From its introduction in Leopard in 2006, some were predicting no good would come of it. From 2012 it became important with Gatekeeper, then came notarization in 2018.
ad hoc
Testing at the command line, with What’s Your Sign?, and according to the requirements of the signature.
How to perform ad hoc signing, signing with a personal certificate, and set signing up in Xcode.
How can you create your own personal certificate suitable for signing your apps? Uses Certificate Assistant, and free of cost.
Should you use ad hoc signing, or make your own personal certificate? Why would you want to sign a script or app you have made?
The Eclectic Light Company 