How in God’s name is the latest 11.4 update 5GBs?!?!? (Or did I misread that?)

[GLKS]

How in God’s name is the latest 11.4 update 5GBs?!?!? (Or did I misread that?)

I’m a new user to MACOS - the update info on 11.4 is pretty sparse in terms of what it provides, so I’m pretty stunned by an update that’s larger than most OSs….
Can someone please explain this to me.

Thanks!

Graham

 

[mdgm]

Which version are you currently on? If not on the immediate previous version to the latest you'd need a combination update including all the updates. Though I'm not running Big Sur yet (I have one 32-bit app that I still like to use), so a bit unsure how things go with Mac updates these days.

 

[GLKS]

Using a new MacAir M1… so it’s a Big Sur OS already

 

[mdgm]

Well there are different versions of Big Sur 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.2.3 etc. Updating from the immediate previous minor version of Big Sur could well be a very different thing to updating from 11.0. Updating from an old version of Big Sur you'd need all the minor updates combined to be packaged up to install, whereas if it works like older Mac OS if you're on the immediate previous minor version of Big Sur you'd have a much smaller update size.

 

[GLKS]

Well there are different versions of Big Sur 11.0, 11.1, 11.2, 11.2.3 etc. Updating from the immediate previous minor version of Big Sur could well be a very different thing to updating from 11.0. Updating from an old version of Big Sur you'd need all the minor updates combined to be packaged up to install, whereas if it works like older Mac OS if you're on the immediate previous minor version of Big Sur you'd have a much smaller update size.

Thanks for the reply,
New device
Current OS: 11.2.2

I just can’t understand how this update is 5.73GB - that’s enormous!
- I took a look @ support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211896 & HT201222 which provided some info...
But almost 6GBs in the days of smaller capacity SSDs - I just don’t get it.

 

[fisherking]

not sure if it's adding 5GB or replacing 5GB... might be worth finding out. in all the years i've been on a mac, i've never seen an OS update (at least, the incremental ones) balloon the system size upwards. so, am pretty sure what it uploads replaces older files.

anyone know for sure?

 

[GLKS]

not sure if it's adding 5GB or replacing 5GB... might be worth finding out. in all the years i've been on a mac, i've never seen an OS update (at least, the incremental ones) balloon the system size upwards. so, am pretty sure what it uploads replaces older files.

anyone know for sure?

Interesting, thanks for the reply FK. I’m new to this... so, you’re suggesting that the 5.73GBs mentioned in the update could be replacement files - is that how it works with MAC OS?
I’ve also been scouring the Internet to see if I can find something technical which talks about the differences between how MAC OS & Windows OSs work - their different approaches to OS functionality & architecture...
I’ve fiddled around a bit with Linux & was really intrigued by how the OS works compared to Windows... where it feels like the UI is ‘bolted on’ somehow...
It feels like you can get ‘closer’ to the bare bones somehow with the Linux CLI...

I’m not an out-an-out / real nerd, but I am interested...

 

[Apple_Robert]

BS was 3.96 for my 12" MacBook. I believe it was 8GB for my M1 (I could be wrong on that one).

 

[chabig]

I just can’t understand how this update is 5.73GB - that’s enormous!
- I took a look @ support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211896 & HT201222 which provided some info...
But almost 6GBs in the days of smaller capacity SSDs - I just don’t get it.

This is just how macOS updates are now, because of this:

Signed system volume security

SSV not only helps prevent tampering with any Apple software that’s part of the operating system, it also makes macOS software update more reliable and much safer.

support.apple.com

 

[iOS Geek]

not sure if it's adding 5GB or replacing 5GB... might be worth finding out. in all the years i've been on a mac, i've never seen an OS update (at least, the incremental ones) balloon the system size upwards. so, am pretty sure what it uploads replaces older files.

anyone know for sure?

Based on my experiences, I'd say you're correct. I don't think I've ever seen an increase in system size after an update (or if there WAS an increase...it was too insignificant to notice).

 

[posguy99]

Interesting, thanks for the reply FK. I’m new to this... so, you’re suggesting that the 5.73GBs mentioned in the update could be replacement files - is that how it works with MAC OS?

It's how it works with pretty much any OS. Most of the time you aren't carrying around a list of binary patches and changing bytes in the middle of files. These files are signed.

 

[colourfastt]

Thanks to the OP's question, I have a better one based on my update to 11.4: How in god's name is the latest 11.4 update 7.14 gigs?"

I remember Leopard (OS X 10.5 for those who can't remember that far back) and updates were discreet bundles, e.g., Safari update, security update, video driver update, etc. Most updates were under 300M and reboots were RARE. Now updates are multi-gig and closing in on 10 gigs and not only require multiple reboots, they require an hour to more to install.

Apple needs to get its **** together.

 

[fisherking]

Thanks to the OP's question, I have a better one based on my update to 11.4: How in god's name is the latest 11.4 update 7.14 gigs?"

I remember Leopard (OS X 10.5 for those who can't remember that far back) and updates were discreet bundles, e.g., Safari update, security update, video driver update, etc. Most updates were under 300M and reboots were RARE. Now updates are multi-gig and closing in on 10 gigs and not only require multiple reboots, they require an hour to more to install.

Apple needs to get its **** together.

another 'why can't things be like they used to be' post. 🤷‍♂️

the updates are whatever they need to be, and the consensus is... files get replaced, overwritten... so you're not adding 7 gigs to your system.

also, none of my updates take 'an hour or more' to install, and one reboot does it.