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Foreground Apps & FBAs
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1995-11-15
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Foreground Apps
Faceless Background Apps (FBAs)
FBA System Extensions
What's the Difference?
Extensions Strip can run in 3 different ways. I have provided the
drag-n-drop utility appe <-> APPL to swap between the 2 popular forms.
Let's describe each by its settings, appearance, and functionality.
Foreground Apps:
Most Mac applications are run as foreground apps, using the menu bar
and putting up windows onto the screen. Applications are typically
represented by diamond shaped icons, and launched by double clicking.
The file type is 'APPL' and the 'SIZE' resource has the Background Only
flag CLEARed.
FBA System Extensions:
The other popular format for distribution is as a System Extension.
Such programs are executed automatically at startup, and never appear
under the Applications menu. They have the puzzle piece icon, and
belong in the System Extensions folder. File type is 'appe' and the
Background only flag is SET in the 'SIZE' resource.
Faceless Background Apps:
An intermediate format is the simple FBA, that you can double click on
from within the Finder. Files of type 'APPL' that have the Background
Only bit *SET* inside the 'SIZE' resource. Such programs are double-
clickable anytime, but never appear in the Applications menu or
take over the menubar and interface. Extensions Strip can work this way,
but I prefer the other two for simplicity.
I hope this clears the questions you have (short and sweet ;).
Matt Slot
fprefect@umich.edu