Sparkler icon
Performance & Maintenance Utility

Sparkler

Keep your apps' auto-update frameworks clean, configured, and under control.

Download Free

— downloads

macOS 11.0+ Universal Binary Free
Sparkler screenshot Sparkler screenshot

Auto-updates, without the XML

Sparkler is a standalone tool (not affiliated with the Sparkle project itself) that generates the appcast.xml file developers need to ship automatic updates through the Sparkle framework.

Drop in your release's ZIP file, fill in the release notes and download URL, and Sparkler signs the update and writes the appcast for you — no more hand-editing XML.

Sparkle Framework
Independent, not affiliated with Sparkle
EdDSA Signing
Built-in key generation
Auto-Populated
Appcast fields filled for you
Zero XML
No hand-editing appcast.xml

Features

Release updates, without the busywork

Sparkler handles signing and appcast generation so you can ship updates faster.

Appcast Generation
Builds the appcast.xml file Sparkle-powered apps need for auto-updates.
Drag-and-Drop Signing
Drop in your release ZIP and Sparkler signs it automatically.
EdDSA Key Management
Generate and detect your signing key without touching Terminal.
Auto-Populated Fields
Appcast fields fill in automatically the moment you select a file.
Built-in Verification
Verify your selected file before generating the appcast.
One-Step Publishing
Upload the finished ZIP and appcast.xml straight to your release URL.

Guide

How to use Sparkler

  1. Download the Sparkle framework's command-line tools from its GitHub releases and copy them to /usr/local/bin so Sparkler can find them.
  2. Compress your finished app into a ZIP using macOS's built-in Archive Utility.
  3. Drag the ZIP into Sparkler (or use Select File) — the appcast fields populate automatically.
  4. Confirm your EdDSA signing key is detected, clicking Generate Keys first if you haven't signed a release before.
  5. Fill in the release notes and download URL, click Verify Selected File, then Generate Appcast.
  6. Upload both the ZIP and the generated appcast.xml to the URL you provided.

Technical Details

System requirements

macOS
Big Sur 11.0 or later
CLI Tools
sign_update, generate_appcast, generate_key
Location
Installed to /usr/local/bin
Price
Free
Sparkler

Auto-updates,
without the XML.

Sign releases and generate appcast files for the Sparkle framework in minutes.

Download Sparkler Free ← All Apps

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We've got answers.

What is Sparkler used for?
Sparkler helps developers easily create, manage, and sign appcast.xml files for applications that use the Sparkle auto-update framework.
Do I need to be a developer to use Sparkler?
Yes, Sparkler is a developer tool meant for those who are distributing macOS apps outside the App Store.
How do I open apps blocked by macOS Gatekeeper?
macOS Gatekeeper may flag apps from unidentified developers. To open them, right-click (or Control-click) the app icon and select "Open" from the context menu, or learn more here.