How to install ProvisionQL on macOS?

Download the latest release from GitHub, unzip it, move the app to Applications, run it once, and enable it in System Settings under Login Items & Extensions > Quick Look. This manual setup ensures proper integration but can be tedious for frequent updates.

ProvisionQL vs other Quick Look plugins for iOS development?

ProvisionQL is open-source and focused on iOS/macOS files, offering detailed previews for .ipa and provisioning profiles. Compared to closed-source alternatives, it provides transparency but may lack polished features or auto-updates.

Does ProvisionQL show app icons for .ipa files?

Yes, ProvisionQL displays app icons as thumbnails for .ipa and .xcarchive files, and the Quick Look preview includes metadata like bundle identifiers, saving time over opening Xcode.

How to check provisioning profile expiration dates quickly?

Select any .mobileprovision file in Finder, press Space for Quick Look, and ProvisionQL will show the expiration status and device count in the preview, making it easy to spot expired profiles.

Is ProvisionQL compatible with macOS Sonoma or newer?

ProvisionQL is built for macOS and generally works with recent versions, but as a Quick Look plugin, compatibility depends on updates; check the GitHub releases or issues for specific version support.

Can ProvisionQL edit provisioning profiles?

No, ProvisionQL is a preview-only tool; it displays information like entitlements and certificates but does not allow editing. For modifications, use Xcode or Apple's provisioning portal.

Open-Awesome

ProvisionQL

MITSwift1.6.4

A macOS Quick Look plugin that displays detailed information about iOS/macOS app packages and provisioning profiles.

GitHub

2.4k stars161 forks0 contributors

What is ProvisionQL?

ProvisionQL is a macOS Quick Look plugin that allows developers to preview iOS and macOS app packages and provisioning profiles directly in Finder. It displays key details like app icons, expiration status, device UUIDs, certificates, and entitlements without needing to open Xcode.

Target Audience

iOS and macOS developers who frequently work with .ipa, .xcarchive, .appex, and provisioning profile files and want a quick way to inspect them.

Value Proposition

It saves time by providing instant, detailed file previews within macOS's native Quick Look interface, offering a reliable and open-source alternative to other plugins.

Overview

Quick Look plugin for mobile apps and provisioning profiles

Use Cases

Best For

Quickly checking provisioning profile expiration dates and device lists
Inspecting .ipa or .xcarchive files for app icons and metadata
Verifying entitlements and certificates in provisioning profiles
Reviewing .appex extension packages without opening Xcode
Streamlining iOS/macOS development workflows in Finder

Not Ideal For

Developers working exclusively on non-Apple platforms like Android or Windows
Teams requiring automated, scriptable batch processing of app packages or profiles
Users who prefer integrated IDE tools and avoid external plugins for workflow simplicity

Pros & Cons

Pros

Instant File Inspection

Enables quick viewing of app icons for .ipa files and expiration status for provisioning profiles without opening Xcode, as the README states it provides 'a lot of information' at a glance.

Seamless Finder Integration

Works natively with macOS Quick Look for effortless browsing, offering a clean and reliable preview experience directly in Finder, per the project's integration focus.

Open Source Reliability

Built as a current and open-source alternative to other plugins, ensuring transparency and community-driven maintenance, highlighted in the project's philosophy.

Detailed Metadata Display

Shows comprehensive details like device UUIDs, certificates, and entitlements for provisioning profiles, providing essential inspection data without extra tools.

Cons

Manual Installation Process

Requires multiple steps—download, unzip, move to Applications, run once, and enable in System Settings—which is more cumbersome than one-click installs, as noted in the README.

Limited File Support

Only supports specific iOS/macOS development files (.ipa, .xcarchive, etc.), making it ineffective for general file previews or cross-platform development workflows.

macOS Dependency

Exclusively works on macOS and relies on Quick Look infrastructure, which may break with future OS updates, limiting portability and requiring ongoing maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

infer

A static analyzer for Java, C, C++, and Objective-C

Stars15,637

Forks2,093

Last commit2 days ago

R.swift

Strong typed, autocompleted resources like images, fonts and segues in Swift projects

Stars9,575

Forks780

Last commit1 year ago

SwiftGen

The Swift code generator for your assets, storyboards, Localizable.strings, … — Get rid of all String-based APIs!

Stars9,543

Forks766

Last commit1 month ago

XcodeGen

A Swift command line tool for generating your Xcode project

Stars8,497

Forks883