macOS Kernel Extensions

Installing macOS kernel extensions with electron-builder can be done using scripts.

First, in package.json, make sure you’re building a package (.pkg) and not the default .dmg:

"mac": { 
  "target": "pkg"
}

Place your script and the kernel extensions in build/pkg-scripts, or define a custom directory. Note that the script must be called either preinstall or postinstall. Remember to use #!/bin/sh as the first line in your script. Also, your script must be executable (chmod +x <filename>).

An example script:

#!/bin/sh

echo "Unloading and uninstalling old extensions..."
# unload old extensions
sudo kextunload /Library/Extensions/myExt.kext

# delete old extensions
sudo rm -rf /Library/Extensions/myExtension.kext

# install new extensions
echo "Installing and loading new extensions..."
sudo cp -R myExt.kext /Library/Extensions/myExt.kext
sudo kextload /Library/Extensions/myExt.kext/