Generate macOS application build

[chicks-net]

Summary

Create a build pipeline and configuration for generating a native macOS application from the Godot 4.5 project.

Tasks

• Configure Godot export templates for macOS
• Set up macOS export preset in project settings
• Configure app signing and notarization (if applicable)
• Add macOS build recipe to justfile
• Document macOS build process in README or docs
• Test the macOS build on actual hardware

Notes

• Godot 4.5 supports macOS export with the desktop rendering method
• May need to adjust rendering method from "mobile" to support desktop platforms
• Consider universal binary (x86_64 + arm64) for broad compatibility

[chicks-net]

@claude how should I configure the export templates for macos and the export preset in project settings? think harder.

[claude]

Claude finished @chicks-net's task in 1m 40s —— View job

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macOS Export Configuration Guide

After analyzing your Godot 4.5 project, here's the detailed configuration process for macOS exports:

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1. Installing Export Templates

Option A: Through Godot Editor (Recommended)

1. Open your project in Godot 4.5
2. Go to Editor → Manage Export Templates
3. Click Download and Install for version 4.5
4. The templates (~450MB) will download to:
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Godot/export_templates/4.5.stable/
   • Linux: ~/.local/share/godot/export_templates/4.5.stable/

Option B: Manual Installation

1. Download from: https://github.com/godotengine/godot/releases/tag/4.5-stable
2. Get Godot_v4.5-stable_export_templates.tpz
3. Extract to the templates directory above
4. Rename the extracted folder to 4.5.stable

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2. Creating the macOS Export Preset

In Godot Editor:

1. Go to Project → Export
2. Click Add... and select macOS
3. This creates an export_presets.cfg file in your project root

Key Configuration Settings:

Application Settings

• Name: "FINI Clock" (or your preferred app name)
• Bundle Identifier: net.fini.clock (reverse domain notation)
• Signature: Leave empty for unsigned builds (see signing section below)
• App Category: public.app-category.utilities

Architecture Settings

• Architecture: Select Universal (x86_64 + arm64) for maximum compatibility
  • This creates a fat binary supporting both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
  • File size increases but ensures compatibility across all modern Macs

Rendering Method Considerations

Your current project.godot has:

config/features=PackedStringArray("4.5", "Mobile")
renderer/rendering_method="mobile"

For macOS Desktop:

• The "mobile" renderer WILL work on macOS but with limitations
• Recommended change: Switch to "forward_plus" for desktop quality
• Why: macOS users expect desktop-quality rendering, anti-aliasing, and better visuals
• How to change:
  1. Go to Project → Project Settings → Rendering → Renderer
  2. Change Rendering Method to Forward+
  3. Or manually edit project.godot:

     renderer/rendering_method="forward_plus"
     config/features=PackedStringArray("4.5")  # Remove "Mobile"

Compatibility Matrix:

• mobile renderer: Lower resource usage, works on macOS but optimized for mobile GPUs
• forward_plus renderer: Full desktop features, better for macOS/Windows/Linux
• compatibility renderer: Maximum compatibility, uses OpenGL instead of Vulkan

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3. Minimal export_presets.cfg Example

Since you don't have this file yet, here's a minimal working configuration:

[preset.0]

name="macOS"
platform="macOS"
runnable=true
dedicated_server=false
custom_features=""
export_filter="all_resources"
include_filter=""
exclude_filter=""
export_path="./builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"
encryption_include_filters=""
encryption_exclude_filters=""
encrypt_pck=false
encrypt_directory=false

[preset.0.options]

export/distribution_type=1
binary_format/architecture="universal"
custom_template/debug=""
custom_template/release=""
debug/export_console_wrapper=1
application/icon=""
application/icon_interpolation=4
application/bundle_identifier="net.fini.clock"
application/signature=""
application/app_category="public.app-category.utilities"
application/short_version="1.0"
application/version="1.0"
application/copyright=""
application/copyright_localized={}
application/min_macos_version="10.13"
display/high_res=true
xcode/platform_build="14C18"
xcode/sdk_version="13.1"
xcode/sdk_build="22C55"
xcode/sdk_name="macosx13.1"
xcode/xcode_version="1420"
xcode/xcode_build="14C18"
codesign/codesign=1
codesign/installer_identity=""
codesign/apple_team_id=""
codesign/identity=""
codesign/entitlements/custom_file=""
codesign/entitlements/allow_jit_code_execution=false
codesign/entitlements/allow_unsigned_executable_memory=false
codesign/entitlements/allow_dyld_environment_variables=false
codesign/entitlements/disable_library_validation=false
codesign/entitlements/audio_input=false
codesign/entitlements/camera=false
codesign/entitlements/location=false
codesign/entitlements/address_book=false
codesign/entitlements/calendars=false
codesign/entitlements/photos_library=false
codesign/entitlements/apple_events=false
codesign/entitlements/debugging=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/enabled=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/network_server=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/network_client=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/device_usb=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/device_bluetooth=false
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/files_downloads=0
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/files_pictures=0
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/files_music=0
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/files_movies=0
codesign/entitlements/app_sandbox/helper_executables=[]
notarization/notarization=0
privacy/microphone_usage_description=""
privacy/microphone_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/camera_usage_description=""
privacy/camera_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/location_usage_description=""
privacy/location_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/address_book_usage_description=""
privacy/address_book_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/calendar_usage_description=""
privacy/calendar_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/photos_library_usage_description=""
privacy/photos_library_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/desktop_folder_usage_description=""
privacy/desktop_folder_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/documents_folder_usage_description=""
privacy/documents_folder_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/downloads_folder_usage_description=""
privacy/downloads_folder_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/network_volumes_usage_description=""
privacy/network_volumes_usage_description_localized={}
privacy/removable_volumes_usage_description=""
privacy/removable_volumes_usage_description_localized={}
ssh_remote_deploy/enabled=false
ssh_remote_deploy/host="user@host_ip"
ssh_remote_deploy/port="22"
ssh_remote_deploy/extra_args_ssh=""
ssh_remote_deploy/extra_args_scp=""
ssh_remote_deploy/run_script="#!/usr/bin/env bash
unzip -o -q \"{temp_dir}/{archive_name}\" -d \"{temp_dir}\"
open \"{temp_dir}/{exe_name}.app\" --args {cmd_args}"
ssh_remote_deploy/cleanup_script="#!/usr/bin/env bash
kill $(pgrep -x -f \"{temp_dir}/{exe_name}.app/Contents/MacOS/{exe_name} {cmd_args}\")
rm -rf \"{temp_dir}\""

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4. Code Signing and Notarization

For Unsigned Builds (Testing/Development):

• Set codesign/codesign=1 but leave identity fields empty
• Users will get "unidentified developer" warnings
• They can right-click → Open to bypass Gatekeeper

For Signed Builds (Distribution):
Requires:

1. Apple Developer account ($99/year)
2. Developer ID Application certificate
3. Configure in export preset:

   codesign/identity="Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAM_ID)"
   codesign/apple_team_id="TEAM_ID"

For Notarized Builds (Recommended for public distribution):

1. Sign the app (as above)
2. Set notarization/notarization=2 (staple notarization ticket)
3. Provide Apple ID credentials during export
4. Godot will submit to Apple and staple the notarization ticket

Command-line signing (alternative):

codesign --force --deep --sign "Developer ID Application: Your Name" "./builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"

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5. Building from Command Line

Once export_presets.cfg exists, you can export via Godot's headless mode:

# Export for macOS (requires Godot executable)
godot --headless --export-release "macOS" "./builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"

# Or with specific preset index
godot --headless --export-release 0 "./builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"

justfile recipe suggestion:

# Build macOS application
build-macos:
    mkdir -p builds/macos
    godot --headless --export-release "macOS" "./builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"
    @echo "macOS build complete: builds/macos/FINI Clock.app"

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6. Critical Points Summary

1. Export templates must match your Godot version exactly (4.5-stable)
2. Create export_presets.cfg through the editor or manually
3. Universal binary recommended for compatibility (x86_64 + arm64)
4. Consider switching to forward_plus renderer for desktop-quality output
5. Unsigned builds work for testing but show security warnings
6. Distribution requires signing (free to test with ad-hoc signature)
7. Public distribution should be notarized (requires paid Apple Developer account)

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Next Steps

1. Open the project in Godot 4.5 editor
2. Download export templates (Editor → Manage Export Templates)
3. Create macOS export preset (Project → Export → Add → macOS)
4. Configure bundle identifier: net.fini.clock
5. Set architecture to Universal
6. Consider changing renderer to forward_plus in Project Settings
7. Test export locally before automating in CI/CD

Would you like me to create the export_presets.cfg file for you, or would you prefer to generate it through the Godot editor first?

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