create-dmg is a command-line tool that automates the creation of professional-looking DMG disk images for distributing macOS applications.
The tool solves the problem of DMG creation, which is typically tedious and requires either purchasing specialized GUI software or writing custom scripts. create-dmg handles the entire process automatically, generating a polished DMG with a standard layout and appearance without requiring manual design work. It handles code signing of the resulting DMG and supports adding software license agreements by detecting license.txt or license.rtf files in the working directory, which will be presented to users before the image mounts.
Developers distributing macOS apps outside the Mac App Store should consider this tool if they want a quick, opinionated solution that requires minimal configuration. The tool is intentionally simple and does not offer extensive customization options, making it suitable for projects that accept a standard DMG appearance. The README notes that users must separately handle notarization of the DMG as part of the distribution process. The tool requires macOS 10.13 or later and Node.js 20 or later.
The project maintains a focused scope with no interest in expanding configuration options. Development activity shows consistent responsiveness to issues and pull requests, with straightforward handling of bug reports and feature discussions. The maintainer actively manages the project's direction by declining feature requests that would add complexity, keeping the tool aligned with its stated goal of simplicity and speed.
