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macOS App Release Helper

Guides an agent through releasing Sparkle-updated Mac apps: notarized builds, appcasts, GitHub Releases.

Source Download skill
Repository
steipete/agent-scripts
Stars
7,433
Licence
MIT
Files
8 files

What it does

When installed, the agent follows a fixed release process for Sparkle-updated macOS apps: it reads the repo's .mac-release.env manifest, runs the bundled mac-release script for status, release notes, appcast generation and verification, and asset checks, and it avoids deleting or retagging releases after a failure. The skill also describes how signing keys and codesign identities are pulled from 1Password or Keychain, and keeps secrets out of printed output. It is a workflow guide plus helper scripts, not a general app builder.

Great for

  • Indie macOS developers who ship Sparkle-updated apps and publish through GitHub Releases
  • Maintainers who want an agent to run the same release steps consistently across several apps

Skip it if

  • Apps that do not use Sparkle or GitHub Releases, since the manifest and commands assume that setup
  • Anyone without an existing Developer ID signing setup and release keys: the skill cannot create credentials and misuse could publish a bad or unsigned release

Try asking

  • “Check the release status of this app and tell me what is missing from .mac-release.env”
  • “Generate release notes and changelog HTML for version 2.3.0”
  • “Make the appcast for the new zip and verify it against SUPublicEDKey”
  • “Run the release steps for this version, resuming from the failed step without deleting the existing GitHub release”
Step-by-step guide: how to use macOS App Release HelperInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 8 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    release-mac-app.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip release-mac-app.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip release-mac-app.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Run verify-appcast and check-assets first; they need no private keys or Keychain access
  • Keep .mac-release.env free of secrets and store credentials in 1Password or Keychain instead
  • Review the test scripts and mac-release output before running release, since it uploads to GitHub and can publish

What's inside

  • scripts/mac-release-assets.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release-canary.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release-download.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release-provider.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release-publication.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release-verify.test.sh
  • scripts/mac-release.test.sh
  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from steipete/agent-scripts under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.