OpenClaw macOS app (dev + signing)

Quick dev run

# from repo root
scripts/restart-mac.sh

Options:

scripts/restart-mac.sh --no-sign   # fastest dev; ad-hoc signing (TCC permissions do not stick)
scripts/restart-mac.sh --sign      # force code signing (requires cert)

Packaging flow

scripts/package-mac-app.sh

Creates dist/OpenClaw.app and signs it via scripts/codesign-mac-app.sh.

Signing behavior

Auto-selects identity (first match):

1. Developer ID Application
2. Apple Distribution
3. Apple Development
4. first available identity

If none found:

• errors by default
• set ALLOW_ADHOC_SIGNING=1 or SIGN_IDENTITY="-" to ad-hoc sign

Team ID audit (Sparkle mismatch guard)

After signing, we read the app bundle Team ID and compare every Mach-O inside the app. If any embedded binary has a different Team ID, signing fails.

Skip the audit:

SKIP_TEAM_ID_CHECK=1 scripts/package-mac-app.sh

Library validation workaround (dev only)

If Sparkle Team ID mismatch blocks loading (common with Apple Development certs), opt in:

DISABLE_LIBRARY_VALIDATION=1 scripts/package-mac-app.sh

This adds com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation to app entitlements. Use for local dev only; keep off for release builds.

Useful env flags

• SIGN_IDENTITY="Apple Development: Your Name (TEAMID)"
• ALLOW_ADHOC_SIGNING=1 (ad-hoc, TCC permissions do not persist)
• CODESIGN_TIMESTAMP=off (offline debug)
• DISABLE_LIBRARY_VALIDATION=1 (dev-only Sparkle workaround)
• SKIP_TEAM_ID_CHECK=1 (bypass audit)

Source: apps/macos/README.md