Shirt Pocket Watch

For a while I thought that, maybe, I'd somehow managed to delete the v3.9 blog post. But, it looks like, somehow, I didn't write it, maybe? I don't even know any more.

No Matter

Well, in the end, it's OK, because the semi-inevitable point release is out—v3.9.1—and fixes an issue that was causing Catalina (10.15)'s dynamic library cache builder to crash.

While we were working on that we turned off updates for 10.15 and earlier, so now that it's fixed we've enabled updates for all supported versions of macOS.

So, welcome to v3.9/v3.9.1, our Sequoia compatible release! Woo! Cue the orchestra!

Wait a Sec...

Yes, I said "all supported", but nothing to worry about. The only slightly unusual thing is that we had to drop support for some versions of macOS in this release: 10.10, 10.11 and 10.12. v3.8 is still available for those who are running those older versions—and remember, we have versions available going all the way back to Panther or something, so if you're a fan of lickable interface elements, we've got you covered.

It Comes at Night

Don't worry - this wasn't arbitrary. In exchange for those dropped versions, we were able to bring you Dark Mode support, as many have already noticed. So no longer will you have to shield your eyes as the distressing glare of a white background assaults your senses. You can finally back up while placing your sunglasses to the side.

Cloudy with a Chance of Stubs

In this version, we're also handling "dataless" files and folders explicitly, and the way Apple itself suggests. That is, we copy files that are on your local drive, and we do not copy (or materialize/download) files or folders that are cloud-only.

This will work for all cloud services that make use of Apple's FileProvider framework, not just iCloud. So if you're using an outdated version of your preferred cloud service, ensure you've installed the one that uses Apple's API.

Enjoy

So there you go. Existing copies will offer the update automatically (or you can manually check for updates, as always). Note that if SuperDuper doesn't quit and relaunch after it updates, you should quit and restart it yourself or you will get an error.

It's a satisfying update, with a few new features, additional polish, various fixes, and a whole new blog post, which I definitely wrote this time, and did not accidentally delete, or imagine.

I think. Man, it'd really suck if I dreamed I wrote this and had to do it again. Here's hoping it's real!

Download SuperDuper! v3.9.1

Not much to say, other than "we fixed a bug".

SuperDuper checks the version of the OS on a give drive by checking the SystemVersion.plist, which is stored in /System/Library/CoreServices.

On some systems, we've found that that file is missing a value that we assumed would always be there. That assumption led to a crash at launch for some (two) people.

This version fixes that problem.

Download SuperDuper v3.9 B5

tl;dr (although this is unlikely to be "l") - SuperDuper v3.9 Beta 4 is now available for download. This is the release candidate for v3.9.

(St|F)umbling Towards Sequoia

Probably the wrong headline, since our Sequoia testing has gone well. Beta 4 has some changes that fix a longstanding minor-but-annoying issue: an 'unlocked' copy of SuperDuper, if launched from a backup drive (typically because a user launches from Spotlight, and it returns the wrong copy), fails when it tries to run.

The reason for this is technical, but basically the authorized part of the app is not authorized when run from an external drive, for security reasons. As such, it fails, and it used to do this in an obnoxious way.

Well, now, we recognize this case and prompt for a password. We also update the "lock text" to reflect the restriction (you can't unlock when run from an external, non-boot drive).

Yes, hold onto your butts—this beta release is exactly that exciting.

Padding

After the rather sad postscript to the last blog post, I'm happy to announce the arrival of the fourth under-the-desk dog: Cooper!

After Haku's passing, a veterinary technician, who works with Zabeth, let her know that a 4-year old Bernese had been surrendered by a couple who were going to euthanize him, and that he was available for adoption. We headed up to Lowell Animal Hospital, met with him, and decided he was perfect.

He's been an "instant dog", fit into the family perfectly, and has been a delight over the past few weeks.

Download

So that's about it! Download away, and let us know if you have any issues. Barring unexpected surprises, the final version to be out day-and-date with Sequoia's release next week.

Download SuperDuper! v3.9 B4