Proposed: Remove install verb and processor
9 views
Skip to first unread message
Anthony Reimer
Nov 17, 2022, 2:31:09 PM11/17/22
to autopkg...@googlegroups.com
There are currently issues with AutoPkg 2.7 and .install recipes (See discussion in the MacAdmins Slack starting here: https://macadmins.slack.com/archives/C056155B4/p1668709520952959). This functionality is not being tested in any meaningful way for new releases.
While the install functionality can be quite useful if an individual is using it to update their own Mac, this is no longer a common use case. The vast majority of AutoPkg admins are using AutoPkg to feed their management system. There are now alternative solutions if people want this installation functionality (installomator immediately comes to mind).
I am suggesting that we deprecate the install verb and all its associated functionality (even though I still have a personal use case for it). This should reduce the support burden on the devs and make AutoPkg friendlier for security teams to approve (by removing one possible malware vector).
If you would be negatively affected by such a change, speak now. This post is meant to raise visibility of the issues we are having with install recipes so as to determine whether it is worth fixing them.
Anthony Reimer
While the install functionality can be quite useful if an individual is using it to update their own Mac, this is no longer a common use case. The vast majority of AutoPkg admins are using AutoPkg to feed their management system. There are now alternative solutions if people want this installation functionality (installomator immediately comes to mind).
I am suggesting that we deprecate the install verb and all its associated functionality (even though I still have a personal use case for it). This should reduce the support burden on the devs and make AutoPkg friendlier for security teams to approve (by removing one possible malware vector).
If you would be negatively affected by such a change, speak now. This post is meant to raise visibility of the issues we are having with install recipes so as to determine whether it is worth fixing them.
Anthony Reimer
Nick McSpadden
Nov 17, 2022, 2:55:00 PM11/17/22
to autopkg...@googlegroups.com
Let me put this a different way: I don't ever use install recipes, and I don't spend any amount of time testing them. I don't really plan to invest a lot of effort into this area.
If it's broken, I'm inclined to simply remove it entirely, as there are already a great many tools for handling software installs in macOS. If someone feels strongly that we should keep it, I would probably need someone to do the work to fix the code and PR it, because I probably won't ever prioritize it.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "autopkg-discuss" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to autopkg-discu...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/autopkg-discuss/8859395C-8428-4828-BE9D-DD1F1B1267F1%40ucalgary.ca.
Gregory Neagle
Nov 17, 2022, 7:30:16 PM11/17/22
to autopkg...@googlegroups.com
" I would probably need someone to do the work to fix the code and PR it,”
I did exactly that earlier today. Simple fix.
-Greg
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages