Apple Software Updates

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:15:07 +0000

I don’t really understand why Apple decided it would be a good idea to make the software update tool render your entire computer useless when all it’s doing is downloading updates. I understand (not really, but maybe sometimes) if it needs to not have the user doing things while it’s installing an update… That’s fine.

I use the command line software update tool to download the updates now like so:

%softwareupdate -da
Software Update Tool
Copyright 2002-2007 Apple

Done Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update
Done Remote Desktop Client Update
Done Front Row Update
Downloading iTunes	0..20..40.................. etc...

Then to install, you can do:

%sudo softwareupdate -ia

Wait for that to finish, and reboot if necessary.

Usage:

%softwareupdate
usage: softwareupdate  [ ...]

	-l | --list		List all appropriate updates
	-d | --download		Download Only
	-i | --install		Install
		 ...	specific updates
		-a | --all		all appropriate updates
		-r | --recommended	only recommended updates

	Per-user preferences:
	--ignore  ...	Ignore specific updates
	--reset-ignored		Clear all ignored updates
	--schedule (on | off)	Set automatic checking

	-h | --help	Print this help

Christopher J. Umina » Apple

Apple Software Updates