[REBOL] [ANN] XpackerX - free packager for script based applications
From: luke::marmaladefoo::com at: 8-Feb-2003 11:48
Dear Rebol List
I've been lurking around for too long now - its time to put
something back for you all to enjoy :-)
If you want to just go and download XpackerX without
reading my preamble, goto:
http://www.marmaladefoo.com/docs/software/xpackerx
Software adoption issues seem to come up again and
again on this list. We all want REBOL to succeed as a
technology, but there are various barriers in the way,
especially in terms of competing with other technologies
(e.g. python) and reaping the benefits of a broader
developer base.
Some obvious barriers include (among others):
(1) some aspects of the licensing policies
(2) accessibility of platform libraries for the free
version (REBOL/core)
(3) the practical issue of software deployment
At the moment Rebol SDK and Encap seem to be the only
way of creating a self-contained executable based on
Rebol.
Not any more!
XpackerX is a simple deployment system for script based
applications on Windows. I wrote it originally for Rebol
(Core and View) applications, but now it is generic
enough to do Perl, Python, and many more.
You create an XML project script containing references to
the files you want to include, then compile it to create a
standalone Windows executable that you just distribute
as you would any other. On running, it unpacks the files
into a unique temporary folder and runs a command -
usually passing a script to an interpreter. When the
command finishes, everything is cleaned up to leave the
user's system intact. More information available on the
website and in the documentation. Sample applications
available for Rebol, Perl and Python.
Depending on the type of application and licensing
context, you can choose to package up the interpreter
inside the executable, or use one that already resides on
the end user's machine.
Currently the application (XpackerX Editor/compiler) is
available as a free beta version. In addition to the free
version, there will be a full version later on which has
extra benefits (user defined icon and splash screen), but
functionality-wise they are identical.
Hope you enjoy it. Any feedback is much appreciated.
- Luke Orlando
__________________________________________
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http://www.marmaladefoo.com
