`install`: display `Redownload is not available` error via stderr instead of via dialog (generalize to all errors for all commands)

[pandermatt]

mas install 406056744
Didn't downloaded yet

"This redownload is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user of the item was refunded or cancelled." Any way to fix this?

[1] 747 illegal hardware instruction mas install 406056744

[rodionovd]

Interesting, it definitely works for me:

$ mas install 406056744
==> Downloading Evernote – stay organized
==> Installed Evernote – stay organized

$ mas version
1.3.0

Are you able to download Evernote via the Mac App Store itself?

[argon]

mas install will not allow you to install an app for the first time, it must already be in the purchased tab of the App Store. Perhaps that is the problem you're seeing?

[pandermatt]

@argon I think thats the problem... Is there a way to install an app without first downloading it from the App Store?

[argon]

That is not currently an objective of this tool.

[argon]

If you believe it would be a valuable addition please open an issue to request an enhancement of the tool.

[arunsathiya]

@argon Just to learn about this issue, is this a limitation from Apple, or is this is something this tool doesn't support yet?

[conatus]

Hi all.

Thanks very much for your work on this.

I think it is a reasonable expectation for this functionality to be included. It was my expectation this is how it worked, like similar tools such as Homebrew and npm. It was a little disappointing the functionality was not as such.

As @arunsathiya asks, is this a technical limitation or simply something that you consider out of scope?

[phatblat]

@conatus AFAIK purchasing apps has never been "in scope" in this project. However, I am looking into #144 since downloading macOS installers apparently doesn't require you to be logged into the App Store.

It's actually incredible that @argon ever figured out how to signin (see #164) and install apps from the MAS because these leverage private APIs inside macOS that aren't meant to be used by anything other than Apple's own apps. I have some thoughts in #218 and may look into installing free apps some day. However, there are big risks with a non-Apple tool actually triggering financial transactions.

[phatblat]

@arunsathiya technically, mas shouldn't be able to install apps at all and its lucky that this hasn't broken over the years like #164 🙁

[conatus]

@phatblat

Thanks for the background. And props to @argon for finding a work around!

Though it probably isn't something they would do, has anyone reached out to Apple directly on this? I can imagine that for system admins that are administrating fleets of Macs such functionality would be useful medium term. So might be in their interest to open up these private APIs.

[Red1860]

Is it possible to install OS X installers old which have not been purchased from the App Store?