Default Folder X 5.5.2: Big Sur 11.1 compatibility and a bug fix

Version 5.5.2 of Default Folder X is available. It works on Apple’s recent macOS 11.1 Big Sur beta release.

Amusingly, the biggest problem on macOS 11.1 was the new version numbering scheme that Apple is using for Big Sur. Default Folder X checks the OS version and had always assumed that if the minor revision number (the ’15’ in 10.15.7, for example) changed, it was a major new OS release, because that’s the way it’s always been in the past. Big releases like going from Mojave (10.14) to Catalina (10.15) generally require significant testing and development to ensure compatibility, so it just disables itself and waits for me to finish a compatibility update.

So when Apple went from Big Sur 11.0.1 to Big Sur 11.1 beta (with a version number change that surprised a lot of us developers), Default Folder X said “Oh no, it’s a major OS release! I don’t know what to do, so I’ll just be safe and do nothing” and refused to even look at the Open and Save dialogs. So yeah, redoing the OS-version-checking logic and making a minor functional tweak was all that was actually necessary to get things working on 11.1.

In the process of testing Default Folder X on the Big Sur 11.1 beta, I did find a bug that could potentially cause file dialogs to lock up for what seems like an eternity (potentially as much as 2 minutes), so that’s also fixed in 5.5.2. Because of that, you should update if you’re running Big Sur, even if you’re not using 11.1.

Release notes and download links are on the Default Folder X release page.

4 Responses to “Default Folder X 5.5.2: Big Sur 11.1 compatibility and a bug fix”

  1. Peter says:

    DFx is till listed on the not-working list:

    https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/big-sur-working-not-working-apps.2242312/

    I haven’t updated to 11 yet, so I can’t test and edit that page. The page can be edited and commented on by anyone. Should be moved to the working section if it is indeed running smoothly. I’m in no rush to update.

    • Jon says:

      Thanks Peter. Default Folder X 5.5.2 works well on Big Sur 11.1, but I unfortunately don’t see an Edit button on that forum post when I log in to MacRumors.com. Not sure what the issue is, but I’m not able to update the wiki post.

  2. Rafael Prado says:

    Interesting thing about Apple version numbering on BigSur.

    Was it really a kind of (obfuscated) major version? (considering BigSur had some huge security problems and Bugs justa as soon as it was released) and Apple decided to released that urgent new version, changed the major version, but keep quiet about that not to afraid normal users.. and would Apple, after that, keep going as aways? (e.g: 11.1.1, 11.1.2, 11.1.3.. etc)

    Or has Apple changed the way version numbers will be from now on to the future?

    Don’t need to reply, I don’t even know if you have the answer.. 🙂
    I am just commenting my thinkings.
    Curiosity of mine.. after reading your text with those version details..

    • Jon says:

      I don’t think there’s anything nefarious going on. Apple is just bringing the macOS versioning into line with what they’ve been doing for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and tvOS for quite a while. Honestly, it makes a lot more sense for everyone. The only reason they kept going with that “10.11, 10.12, 10.13” stuff for macOS was that it was originally named “mac OS ten” and they felt they had to keep the “10” in the version number.

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