[Tick]

Growl is a notification engine that any app can use. Basically, we use distributed notifications sent from an app, and then these in turn display to the user in a uniform method (bezel and bubbles currently, others on the way.)

There is support for Cocoa and all of it's goodness. We also have Carbon, Python, Perl, AppleScript and TCL support. And we are always looking for more bindings, so if you program in say, C#, and want a binding, it wouldn't be too terribly difficult to make.

If anyone has questions let us know about it on the discuss list or here, I'll be looking at this thread too

[BrandonCorbin]

Have you thought about making it network-able? LanOSD is nice, I dont like the fact that you can not change the background, and its network is nice, however it sends it to anyone with LanOSD, it would be interesting to be able to target a specific machine / user. This could be helpful in a mac based business.

[Tick]

This is planned


I was thinking of something like xcode distributed build prefs, with a checkbox per host on rendezvous discovery, and perhaps allowing specific ip/hostnames as well if they aren't on that subnet, but we'll see how it goes.

[BrandonCorbin]

That would be killer! Has anyone integrated growl with the windows net message hack for os x? I could see this a pretty nice little utility for us mac users stuck in a windows office!

[Tick]

Link to hack?

[depolitic]

Interesting - Now - Imagine someone bad and not so nice like a add-ware maker could use the idea of growl - to selectively and remotely target advertising to the end user.

It was just the first thing that popped in my head since all the add-ware concerns Windows is having could growl be used in the same way -

Like you are using iTunes with growl and you get a Message like "get a bigger XYZ -click here and make your girl friend etc etc etc" - is this possible - ??? with growl or the similar idea to the growl concept.

How difficult would it be as a proof of concept hack?

Just asking.

[BrandonCorbin]

Originally posted by Tick:
Link to hack?

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21240

Its called MacXPop, its not the most graceful looking, it basicaly does an alert call to the system...

[Tick]

Originally posted by depolitic:
Interesting - Now - Imagine someone bad and not so nice like a add-ware maker could use the idea of growl - to selectively and remotely target advertising to the end user.

It was just the first thing that popped in my head since all the add-ware concerns Windows is having could growl be used in the same way -

Like you are using iTunes with growl and you get a Message like "get a bigger XYZ -click here and make your girl friend etc etc etc" - is this possible - ??? with growl or the similar idea to the growl concept.

How difficult would it be as a proof of concept hack?

Just asking.

Remember how I said I'd want something like the xcode distributed prefs? Remember how everthing is off by default?

[depolitic]

the question is not so much if growl can do it - however if add-ware writers could use the growl concept - to implement add-ware on os x.

Then other option is for the add-ware writer to access the growl plist file reset permission in its favor and open the flood gates.

With all the focus on windows viruses and add-ware - I have developed a morbid curiosity about writing such things for the mac - to see who is telling the truth Apple or the MS drones - on the question of OS security.

however not having the skill or inclination it will remain a morbid curiosity.

[resImadA]

Originally posted by depolitic:
Like you are using iTunes with growl and you get a Message like "get a bigger XYZ -click here and make your girl friend etc etc etc" - is this possible - ???

No, with properly designed and maintained software it is not

Originally posted by depolitic:
the question is not so much if growl can do it - however if add-ware writers could use the growl concept - to implement add-ware on os x.

They could not.

Remotely, properly designed and coded software would not allow this to happen. Locally, it would provide no advantages to the malicious application over throwing up a regular window using standard system calls.

The issue with adware is not with how it displays the advertisements, but with how it works its way onto (and hides within) machines without the users permission. Successful adware is easy to acquire and difficult to remove. A program such as growl will not effect the acquirability or removability of adware.