[Idea]: Please support installation via Homebrew.

[tagnja]

Overview of the requested feature

Support installation via Homebrew

Reason for the request

It's easy to install and update RunCatNeo. It would be helpful to support installation through Homebrew.

Related Issues

No response

Check List

• I have read the CONTRIBUTING.md and agree to follow it.
• The proposed feature is beneficial to a wide range of users and not just a personal preference.
• This is not a request to add a new runner. Runner requests belong in the Runner Gallery.
• Checked that no similar requests already exist.

[nelvko]

Agree

[Kyome22]

@tagnja Thank you for the suggestion!
RunCat Neo is open source, so anyone can build it locally. However, the official binary is currently distributed exclusively through the Mac App Store because it relies on App Store infrastructure for optional in-app support (tips/donations) and provides a single official distribution channel.
At this time, I don't have plans to provide an official Homebrew Cask.

[Kyome22]

I asked a maintainer of CotEditor, a well-known open-source software (OSS), about their app distribution methods.

According to them, they do not officially distribute the app via Homebrew Cask. Instead, they distribute the dmg file on GitHub, and volunteers registered it to Homebrew on their own initiative.

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Using Sparkle to implement an app update mechanism is the standard approach for distributing GitHub-released versions, but that comes with its own hassles.

On the other hand, it might actually be easier to skip distributing a GitHub version entirely and just register the app on Homebrew Cask. (In that case, app updates would be left up to the users running brew update.)

[jfgmesquita]

[...] it relies on App Store infrastructure for optional in-app support (tips/donations)

@Kyome22 Why not use GitHub Sponsers as well?

[Kyome22]

@jfgmesquita I have applied for GitHub Sponsors in the past, but I got stuck on the Stripe Connect setup and couldn't finish it.

Also, even if I were to set up a donation path through GitHub Sponsors, I don't think it would be directly related to whether I distribute via Homebrew Cask or not. It might be relevant to the distribution of the GitHub dmg version, though...

Fundamentally, I don't understand the reason why you wouldn't want to download it from the App Store.
It is the safest installation route.

[jfgmesquita]

Fundamentally, I don't understand the reason why you wouldn't want to download it from the App Store.

@Kyome22 I agree with you and I downloaded from the App Store.
My suggestion about GitHub Sponsors was a completely different topic that I thought (since you mentioned donations) you could benefit from. Apologies for mixing things up.