appleLoops.py

Requirements

• python shipped with macOS (typically python 2.7.10)
• Active connection that can access https://raw.githubusercontent.com and http://audiocontentdownload.apple.com

Capabilities

• Download loops from Apple's servers
• • Store downloaded loops in a mirrored path, useful for installing loops with this tool from a local http server.
• • Can specify a caching server to download loops through
• Build a DMG out of the downloaded loops (only at end of download run)
• Install loops for any of these apps installed on a macOS system:
• • GarageBand (10.1.1 or newer)
• • Logic Pro X (10.2.1 or newer)
• • MainStage 3 (3.2.3 or newer)

Installing loops

Every so often, Apple likes to change the loops that a particular audio app requires to run. Keeping up with this using munki or Casper Pro/JSS can be a pain in the neck. To make this easier, appleLoops.py now has the ability to install loops using --deployment mode.

When appleLoops.py --deployment --mandatory-only (or just/including -o/--optional-only) is run, it checks the /Applications folder to determine if GarageBand, Logic Pro X, or MainStage 3 are installed. If any of these apps are installed, it will then determine what loops are already installed, what loops aren't installed, and what loops need upgrading.

Following this, loops are downloaded, installed, removed from /tmp until all specified loops have been installed.

Deployment

Simple deployment process

1. The app that loops are being installed for must be installed before using appleLoops.py to deploy the loop packages.
2. appleLoops.py must be on the computer somewhere, i.e. /usr/local/bin. Must make the script executable and readable by root.
3. For current testing purposes, do a dry run before actual run: /usr/local/bin/appleLoops.py --dry-run --deployment -m -o.
4. Using the appropriate mechanism for your deployment tool, run: /usr/local/bin/appleLoops.py --deployment -m -o. This needs to be run as root, you will be prompted to use sudo if necessary.

Advanced deployment process

1. Download loops for all apps you deploy, for example: ./appleLoops.py --apps garageband mainstage --mirror-paths --destination /Volumes/Data/apple_audio_content --mandatory-only --optional-only
2. Get the folders lp10_ms3_content_YYYY (where YYYY represents a year) onto a web server your managed Macs have access to.
3. Steps 1-3 as per Simple deployment process.
4. _For current testing purposes, do a dry run before actual run: /usr/local/bin/appleLoops.py --dry-run --deployment -m -o --pkg-server http://example.org/apple_loops.
5. Using the appropriate mechanism for your deployment tool, run: /usr/local/bin/appleLoops.py --deployment -m -o --pkg-server http://example.org/apple_loops. This needs to be run as root, you will be prompted to use sudo if necessary.

More information about deployment can be found in the Wiki.

Important note:

appleLoops.py expects to be able to find folders named lp10_ms3_content_YYYY wherever you've supplied the --pkg-server option, if it can't find packages in this location, it will fallback to using the Apple servers.

For machines managed with munki, appleLoops.py will attempt to find the munki SoftwareRepoURL in the configuration for that machine, for example http://example.org/munki_repo - make sure the folders lp10_ms3_content_YYYY are in munki_repo (or appropraite folder as per your configuration).

Other usage

For a full set of arguments/usage options, ./appleLoops.py --help

Bug reports

If you happen to run into issues, please raise an issue with the following info:

• The command used
• Re-run the same command with the --debug --log-path ~/Desktop (or other suitable log path location)
• • Include the log for the debug run in the issue
• Version: appleLoops.py --version