Michael Oglesby
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Re:How are Mac programs installed? - 2008/07/03 18:55
Dear outonalimb,
Apple Mac software does indeed install entirely from Windows PC applications. Luckily, you don't have to muck around with the Registry, it doesn't install useless .dll files everywhere, you get the picture.
Ok, lets take a typical software download like Firefox 3. You will be downloading a .dmg (a disk mountable image file) that will mount on your desktop. With Firefox 3, it's a simple matter of dragging and dropping the software from the mount disk to your Applications Folder. Yes, it's as simple as that. No installation required, in all intended purposes, it's installed. This is the simplest install that you can get.
Now, when you first time run the Firefox, it will create various files and folders on your Hard Disk. The usual places are:
username > Library
username > Library > Preferences
username > Library > Application Support
username > Library > Fonts
This is just an example for Firefox.
Sometimes, installing software requires you to run through an Installer. This is usually because the Installer needs Admin permission to install files in the Main Library Folder or the System Folder.
Again, the installer installs the main Application in the Application Folder (by default) and the list of Folders I mentioned earlier.
The beauty about the Apple Mac software is, any '.dll' files are actually with the Application. If you right-click on any application and select 'Show Package Contents', you will get to see all the components that make that specific application work. So, when you come to delete that application, you also delete all the .dll that go with it, result. All that's left is maybe some Preferences Files etc in the Folder I mentioned. Job done.
Michael Oglesby - Apple Mac Expert
www.michaeloglesby.com |
