[tbb-bugs] #28809 [Applications/Tor Browser]: Create build-specific installer for macOS

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#28809: Create build-specific installer for macOS
--------------------------------------+---------------------------
 Reporter:  pospeselr                 |          Owner:  pospeselr
     Type:  defect                    |         Status:  assigned
 Priority:  Medium                    |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Browser  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                    |     Resolution:
 Keywords:                            |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:  #25702                    |         Points:
 Reviewer:                            |        Sponsor:
--------------------------------------+---------------------------

Comment (by mcs):

 The macOS "installer" is really just a pretty Finder window that is
 presented from a read-oly DMG-based volume (that way, copying the .app out
 of the installer window always makes a copy). If you embed a different
 icon in each .app "flavor" the installer window should show the correct
 one.

 If we want to provide a way for people to install release, alpha, and
 nightly apps side-by-side, then we do not need to do anything: macOS users
 already do this today by creating a folder for each copy of the
 application. The folder will then contain `Tor Browser.app` and the
 `TorBrowser-Data` folder that is associated with that instance.

 On the other hand, if we want to allow users to put release, alpha, and
 nightly app bundles in `/Applications` all at the same time we would need
 to do two things:
 (1) Use a unique name for the app bundle, e.g., `Tor Browser Alpha.app`
 vs. `Tor Browser.app`.
 (2) Use a unique name for the `TorBrowser-Data` directory. Today when the
 application is launched from `/Applications`, the data directory is always
 created in the same location (`~/Library/Application Support/Tor Browser-
 Data`), and sharing that between release, alpha, and nightly could cause
 problems.

 My opinion is that it is not worth the engineering effort to do (2), but
 maybe we should do (1). Having a unique .app name and icon would
 definitely make it easier for people to keep track of which app is which.

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/28809#comment:1>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online