Electron Installer DMG is a free, open-source helper for developers who package Electron apps as macOS disk images. It suits people who build desktop software with JavaScript or TypeScript and want the installer step to run from npm scripts instead of by hand.
The project is no longer actively maintained. Its last code update was in September 2018, so it is more than two years old and has seen no changes since. It is licensed under Apache 2.0 and builds on the appdmg library. Before relying on it in a release pipeline, read the code and test the output yourself.
What Electron Apps and DMG Installers Are
Electron is a framework that lets developers build desktop applications with web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Many cross-platform tools, including some crypto wallets and dashboards, are built this way because one codebase can target several operating systems.
A DMG file is Apple's standard disk image for macOS software. Users double-click it, see a window with the app icon, and drag the app onto an Applications shortcut. Creating that layout by hand is repetitive, which is why developers use a tool like this one to generate it consistently.
Who Needs a Tool Like This
The natural audience is a developer or small team that already ships an Electron app and wants a Mac version with a polished installer. It is less useful for someone who only wants to run a finished application.
Consider a team that releases a desktop client for a blockchain dashboard. Each new version needs a DMG file with the same window layout and file name pattern. Calling the packaging step from a script means the release process is the same every time, and a mistake is easier to spot.
Why Installer Tooling Matters for Crypto Desktop Apps
Crypto-related desktop software often asks users to trust a download with sensitive activity, so the installer itself matters. A clean, predictable package makes it easier for users to recognize the real app and avoid look-alike files.
Packaging is only one part of trust. Developers still need code signing, release checksums and clear release notes. A DMG generator does not replace those steps, and it should be used as one component in a broader release workflow.
Key features
DMG installer generation
npm script integration
Explicit build options
Open-source code under Apache 2.0
How to install Electron Installer DMG on Windows
- 1
Get the source from the official repository
Download the package from the official GitHub repository at github.com/cudoventures/electron-installer-dmg or from its Releases page. Avoid copies on third-party sites, since a modified package could be harmful.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the Releases page, or check the signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, do not use the file.
-
Add it to your Electron project
Include the module as a dependency in your project and call it from an npm script. Pass the path to your built application as appPath and the installer name as name. Check the Releases page if you need a Windows build, since the project indicates that Windows builds may exist.
How to use Electron Installer DMG
This tool runs as part of your development build, not as a standalone application. Its main job is to turn a built Electron app into a DMG installer.
A typical workflow looks like this:
- Build your Electron application so the packaged app folder exists.
- Add the module to your project dependencies after verifying the download.
- Create a script in your package.json that imports the module.
- Pass the app folder as appPath and a readable installer name as name.
- Run the script and check the generated DMG on a Mac by opening it and dragging the app into Applications.
Keep the script in version control so every release follows the same steps. Test the output before publishing, because the project has not received code updates since 2018.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source under Apache 2.0
- Simple function with two required options
- Designed to run from npm scripts for repeatable builds
- Source code is public and easy to review
- Focused on one job: creating DMG installers
- No code updates since 2018
- Built for macOS output, so it is not a Windows installer tool
- Requires a Node.js development environment
- Not a graphical application; it needs scripting knowledge
- Windows build status is unclear and needs checking on the Releases page
Is Electron Installer DMG safe?
This project has had no code updates since September 2018, so it is more than two years old and should be treated with caution. Review the source code and test the output in a controlled environment before using it in a release.
Get the package only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before installing. Never paste signing keys, passwords or seed phrases into third-party websites or unofficial tools. Keep your code-signing credentials in a secure secret store within your build system, and check the latest version on the official website before updating.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/cudoventures/electron-installer-dmg. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Electron Installer DMG solves a narrow problem: generating macOS disk images for Electron apps. The other programs in this catalog work in different areas. PSBT Commander is a Rust-based creator for Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions, which is about building transaction files rather than packaging software. Subzero describes an offline Bitcoin reserve concept focused on storage security. Powershell Algorand Module is a PowerShell library for the Algorand network.
If you need an installer generator, choose a tool built for that job and check its maintenance status. If you need wallet or transaction utilities, these related programs are more relevant than a packaging tool.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- Apache 2.0
- Latest version
- v2.0.0
- Last update
- 24 Sept 2018
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/cudoventures/electron-installer-dmg
Frequently asked questions
No, it is designed to create macOS DMG installers. The project indicates that Windows builds may exist, so check the GitHub Releases page for current options before assuming Windows support.
Yes, the program is free to use. It is open source and licensed under Apache 2.0, which allows use, modification and redistribution under the license terms.
It does not handle wallets or funds, but it does produce files that users will install. Its last code update was in 2018, so review the code, verify the download checksum, and test the output before distributing any installer.
Add the module to an Electron project and call it from an npm script. Provide the app folder as appPath and an installer name as name, then run the script and test the generated DMG on a Mac.
Yes, in practice, because it is a Node-based module that runs from npm scripts. This requirement applies to the developer's build machine, not to people who install the finished Mac app.
Other packaging tools exist for Electron and desktop apps. Compare them by platform support, documentation, recent activity and license, and choose the one that matches your build pipeline.
Verdict
Electron Installer DMG is a practical, free option for developers who need to create macOS DMG installers for Electron apps from npm scripts. Its Apache 2.0 license and short, explicit API make it easy to understand. However, it has had no code updates since 2018 and is built around macOS output. Test it carefully, verify the download, and consider whether a more actively maintained packaging tool fits your release process better.