macOS Fixing abandoned database app

[gerbenzaagsma]

So I am still using a literature database program that was last updated in 2016 and abandoned by its developer in 2017. It does a few things no current competitor does. Since Ventura it has started beachballing when performing searches. I wonder where I might find a developer willing to debug and possibly fix this (paid of course)?

All best wishes,
Gerben

 

[Bigwaff]

Is the database program open source? Can you provide a link to the source code? Instead of updating the program, one option is to review the system requirements for the application, install an older compatible version of macOS within a virtual machine, and then install and run the database application in the virtual machine.

 

[gerbenzaagsma]

Thanks for this, I hadn't thought of the virtual machine option. The program is not open source, suddenly abandoned years ago and until now I haven't been able to track the old developer.

 

[casperes1996]

Thanks for this, I hadn't thought of the virtual machine option. The program is not open source, suddenly abandoned years ago and until now I haven't been able to track the old developer.

If it is not open source it’s frankly easier to build the app from scratch again than reverse engineering what is required to update it.

Unless you can find a developer who wants to build that for personal reasons or fun, the price would be very high for anything of moderate complexity.

 

[Boyd01]

As long as the app still works in older versions of MacOS, I think a virtual machine is a good solution. I have Mountain Lion and Sierra virtual machines running in Parallels on my 2018 (Intel) Mini that I use for old versions of very expensive software that I rarely need these days.

Problem is, it can be difficult setting up a MacOS virtual machine if you aren't into that kind of thing. I consider myself very experienced but it took multiple tries to get this working. Also note that I am using a Mac with an Intel CPU. On newer Apple Silicon Macs, this only works with relatively recent versions of MacOS VM's. You would need to use some kind of emulator for older versions of MacOS on these machines, not sure how well that would work (if at all).

But you haven't told us what kind of Mac you're using. Is it an Intel Mac capable of running an older version of MacOS that would support your app? If so, you could probably setup a dual-boot system. Or even simpler, just get an old Mac that is compatible, used Mini's can be very cheap these days. You could even set it up "headless" and access it with screen sharing on your newer Mac.

 

[f54da]

It's likely possible to patch it even without the source any number of ways. Anyone good at RE would have the skills to do so. Whether they'd want to probably depends on how much you can motivate them (i.e. money).

I'd start by taking a stack trace at the point it starts beachballing to see the function it's stuck at.

 

[gerbenzaagsma]

Many thanks for the replies, much appreciated. I could set up a VM (I have an MBP M1 with Sequioa) but the app integrates with others in terms of workflow so this won't work.

As for checking what function the app gets stuck at, I indeed did some testing through Xcode and got stuck myself when it couldn't ID the function name (I am no developer so took me some time and searching to do this). Motivation by money is certainly an option. I am now also seriously considering migration to another app and seeing how i could best replicate the functionality i need.