macOS pkg format

[badsandwich]

Is there any reason why I shouldn't distribute a .pkg file as is (i.e. without zipping it up or putting it inside a dmg first)?

Thanks!

 

[Cromulent]

Size. Not compressing your installer wastes bandwidth for both yourself and your users.

 

[Sydde]

Older .pkg's were actually bundles (folders disguised as files), so they were always archived for distribution.

 

[badsandwich]

Size. Not compressing your installer wastes bandwidth for both yourself and your users.

but pkg files are compressed..?

 

[Sydde]

but pkg files are compressed..?

They do in fact appear to be compressed. pkg files are XAR archives that do not compress much if at all (using BetterZip to test).

 

[badsandwich]

Argh. Just learned (the hard way) another reason not to do this: it seems that if the pkg file gets corrupted you don't necessarily know it until after you try installing it...