Hi everyone, one short and simple question…
Can i build an ARM desktop app on an older x86 Macbook?
As long as its new enough to run new or recent enough Xojo to offer Arm build then yes.
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Thanks Björn,
yes, my Macbook can run the latest Xojo release and build the app. I can also run the built app on my computer with no problems.
I was asking because i build this desktop app for a customer, but he gets an error, something about “this application is damaged”.
So my first idea was, that i couldn’t build for ARM Macs. By the way, i was using “Universal” architecture. Maybe thats wrong?
Is the app/installer signed and notarized? That is non-negotiable outside of your own devices.
Edit: being a Universal build would not be an issue.
Ok, i don’t know anything about that stuff. I usually develop on a Windows computer. How can i notarize and sign?
Well, as far as I know, you will have to do it on a Mac. This means registering as an Apple Developer to have access to the code signing certificates. Also, on your account you will create an “app-specific password” granting rights to the tool you are using for notarization. Newer versions of Xojo have this built-in, and there is also an excellent third party program, AppWrapper, that has been around for years.
By the way, if you are distributing your software commercially, it is advisable to sign your Windows products too. Unless you are only sharing with a closed circle of people who trust you, marketing unsigned software is not a good look. 
Thanks, Jerry. Yeah, I know that’s still a bit of a sticking point—the fact that I’m distributing unsigned Windows apps. It’s definitely a project for this year. 
So does that mean there’s a chance we could get the Mac app signed relatively quickly? I’ll look into it again tomorrow.
Revert that to ARM64; in the last released Tahoe (26r4.1), if you run an Intel App, you will get a Notification. The App runs, but now you know that in macOS 27 your Intel Application will be rejected.
I learn that because I forget to set to ARM64 before compiling in Tahoe (after a simple change in the project). I loved that new way to advertise the changes.
I the Macintosh IIfx times, Applications crashes while Apple advertized to developers what to do far before in time. Microsoft applications were in the list… (and they told me I “had the last version” until I told them the used computer: they gave me a non protect set of application who worked fine - the problem was not the copy pr-otection sheme/implementation).
Back to your problem:
you need to get an ARM computer to test your application: the sooner, the better. IMHO.
He’s making a Universal build.
The OS will not complain about those not running in a future version of macOS.
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