Quick Look Plugins

To enable different files to work with Mac Quicklook.

• The following Quick Look Plugins are going to be installed:

  1. qlcolorcode - Preview source code files with syntax highlighting
  2. qlstephen - Preview plain text files without a file extension. Example: README, CHANGELOG, etc.
  3. qlmarkdown - Preview Markdown files
  4. quicklook-json - Preview JSON files
  5. quicklook-csv - Preview CSV files
  6. betterzipql - Preview archives
  7. qlimagesize - Display image size and resolution
  8. webpquicklook - Preview WebP images
  9. suspicious-package - Preview the contents of a standard Apple installer package
  10. quicklookase - Preview ASE files (Adobe Swatch Exchange)
  11. qlvideo - Preview most types of video files, as well as their thumbnails, cover art and metadata
  12. provisionql - Preview iOS / OS X app and provision information
  13. quicklookapk - Preview Android APK files

• Some of the quick look plugins are installed in /Library/QuickLook instead of ~/Library/QuickLook when you are using Homebrew Cask so that it will affect all users on the same Mac

• If you don't care about the inconsistent installation location and want to install all qucik look plugins as fast as possible, choose Installation using Homebrew Cask below

• Instead, if u want to restrict the quicklook plugins affect current user only, choose Manual Installation

Installation using Homebrew Cask

Homebrew Cask is required to install the quick look plugins in a friendly homebrew-style CLI way.

• To install Homebrew Cask, type the followings in Terminal:

  brew tap caskroom/cask
  

• Then type this in Terminal:

  brew cask audit
  

• You should see this output:

  ==> Creating Caskroom at /usr/local/Caskroom
  ==> We'll set permissions properly so we won't need sudo in the future
  Password:
  

• Type in your Mac user password to proceed.
• To install all quick look plugins at once (except suspicious-package), type this in Terminal:

  brew cask install qlcolorcode qlstephen qlmarkdown quicklook-json quicklook-csv betterzipql qlimagesize webpquicklook quicklookase qlvideo provisionql quicklookapk
  

Suspicious Package

• Visits www.mothersruin.com/software/SuspiciousPackage

• Download the disk image SuspiciousPackage.dmg

• Open the the disk image and drag Suspicious Package to your Applications folder

• Then run the Suspicious Package for once

• To verify if the quick look plugin is loaded successfully:

  qlmanage -m | grep Suspicious
  

• You should able to see the output like these:

  com.mothersruin.installer-flat-package -> /Applications/Suspicious Package.app/Contents/Library/QuickLook/Suspicious Package.qlgenerator (241)
    com.apple.installer-meta-package -> /Applications/Suspicious Package.app/Contents/Library/QuickLook/Suspicious Package.qlgenerator (241)
    com.apple.installer-package -> /Applications/Suspicious Package.app/Contents/Library/QuickLook/Suspicious Package.qlgenerator (241)
    com.mothersruin.installer-bom-file -> /Applications/Suspicious Package.app/Contents/Library/QuickLook/Suspicious Package.qlgenerator (241)
    com.apple.installer-package-archive -> /Applications/Suspicious Package.app/Contents/Library/QuickLook/Suspicious Package.qlgenerator (241)
  

Manual Installation

• Prerequisite for qlcolorcode

  • Install highlight and set path for QLColorCode

    brew install highlight
    defaults write org.n8gray.QLColorCode pathHL "$(which highlight)"
    

• For all quick look plugins except suspicious-package:

• Copy the the quick look plugin file *.qlgenerator to ~/Library/QuickLook

• Then force reloading Generators list:

    qlmanage -r
  

References and Credits

• Homebrew-Cask
• List of useful Quick Look plugins for developers
• Suspicious Package usage