diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-update-cycle.yml b/.github/workflows/test-update-cycle.yml
index dfaeb64..2a1639e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-update-cycle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-update-cycle.yml
@@ -10,13 +10,20 @@ on: [push]
 jobs:
   build:
 
-    runs-on: windows-latest
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
+        os: [macos-latest, windows-latest]
         # for supported versions see https://devguide.python.org/versions/
         python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
 
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions#jobsjob_idstepsshell
+        shell: pwsh  # use PowerShell Core, also on macOS
+
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
@@ -32,51 +39,60 @@ jobs:
       run: ruff --output-format=github .
     - name: identify powershell version
       run: $PSVersionTable  # or $PSVersionTable.PSEdition
-    - name: add src to python path
-      run: Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "PYTHONPATH=$Env:PYTHONPATH;.\src"
-    - run: $Env:PYTHONPATH
+      # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/contexts#runner-context
+    - name: specify app directories for Windows
+      if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+      run: |
+        # make directories accessible as environment variables in subsequent steps
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR=$env:LOCALAPPDATA/Programs/my_app"
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "MYAPP_TARGETS_DIR=$env:LOCALAPPDATA/my_app/update_cache/targets"
+        # add src directory to python path
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "PYTHONPATH=$Env:PYTHONPATH;./src"
+    - name: specify app directories for macOS
+      if: runner.os == 'macOS'
+      run: |
+        # make directories accessible as environment variables in subsequent steps
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR=$HOME/Applications/my_app"
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "MYAPP_TARGETS_DIR=$HOME/Library/my_app/update_cache/targets"
+        # add src directory to python path
+        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "PYTHONPATH=$Env:PYTHONPATH:./src"
     - name: initialize tufup repository
       run: python repo_init.py
     - name: create my_app v1.0 bundle using pyinstaller
-      run: cmd.exe /c .\create_pyinstaller_bundle_win.bat
+      run: pyinstaller "main.spec" --clean -y --distpath "temp_my_app/dist" --workpath "temp_my_app/build"
     - name: add my_app v1.0 to tufup repository
       run: python repo_add_bundle.py
     - name: mock install my_app v1.0
       run: |
-        $myapp_v1_archive = ".\temp_my_app\repository\targets\my_app-1.0.tar.gz"
-        $myapp_install_dir = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\my_app"
-        $myapp_targets_dir = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\my_app\update_cache\targets"
-        # make install dir accessible as environment variable in subsequent steps
-        Add-Content -Path $Env:GITHUB_ENV -Value "MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR=$myapp_install_dir"
+        $myapp_v1_archive = "./temp_my_app/repository/targets/my_app-1.0.tar.gz"
         # create install dir and extract archive into it
-        New-Item -Path $myapp_install_dir -ItemType "directory"
-        tar -xf $myapp_v1_archive --directory=$myapp_install_dir
-        dir $myapp_install_dir
+        New-Item -Path $Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR -ItemType "directory"
+        tar -xf $myapp_v1_archive --directory=$Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR
+        dir $Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR
         # create targets dir and copy the archive into it (this enables patch updates)
-        New-Item -Path $myapp_targets_dir -ItemType "directory" -Force
-        Copy-Item $myapp_v1_archive -Destination $myapp_targets_dir
+        New-Item -Path $Env:MYAPP_TARGETS_DIR -ItemType "directory" -Force
+        Copy-Item $myapp_v1_archive -Destination $Env:MYAPP_TARGETS_DIR
     - name: mock develop my_app v2.0
       shell: python
       run: |
         import pathlib
-        settings_path = pathlib.Path('.\src\myapp\settings.py')
+        settings_path = pathlib.Path('./src/myapp/settings.py')
         settings_text = settings_path.read_text().replace('1.0', '2.0')
         settings_path.write_text(settings_text)
-#    - run: cat .\src\myapp\settings.py
     - name: create my_app v2.0 bundle using pyinstaller
-      run: cmd.exe /c .\create_pyinstaller_bundle_win.bat
+      run: pyinstaller "main.spec" --clean -y --distpath "temp_my_app/dist" --workpath "temp_my_app/build"
     - name: add my_app v2.0 to tufup repository
       run: python repo_add_bundle.py
     - name: run update server and update my_app from v1 to v2
       run: |
-        python -m http.server -d .\temp_my_app\repository &
+        python -m http.server -d ./temp_my_app/repository &
         sleep 5
-        Invoke-Expression "$Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR\main.exe skip"
+        Invoke-Expression "$Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR/main skip"
     - name: proof of the pudding (i.e. verify that install dir contains my_app v2.0)
       run: |
-        python -m http.server -d .\temp_my_app\repository &
+        python -m http.server -d ./temp_my_app/repository &
         sleep 5
-        $output = Invoke-Expression "$Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR\main.exe skip"
+        $output = Invoke-Expression "$Env:MYAPP_INSTALL_DIR/main skip"
         $pattern = "my_app 2.0"
         if ( $output -match $pattern ) {
           Write-Output "success: $pattern found"