Death to Extension Attributes is a repository dedicated to showcasing the stark differences between Jamf's Extension Attributes and Fleet's query capabilities. The goal is to highlight how Fleet can save time, improve efficiency, and simplify device management with single-line queries, compared to the cumbersome multi-line scripts required by Jamf.
If you're tired of managing complex scripts in Jamf and want a more efficient, scalable, and maintainable solution across multiple operating systems, this repository is for you.
- Extension Attributes: Often requires complex, multi-line scripts to extract system information.
- Fleet: Achieves the same results with a single-line SQL query.
- Extension Attributes: Only work on macOS, limiting your ability to manage other platforms.
- Fleet: Works across macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS, providing a consistent and unified approach to endpoint management.
- Extension Attributes: Scripts can be slow, increasing execution time and resource usage on devices.
- Fleet: Queries execute efficiently with minimal overhead.
- Extension Attributes: Custom scripts require frequent updates and debugging.
- Fleet: Uses standardized SQL queries that are easy to understand and update.
- Extension Attributes: Data collection is periodic and may not reflect the current system state.
- Fleet: Provides real-time, on-demand querying of system data in addition to scheduled queries.
This repository includes:
- Comparative Examples: Side-by-side comparisons of Extension Attribute scripts vs. Fleet queries.
- Cross-Platform Use Cases: How osquery can provide insights across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Fleet Query Examples: Ready-to-use queries for common IT management tasks.
| Use Case | Jamf Extension Attribute (Script) | Fleet query (SQL Query) |
|---|---|---|
| Get macOS Version | Multi-line shell script | SELECT version FROM os_version; |
| List Installed Applications | Complex loop & parsing | SELECT name, bundle_version FROM apps; |
| Check Firewall Status | Custom script | SELECT * FROM alf; |
| Cross-Platform OS Query | Not possible | SELECT platform, version FROM os_version; |
One of Fleet's biggest advantages over Jamf's Extension Attributes is its ability to run on multiple operating systems, providing a unified approach to endpoint visibility.
With Fleet, you can write one query and apply it across all of your devices, including:
- macOS (like Jamf, but more efficient)
- Windows (unavailable with Jamf)
- Linux (unavailable with Jamf)
- ChromeOS (unavailable with Jamf)
This means no more fragmented scripting approaches—just one language for all platforms.
We welcome contributions to expand this repository! Feel free to:
- Submit pull requests with additional extension attribute vs query examples.
- Report issues or suggest improvements via GitHub Issues.
- Share your experiences and feedback with the community.
Use this however you want.