Developer releases EasyDMG to automate macOS app installations
The free tool automates mounting, verification, and installation of applications from DMG files, addressing a workflow unchanged since 2001.
Developer Jeff Schumann has released EasyDMG, a free utility for macOS designed to automate the installation of applications from disk image files. The tool eliminates the traditional manual process of mounting virtual disks and dragging applications to the Applications folder, handling these steps automatically upon opening a DMG file.
The software addresses a longstanding workflow in macOS that has required users to download a disk image, mount it, move the application, and then unmount and delete the source file. Schumann’s utility streamlines this by managing mounting, verification, and installation in a single action, featuring a hamster mascot and the slogan “Created out of spite.”
To begin using the tool, users must first install EasyDMG using the conventional manual method it aims to replace. Once installed, users can set the application as the default handler for DMG files via a setting within the utility. Subsequent installations trigger EasyDMG instead of the standard virtual disk mount, displaying a progress bar that tracks the installation stages.
By default, EasyDMG automatically deletes the source DMG file after installation and opens a Finder window to reveal the newly installed application. The utility does not run in the background; it launches only when a DMG is opened and closes immediately after the installation process is complete.
The application contains no telemetry, with the only network activity being an optional check for updates. Users can customise several settings, including disabling automatic file deletion, preventing the Finder from opening post-installation, or auto-launching the installed application.
Additional options allow users to disable unidentified developer warnings, though the source advises against this due to potential security risks. Users can also remove the progress bar in favour of simple notifications upon completion. The initial setup requires configuring these preferences once, after which the tool operates without further user intervention.
