Linux distributions understood this decades ago. They didn't distribute compiled binaries in tarballs for system utilities; they distributed .deb or .rpm files. This kept systems stable and consistent.
# PS3: Folder to PKG make_pkg my_app/ my_app.pkg bin to pkg
If you are trying to convert a legacy .BIN game image to a playable .PKG for a modern console, you will typically use "FPKG" (Fake Package) tools. Linux distributions understood this decades ago
| Feature | Raw Binary | PKG Package | |---------|------------|-------------| | | Manual: cp mybin /usr/local/bin | Automatic, configurable ( /usr/local , /Applications , /Library/Frameworks ) | | Uninstallation | Manual deletion | Can integrate with pkgutil --forget or uninstall scripts | | Permissions | User must chmod +x | Setuid, sticky bits, ownership preserved | | Receipts | None | Stored in SQLite database for version tracking | | Scripted actions | None | Pre/post install scripts to configure services, create users, set up launch daemons | | Code signing | Possible but rare | Required for distribution (notarization) | | GUI deployment | Terminal only | Double-click installer + Apple Remote Desktop / Jamf Pro support | # PS3: Folder to PKG make_pkg my_app/ my_app
If you have been around software development for a while, you’ve probably noticed a quiet shift in how we distribute and consume tools. It used to be that the "Bin" folder was the holy grail of a project. You downloaded a ZIP file, extracted it, and there it was: my-app.bin or executable.exe .
if head -n 1 "$INPUT_BIN" | grep -q "#!/bin/sh"; then echo "Detected self-extracting script. Extracting..." extract_dir="/tmp/bin_extract_$$" mkdir -p "$extract_dir" (cd "$extract_dir" && sh "$INPUT_BIN" --noexec --target .) pkgbuild --root "$extract_dir" --identifier "com.bin2pkg.extractor" --version 1.0 "$OUTPUT_PKG" rm -rf "$extract_dir" exit 0 fi
For this article, we focus on : the compiled binary or a tarball ( .tar.gz ) containing multiple binaries, libraries, configuration files, and documentation.