Another numpty Mac question - removing an application
Discussion
The application icon you see in the Applications folder is in fact a type of folder itself, though you can't access the contents through normal methods. A well-designed application should keep all its components hidden inside this 'folder'. So dragging it to the trash does normally remove the whole application.
There may be a small amount of detritus left in the folder Library/Application Support and a couple of other Library folders. Generally, you shouldn't worry too much about these, and if you do remove items manually you shoudl proceed with care. If you are paranoid, there are a couple of shareware apps (I can't remember the names, but AppZapper rings a bell - a search of VersionTracker will find them).
There may be a small amount of detritus left in the folder Library/Application Support and a couple of other Library folders. Generally, you shouldn't worry too much about these, and if you do remove items manually you shoudl proceed with care. If you are paranoid, there are a couple of shareware apps (I can't remember the names, but AppZapper rings a bell - a search of VersionTracker will find them).
The application *is* a folder, and you can see the contents of the application package by using the 'View Package Contents' context menu item from within the Finder.
It really is as simple as deleting the app folder, or moving it to the trash can... for most applications. Some apps will include uninstall utilities with the application, because they install daemons or kernel extensions. It's best to run the uninstall utility if the app developer has provided one.
There's a big difference in paradigm between Windows and OS X when it comes to apps - with OS X each app is a separate package and the app should keep all its components to itself. There should be no 'DLL hell' where an app you want to remove has installed shared libraries that are used by other programs. The config files (usually in the user's Preferences folder i.e. ~/Library/Preferences) should be generated on a per-user basis and re-generated if corrupt. There is no 'Registry' in OS X to get screwed up.
As a result, you can be a lot more cavalier with OS X when it comes to application placement (stick 'em wherever you want, in general) and removal.
It really is as simple as deleting the app folder, or moving it to the trash can... for most applications. Some apps will include uninstall utilities with the application, because they install daemons or kernel extensions. It's best to run the uninstall utility if the app developer has provided one.
There's a big difference in paradigm between Windows and OS X when it comes to apps - with OS X each app is a separate package and the app should keep all its components to itself. There should be no 'DLL hell' where an app you want to remove has installed shared libraries that are used by other programs. The config files (usually in the user's Preferences folder i.e. ~/Library/Preferences) should be generated on a per-user basis and re-generated if corrupt. There is no 'Registry' in OS X to get screwed up.
As a result, you can be a lot more cavalier with OS X when it comes to application placement (stick 'em wherever you want, in general) and removal.
Alternatively there is a shareware program that can be used to uninstall apps in OS X (Tiger), see: http://appzapper.com/
Edited by PinkPanther on Friday 7th July 22:05
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