v 0.12.0 does not open on MacOS 14.4.1

[Carl-in-Vermont]

Describe the bug
I have installed VocabSieve 0.12.0 using VocabSieve-v0.12.0-macos-arm64.dmg on a 2020 M1 Mac mini running MacOS 14.4.1. When I try to open the app, it appears on the dock, bounces, and stays on the dock. It does not open. No dot appears under it, and no window associated with the app appears. When I right-click on the icon in the dock and choose Open, the app bounces once but otherwise does nothing.

v. 0.8.3 opens without a problem.

Restarting the computer did not help.

To Reproduce
This happens with v. 0.12.0 no matter whether I double click on the app (VocabSieve-v0.12.0-macos-arm64), highlight the app and chose command-O, right click on the app and choose Open, or use the open command in Terminal.

Anki is installed, with Anki Connect. This issue occurs whether Anki is open or not.

Expected behavior
I expected the app to open and present the usual window.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: MacOS 14.4.1
• Vocabsieve version (if nightly, must be latest): 0.12.0

[juangf7]

@Carl-in-Vermont hope this helps: https://docs.freelanguagetools.org/installation.html#macos

Open a new terminal window and type the following command xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /path/to/app.app (replacing “/path/to/app.app” with path to VocabSieve app). This unquarantines the app and allows it to run on your Mac without being certified by Apple.

[Carl-in-Vermont]

Apologies for omitting important information! I didn't mention in the original report that I had run xattr on the app, before I reported the problem. When I do that now, I get the following message:
xattr: /Applications/VocabSieve-v0.12.0-macos-arm64.app: No such xattr: com.apple.quarantine

[1over137]

I assume something is wrong with the apple silicon build as it is on my own machine and signed ad-hoc. I'll probably need some help on this. In the mean time you should try to install the intel version of 0.12 which should still work as before.

[Carl-in-Vermont]

OK, I've now tried the Intel version of 0.12, and it won't open, either--before or after the xattr command. Interestingly, the first time I used the xattr command on it, Terminal did not return an error. The second time, the same "No such xattr: com.apple.quarantine" error came up. (It's possible that Terminal did not return an error the first time I used xattr on the ARM version, too.)
Anyway, v0.8.3 works on this machine. Is there any danger in using it?

[1over137]

Yes, new versions can change the database in a way that would cause older ones to not work properly. Downgrading is not supported at all, and may be what's causing your problems because older versions may be operating on newer databases which can have unpredictable results. Never downgrade without backing up and deleting your data unless you are prepared to handle database operations by yourself.

I suggest you reset all the data and settings and then run the 0.12 version again.

This can be done by navigating to:

Library/Application Support/FreeLanguageTools/VocabSieve

and deleting or moving the entire folder.

[1over137]

if it still crashes, find the log file at

Library/Application Support/FreeLanguageTools/VocabSieve/log/session-log-<date>-<time>.txt

Paste the content here.