Benefits of Using Bundles
Bundle Services provides a variety of important advantages over the traditional Mac OS 8 application packaging scheme.
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A single application can run on both Mac OS 8 and Mac OS X.
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A single application can support multiple chip architectures (PowerPC, x86), library architectures (CFM/MachO), and other special executables (for example, optimized libraries for AltiVec).
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A single application can include support for multiple languages (localizations). Applications can also add new language support or remove unwanted language support simply by adding or removing resources.
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Applications can reside on many different volume formats, including multiple fork formats like HFS, HFS+, and AFP, and single-fork formats like UFS, SMB, and NFS.
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An application can run directly from a server. No special shared libraries, extensions, and resources need to be installed on the local system.
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Because an application package both includes and hides all the executables, resources, libraries, help files, required plug-ins, and other elements necessary for execution, users cannot accidentally break an application by renaming it, moving it, or otherwise manipulating it in the Finder.
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Shared libraries and plug-ins enjoy the same advantages as applications. All necessary resources and localizations are included.
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Application installation, relocation, and removal is accomplished simply through drag and drop.
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Help files and other important resources can be indexed and accessed through Sherlock.
© 1999 Apple Computer, Inc. (Last Updated 07 September 99)