without an internet connection
This seems like a pretty rare situation these days, but even in that situation, if those machines can be given internet access once to authorise them (e.g. via a phone hotspot) you can just copy the .app bundles.
> it allows you to rollback versions or choose not to update
The Mac App store doesn't force you to update either. Admittedly it doesn't allow rollbacks, but you can always restore from a backup and then choose not to update. You do have backups right?
Instead you can just download a .dmg or a .zip right from their website, like how it's been done for aeons.
For free apps you don't necessarily need to enter a password, for paid apps it's still simpler than whatever payment system the developer might be using.
With the MAS you can go from viewing the app/developer website to the app being installed in as little as two clicks.
How is that worse ux than manually downloading an archive/image, opening the file, moving the .app bundle or running the installer.
There are some valid criticisms of the MAS. UX on the install process is not one of them.
wget http://example.com/app.zip
unzip app.zip -d app_files
mv app_files/App.app /Applications
rm -rf app.zip app_files
And I pirate paid apps. Way easier UX there, because I don't have to spend any money.
I found https://github.com/argon/mas in about 5 minutes.
Also, that tool will show you app id's from a search. What's the wget command to identify the correct download link for a given domain, assuming you even know the domain name for the app you want.
> And I pirate paid apps
Right so at this point your opinions are essentially worth less than nothing.
Just because I don't believe in intellectual property?
I'm a programmer just like you... piracy also "hurts" me. As long as you support the authors in some way, then it's okay in my book.
Also, that Github project may have swayed me.
So release your own projects as open source or public domain or whatever you want.
> As long as you support the authors in some way, then it's okay in my book.
Given that you're using someone else's work, it doesn't matter what's "ok in your book", it matters what's ok in the developer's book.
Why?
Since when is asking for actual reasons ("I don't like it because I don't like it" is not a valid opinion, in my eyes) a "high horse".
> just downloading a .dmg is way less overhead, by definition.
That's a very subjective opinion. Each time I do a fresh install of OSX, the MAS apps are always the quickest and easiest to re-install.
The only valid (but not really defensible) argument I've seen yet, is the one about not paying for commercial apps. Every other claim that the manual method is easier, just doesn't hold up.
Saying things like your opinion is worth less than nothing, being all sanctimonious about being able to "defend" the position, and acting like you're somehow the arbiter of what worth is, is what I was referring to by high horse.
> That's a very subjective opinion.
It's not at all subjective. MAS is an entire platform. A .dmg is just a .dmg.
..defensible? why is there even a need to "defend" a position? I, along with others, prefer to avoid the MAS when possible. period. fact. end of discussion. there's nothing more to say. I very rarely pirate software so that has nothing to do with it. it's just a personal preference. deal with it.
It saddens me how some people fail to realize this. It's like they think that their opinion is objectively right, and everyone else is objectively wrong. How do you expect to make any friends with that attitude? :/