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skillSYMS for Mac

Install skillSYMS Desktop on macOS 11 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel: a DMG signed with skillSYMS's Apple Developer ID and notarised by Apple (from version 1.3.3), with a machine-wide policy file for managed Macs.

Checking the latest release…

System requirements

  • macOS 11 Big Sur or later
  • Apple Silicon (M1 and newer) or Intel processor
  • 300 MB of free disk space

Installing

File names below show version 1.0.0; use the name of the file you downloaded.

DMG

Open the DMG and drag skillSYMS into Applications. From version 1.3.3 the app is signed with skillSYMS's Apple Developer ID and notarised by Apple, so macOS opens it without asking you to override anything. Versions before 1.3.3 were not signed: if macOS says it cannot verify the developer, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway, then update.

Managed Macs (Jamf, Kandji, Mosyle)

Deploy the skillSYMS.app from the DMG to /Applications with your MDM, and push the policy file below. No PKG installer ships yet. The Developer ID team is 6K2X5QT54X if your MDM allow-lists by team.

Check the signature and the download

codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 /Applications/skillSYMS.app
spctl --assess --type execute --verbose /Applications/skillSYMS.app
shasum -a 256 ~/Downloads/skillSYMS_*.dmg

Pre-configure every computer

Place a policy file at /Library/Application Support/skillSYMS/policy.json. Every user who opens skillSYMS on that computer is taken straight to your organisation, and the device registers as institution-managed. 

{
  "tenant": "odi",
  "release_channel": "stable",
  "auto_update": true,
  "autostart": false
}
tenant
Your organisation code. The app skips the "Enter organisation code" step.
release_channel
stable, early_access or beta. Your organisation's device policy can still cap it.
auto_update
false stops the app installing updates by itself. Mandatory security updates are still required before use.
autostart
Start skillSYMS in the tray when the user signs in to the computer.
kiosk, kiosk_path, kiosk_idle_minutes
From 1.2: a shared campus computer. Full screen on kiosk_path (default /learner), no tray or window controls, and the web session is wiped after the idle minutes (default 5).

Step-by-step: deploying skillSYMS Desktop. Offline working (registers, logbook entries and evidence) is available from version 1.1 once your organisation switches it on — see offline working. Exam lockdown and USB export controls are not part of skillSYMS Desktop.

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