macOS bulk plugin install script

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Every time I change computers or update my OS, I have to manually run a bunch of installers and it's a PITA. So, I wrote a bash script that helps. Put all your installers (zip, pkg, dmg) into a single directory and run the script. Easey peasey.

https://gist.github.com/dangayle/82ffaa ... db00bcd191

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And does it ask for a password for every single plugin or only once?

Would be nice if it had option to copy also AU (.component) files.

Personally I also have a script that removes all plugins other than AU from my Mac, saves a lot of storage space.

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Mmmh, but what if you use a complete Timemachine backup as base data for your new installation? You can select a timemachine backup while the installation process. Then it will reinstall the exact same user and app structure. Only most registrations, e.g. ilok activiation need to be redone, because the hardware ids changed, and copy protection serials are often based on those hardware ids. But that works with the installations from backup, too. IMHO no need to ever reinstall everything, esp. on macOS. If you use Carbon Copy Cloner 1:1 backup alike, it might even work with the registrations. You then still can remove unwanted stuff later, e.g. from ~/Library/AppSupp /Library/AppSupp and /Applications...

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ffx wrote: Sun Dec 28, 2025 8:27 am Mmmh, but what if you use a complete Timemachine backup as base data for your new installation? You can select a timemachine backup while the installation process. Then it will reinstall the exact same user and app structure. Only most registrations, e.g. ilok activiation need to be redone, because the hardware ids changed, and copy protection serials are often based on those hardware ids. But that works with the installations from backup, too. IMHO no need to ever reinstall everything, esp. on macOS. If you use Carbon Copy Cloner 1:1 backup alike, it might even work with the registrations. You then still can remove unwanted stuff later, e.g. from ~/Library/AppSupp /Library/AppSupp and /Applications...
Sometimes people want to do factory reset to get rid
of all the garbage collected over the years.

TimeMachine doesn’t make sense unless you want to install it on new device etc.

TM will restore a lot of garbage.

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dangayle wrote: Thu Dec 25, 2025 1:53 am Put all your installers (zip, pkg, dmg) into a single directory and run the script.

What should the directory for files be called, and where on the computer should it be placed? :dog:

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Saw wrote: Sun Dec 28, 2025 7:35 pm
dangayle wrote: Thu Dec 25, 2025 1:53 am Put all your installers (zip, pkg, dmg) into a single directory and run the script.

What should the directory for files be called, and where on the computer should it be placed? :dog:
# Quiet mode (only “Installing ...” plus summary):
~/install_plugins.sh ~/Downloads/plugins_batch

# Verbose mode (debug/info logging):
~/install_plugins.sh --verbose ~/Downloads/plugins_batch
# or
~/install_plugins.sh -v ~/Downloads/plugins_batch

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isuckatproducing wrote: Sun Dec 28, 2025 7:40 pm
Saw wrote: Sun Dec 28, 2025 7:35 pm
dangayle wrote: Thu Dec 25, 2025 1:53 am Put all your installers (zip, pkg, dmg) into a single directory and run the script.

What should the directory for files be called, and where on the computer should it be placed? :dog:
# Quiet mode (only “Installing ...” plus summary):
~/install_plugins.sh ~/Downloads/plugins_batch

# Verbose mode (debug/info logging):
~/install_plugins.sh --verbose ~/Downloads/plugins_batch
# or
~/install_plugins.sh -v ~/Downloads/plugins_batch
I just put it in the Downloads folder, you can name it anything you want

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