fix(release) :: update macOS binary to Apple Silicon (#1488)

* fix(release) :: update macOS binary to Apple Silicon

Before `sqlpage-macos.tgz` was built for x86_64 and relied on Apple's Rosetta translation layer to run it.

As of macOS 26, [Apple Silicon macs no longer ship with Rosetta](https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=w5ngl9k2).

As of macOS 27, [Apple drops drops support for Intel macs](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/01/apple-tells-mac-app-store-developers-they-can-now-drop-intel-support/).

So now SQLPage ships arm64 tarballs to continue working on macs running in 2027.

* docs: guide macOS users through Homebrew installation

---------

Co-authored-by: Ophir Lojkine <contact@ophir.dev>

Author: 81reap

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
             target: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
             features: ""
           - os: macos-latest
-            target: x86_64-apple-darwin
+            target: aarch64-apple-darwin
             features: "odbc-static"
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # CHANGELOG.md
 
 ## v0.47.0 (unreleased)
+- **Mac users:** the downloadable `sqlpage-macos.tgz` now runs natively on Apple silicon (M-series Macs) and no longer runs on Intel Macs. Homebrew remains the recommended and easiest installation method. On an Intel Mac, [install Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) if needed, then run `brew install sqlpage` (or `brew update` followed by `brew upgrade sqlpage` if you already installed it with Homebrew). Open Terminal in your existing website folder and run `sqlpage` instead of `./sqlpage.bin`; keep your SQL files, database, and `sqlpage` configuration folder in place. Intel installations may build from source and take longer; see the [macOS installation guide](https://sql-page.com/your-first-sql-website/?os=macos#download) for setup and older macOS requirements.
 - Updated sqlx-oldapi to v0.6.57 to fix SQL Server fallback expressions such as `ISNULL($missing, 'default')` truncating defaults or failing for date values when the bound variable is `NULL`.
 - Fixed MSSQL `JSON_OBJECT('key': value)` expressions being rejected by SQLPage's parser, including when used in `SET` statements or nested in `sqlpage.*` function calls.
 - OIDC now checks both normalized request paths and their resolved SQL files against protected prefixes, closing authentication bypasses through path and clean-URL aliases. Nonce verification also rejects provider-returned Argon2 parameters outside SQLPage's fixed low-cost profile before hashing.

README.md

@@ -143,8 +143,9 @@ select
 
 ### Using executables
 
-The easiest way to get started is to download the latest release from the
+Download the latest release from the
 [releases page](https://github.com/sqlpage/SQLPage/releases).
+On macOS, [Homebrew](#on-macos-with-homebrew) is the recommended and easiest installation method.
 
 - Download the binary that corresponds to your operating system (linux, macos, or windows).
 - Uncompress it: `tar -xzf sqlpage-*.tgz`
@@ -172,21 +173,24 @@ To run on a server, you can use [the docker image](https://hub.docker.com/r/lova
     COPY --from=lovasoa/sqlpage:main /usr/local/bin/sqlpage /usr/local/bin/sqlpage
     ``` 
 
-We provide compiled binaries only for the x86_64 architecture, but provide docker images for other architectures, including arm64 and armv7. If you want to run SQLPage on a Raspberry Pi or 
+We provide release binaries for Linux and Windows on x86_64, and macOS on Apple silicon (arm64). Intel Mac users should use [Homebrew](#on-macos-with-homebrew). We also provide docker images for arm64 and armv7. If you want to run SQLPage on a Raspberry Pi or
 a cheaper ARM cloud instance, using the docker image is the easiest way to do it.
 
 ### Hosting
 
 For managed SQLPage hosting, use [DataPage](https://datapage.app). To run SQLPage yourself on a VPS, [Hostinger](https://www.hostg.xyz/aff_c?offer_id=815&aff_id=243720&url_id=6808) is another option; this is an affiliate link, so we receive a small commission if you buy through it.
 
-### On Mac OS, with homebrew
+### On macOS, with Homebrew
 
-An alternative for Mac OS users is to use [SQLPage's homebrew package](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/sqlpage).
+[SQLPage's Homebrew package](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/sqlpage) is the recommended way to install SQLPage on macOS, including Intel Macs.
 
-- [Install homebrew](https://brew.sh/)
+- [Install Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) and follow the installer's instructions to add `brew` to your PATH.
 - In a terminal, run the following commands:
   - `brew install sqlpage`
 
+To update an existing Homebrew installation, run `brew update` followed by `brew upgrade sqlpage`.
+Run `sqlpage` from your website folder. If you previously downloaded `sqlpage.bin`, use `sqlpage` instead of `./sqlpage.bin`; your website files and configuration stay in place.
+Intel Macs may need to build from source. See the [macOS installation guide](https://sql-page.com/your-first-sql-website/?os=macos#download) for details and older macOS requirements.
 
 ### ODBC Setup
 

examples/official-site/your-first-sql-website/tutorial-install-macos.md

@@ -1,18 +1,33 @@
-# Download SQLPage for Mac OS
+# Install SQLPage on macOS
 
-On Mac OS, Apple blocks the execution of downloaded files by default. The easiest way to run SQLPage is to use [Homebrew](https://brew.sh).
-Open a terminal and run the following commands:
+The recommended and easiest way to install SQLPage on macOS is [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/), including on Intel Macs.
+If you do not already have Homebrew, open Terminal and run:
 
 ```sh
 /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
+```
+
+Follow the installer's **Next steps** to add Homebrew to your PATH. Then install SQLPage:
+
+```sh
 brew install sqlpage
-sqlpage
 ```
 
+Open Terminal in your website folder and run `sqlpage` to start your website.
+To update SQLPage later, run `brew update` followed by `brew upgrade sqlpage`.
+
+**Using an Intel Mac?** Starting with SQLPage v0.47.0, the `sqlpage-macos.tgz` download is for Apple silicon (M-series Macs) only.
+Use Homebrew on Intel Macs. If you previously used the downloaded executable, keep your SQL files, database, and `sqlpage` configuration folder in place and run `sqlpage` from the same website folder instead of `./sqlpage.bin`.
+If SQLPage is already installed through Homebrew, use the upgrade commands above.
+
+Homebrew may compile SQLPage and its dependencies from source on Intel Macs, so installation can take longer.
+Source builds require Apple's Command Line Tools, which you can install with `xcode-select --install`.
+Homebrew classifies Intel Macs as Tier 3 (limited support); older macOS versions also have restrictions. Check [Homebrew's macOS requirements](https://docs.brew.sh/Installation#macos-requirements) if installation fails.
+
 > **Note**: Advanced users can alternatively install SQLPage using
-> [the precompiled binaries](https://github.com/sqlpage/SQLPage/releases/latest),
+> [the precompiled binaries for Apple silicon](https://github.com/sqlpage/SQLPage/releases/latest),
 > [docker](https://hub.docker.com/repository/docker/lovasoa/SQLPage/general),
 > [nix](https://search.nixos.org/packages?channel=unstable&show=sqlpage),
 > or [cargo](https://crates.io/crates/sqlpage).
 
-> **Not on Mac OS?** See the instructions for [Windows](?os=windows#download), or for [Other Systems](?os=any#download).
+> **Not on Mac OS?** See the instructions for [Windows](?os=windows#download), or for [Other Systems](?os=any#download).