Pacifist

Pacifist is a shareware application for macOS that opens .pkg package files, .dmg disk images, and compressed files such as .zip, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, and .xar. The program displays the contents of these files and enables the extraction of individual items without needing to decompress or install the entire package. It facilitates the reinstallation of damaged system components without a complete operating system reinstallation. It allows the inspection of downloaded packages to verify their contents prior to installation. It includes functions to verify existing installations and locate altered or missing files. It examines installed kernel extensions to identify their origin.

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• Opens multiple formats. Pacifist processes .pkg, .dmg, .zip, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, and .xar files. The primary operation involves dragging and dropping the file onto the application's icon in the Dock. The contents are presented in a window with a tree structure for navigation. Searching for specific items within the package is done via an integrated search field.
• Selective file extraction. The interface allows you to select specific files or folders within the package for extraction. Extraction is performed to a user-chosen location, avoiding the complete decompression of the file. This function is used to recover components of applications or the system without affecting other elements.
• Installation verification. Pacifist compares files installed on the system with the original contents of a package. The process detects files that have been modified, damaged, or deleted after an installation. The results are displayed indicating the status of each file. This verification helps diagnose stability issues in applications or the system.
• Kernel extension examination. The application lists all kernel extensions (KEXT) installed on the system. For each extension, it shows information about the installer package that included it. It distinguishes between installers created by Apple and those from third-party developers. This information is relevant for resolving conflicts between hardware drivers.
• Opens files from URLs. Pacifist can process remote files without needing to download them first. The user enters the direct URL of the package into a specific dialog. The application downloads the necessary metadata to display the file's structure. Individual files can be extracted directly over the network connection.
• Inspects Apple installers. The application opens and navigates the contents of official macOS installation media. It allows the extraction of operating system files, frameworks, or built-in applications from these installers. This capability is used to repair operating system installations without resorting to a complete restore.
• Searches installation receipts. Pacifist indexes and searches the system's installation receipt database. The user can enter a file path to find which installer manages it. The search returns the package name and the installation version. This function determines the origin of a specific file on the system.
• Installs packages from contents. Beyond extraction, Pacifist can execute installation scripts contained within .pkg packages. Installation is performed from the application's interface, showing the progress. It offers options to customize the destination path of the installation. This function provides an alternative method for installing software.
• File comparison. The tool allows comparing two different versions of the same package. It shows differences in file structure and file content. It highlights files added, deleted, or modified between versions. This comparison is used to audit software updates.
• Checksum generation. Pacifist calculates MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 checksums for files within packages. The sums can be compared against reference values to validate file integrity. The verification results are recorded in a report. This function ensures that extracted files have not been corrupted.
• Finder integration. The application adds contextual menu items in the Finder for compatible files. When right-clicking on a .pkg or .dmg file, an option appears to open it with Pacifist. This integration streamlines the workflow without needing to launch the application first. Extraction can be initiated directly from the contextual menu.
• Displays permissions and attributes. For each file within a package, Pacifist shows its UNIX permissions, owner, group, and modification date. This information is presented in a details panel. Permissions can be modified during the extraction process. Viewing attributes is necessary for advanced diagnostics.
• Exports content listings. The application generates a text listing of all files contained in a package. The listing can include paths, sizes, and checksums. This report is saved to a text file for documentation or auditing. The export facilitates the inventory of software components.
• Support for .xar files. Pacifist includes native support for the .xar (eXtensible ARchive format) format, commonly used in macOS packages. It unpacks the internal structure of these files, including metadata and compression. It allows the extraction of individual items from complex .xar packages. This support is specific to the Apple software ecosystem.
• Analysis of pre- and post-installation scripts. The application can display and extract the shell scripts included in .pkg packages. These scripts are executed before or after the installation of the files. Pacifist shows the content of the scripts for inspection. This function allows reviewing the actions an installer will perform.

Development of Pacifist began in 2002 by CharlesSoft. The programmer created the application to solve the need to extract specific files from macOS installers without executing them. The first public version was released in 2003. The application is written in Objective-C using Apple's Cocoa APIs.

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