[SDK] Installer
[1/21] from: mattsmac:h:otmail at: 18-Nov-2003 9:11
Does anyone have any documentation on how to use the installer module of the
REBOL SDK? It is not included in the standard documentation as of yet,
unless there is a newer version of the documentation that I don't know
about.
Matt
_________________________________________________________________
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[2/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 18-Nov-2003 11:31
Hi Matt,
MM> Does anyone have any documentation on how to use the installer module of the
MM> REBOL SDK? It is not included in the standard documentation as of yet,
MM> unless there is a newer version of the documentation that I don't know
MM> about.
Hmmm. My SDK is a bit older...what installer module are you talking
about?
-- Gregg
[3/21] from: mattsmac:hotmai:l at: 18-Nov-2003 13:44
I dunno, in the documentation for the SDK it says
7. Creating Self-Installing Programs
Description to be provided in a future release.
See the Registry chapter for examples.
But in the registry chapter all it shows is how to change the windows
registry, not how to actually make an installer for the program.
----------------------------------
Hi Matt,
MM> Does anyone have any documentation on how to use the installer module of
the
MM> REBOL SDK? It is not included in the standard documentation as of yet,
MM> unless there is a newer version of the documentation that I don't know
MM> about.
Hmmm. My SDK is a bit older...what installer module are you talking
about?
-- Gregg
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[4/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 18-Nov-2003 13:26
Hi Matt,
MM> I dunno, in the documentation for the SDK it says
MM> 7. Creating Self-Installing Programs
MM> Description to be provided in a future release.
MM> See the Registry chapter for examples.
MM> But in the registry chapter all it shows is how to change the windows
MM> registry, not how to actually make an installer for the program.
Mine, from 5-aug-2003, have examples for updating the registry to do
what REBOL itself does for self-installing apps. If you want a real
setup/installer type application...keep your eyes peeled. ;)
-- Gregg
[5/21] from: maarten:vrijheid at: 19-Nov-2003 15:30
> Mine, from 5-aug-2003, have examples for updating the registry to do
> what REBOL itself does for self-installing apps. If you want a real
> setup/installer type application...keep your eyes peeled. ;)
>
Meaning that Gregg is building an install toolkit which will be
available somewhere before half december. You know, like Installshield
but then cross-platform.
--Maarten
[6/21] from: ptretter:charter at: 18-Nov-2003 18:29
Hmmm... I'm interested in a Good REBOL installer myself. Currently, I use
InnoSetup which is pretty good and free for commercial use. But its not
REBOL :( So I'm interested in what is coming.
Paul Tretter
[7/21] from: antonr:iinet:au at: 20-Nov-2003 12:55
That's such a tight schedule. How will he do it?
I'd like to see the design feature list.
Anton.
[8/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 19-Nov-2003 20:32
Hi Paul,
PT> Hmmm... I'm interested in a Good REBOL installer myself. Currently, I use
PT> InnoSetup which is pretty good and free for commercial use. But its not
PT> REBOL :( So I'm interested in what is coming.
If you, or anyone else, has comments about what they like (and don't)
about different installers, go ahead and send them to me (direct is
fine to keep clutter down here). I've look at a number, including Inno
and NSIS, but would welcome input to see if I'm on the right track.
-- Gregg
[9/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 19-Nov-2003 20:46
Hi Anton,
AR> That's such a tight schedule. How will he do it?
1) I've given up sleeping
2) REBOL
3) The features that make it in for the first release probably won't
make InstallShield quiver in fear just yet. :)
AR> I'd like to see the design feature list.
Because of the short timeframe, I don't plan to put forth any kind of
RFC on the design; the conversation would take more time than
anything and I can't wait to make decisions. What I'm doing is making
the best decisions I can (with input from Maarten and Gabriele) with
the knowledge that various pieces could be scrap if they were bad
choices.
If anyone wants to send me their thoughts, I'd more than welcome them;
I just can't take too much time discussing things.
Hopefully it will be a good starting point, or at least we can learn
from my mistakes.
Great to know that people are interested though! I'm very excited
about it myself.
-- Gregg
[10/21] from: maarten:vrijheid at: 20-Nov-2003 7:58
Hi Anton,
> That's such a tight schedule. How will he do it?
> I'd like to see the design feature list.
You can't, as the feature list is primarily derived from the actual
project: building a framework for a cross-platform Stunnel installer.
This will give a very good base dialect freely available. On top of that
Gregg / anybody else can expand and do whatever they want, as the
dialect will be delivered as open source.
Gabriele may be the first "other" user for the REBOL-based project I've
hired him for. Of course if you have a feature that you think is needed
you can always mail Gregg, but don't complain if it is not there in the
first release.
And of course if you want to help Gregg test the dialect once it is
there I think you're more than welcome.
--Maarten
[11/21] from: Christophe:Coussement:mil:be at: 20-Nov-2003 8:31
Hi Gregg,
An installer in REBOL ... mmm great idea !
FYI, there is a Frenchman who already wrote an installer
(http://etienne.alaurent.free.fr/rebol/tools/install-rimaker.r)
which I didn't use.
I personally tested:
* Setup2Go: (+) easy interface,possibility to add a passw to control installation
(-) slow interface, system events do not always work (reboot after install...)
* Install2Go: (+) interface
(-) slow
* InnoSetup: (+) lot of possibilities
(-) interface, not always clear
* Setupfactory: (+) lot of possibilities, S/N generation
(-) didn't find any
We use now Setup2Go for our software distribution, because the installation control by
password is a requirement.
If it should not, I would go for SetupFactory, or your product ;-)
This is a _very_ succint analysis. I hope this helps anyway :)
==christophe
[12/21] from: maarten:vrijheid at: 20-Nov-2003 10:29
Hi Cristophe,
Gregg will add (among others) windows stuff like generating an
uninstall, a registry dialect etc. That's why Etienne's toolkit is not
an option.
Thanks for the analysis, password protection can be handy, but is that
per user or per installer?
--Maarten
[13/21] from: Christophe:Coussement:mil:be at: 20-Nov-2003 13:35
Hi Maarten,
> Gregg will add (among others) windows stuff like generating an
> uninstall, a registry dialect etc. That's why Etienne's toolkit is not
> an option.
BTW, another very usefull feature is the generation of a shortcut (*.lnk) into the start
menu, desktop, etc... with the option to choose the profile (all users, particular user,...).
But I think you already knew this ;-)
> Thanks for the analysis, password protection can be handy, but is that
> per user or per installer?
IMHO, the two can be usefull:
* per user, if you want to restrict the distribution (which is kept into a central serveur)
by holding control on who is allowed to install, changing password when an installation
has been done - what we do. I this option, I should find _very_ usefull the possibility
of unabling the installer after a certain amount of installations - protecting it against
unallowed copies.
* per installer, for a sell-and-forget, when you distribute your software + the utilisation
rights - that is a serial number (see the approach of Setup Factory).
Just my 5 (euro-)cents thoughts...
Thanks for asking :)
==christophe
[14/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 20-Nov-2003 9:38
Thanks for the info Christophe!
-- Gregg
[15/21] from: greggirwin:mindspring at: 20-Nov-2003 9:57
Hi Christophe,
CC> BTW, another very usefull feature is the generation of a
CC> shortcut (*.lnk) into the start menu, desktop, etc... with
CC> the option to choose the profile (all users, particular
CC> user,...). But I think you already knew this ;-)
Already there; for current user or all users.
I have notes about including a serial number/registration screen, but
since we won't need that for this project, it may not be in there to
begin with.
We've talked a bit about the ability to build setup packages
dynamically, and remotely, so your comments there are helpful as well.
Thanks!
-- Gregg
[16/21] from: ptretter:charter at: 20-Nov-2003 13:03
Installers are almost a must for commercial software. The other major
project that should be undertaken is a REBOL based help system for providing
software documentation. Help system should be able to plugin to any facet
action. So that I can call a btn "help" [do %help.r] or have it already as
an #include
Just some more ideas to stimulate the community... :-)
Paul
---- Original Message -----
[17/21] from: Steven:White:ci:bloomington:mn:us at: 20-Nov-2003 13:26
>>> [ptretter--charter--net] 11/20/03 01:03PM >>>
The other major
project that should be undertaken is a REBOL based help system for
providing
software documentation. Help system should be able to plugin to any
facet
action. So that I can call a btn "help" [do %help.r] or have it
already as
an #include
I have tried two Q&D approaches to help.
1. Make the right-click action of a button call the "inform" function
to display a layout of help for that button.
2. Write the help in HTML and have the "help" button launch the
browser on the HTML help file.
Steven White
City of Bloomington
1800 W Old Shakopee Rd
Bloomington MN 55431-3096
USA
952-563-4882 (voice)
952-563-4672 (fax)
[steven--white--ci--bloomington--mn--us]
[18/21] from: maximo:meteorstudios at: 20-Nov-2003 14:41
sorry if its been asked before...
will this installer work for all of us or just sdk users?
-MAx
---
You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution, but in the end, being
part of the problem is much more fun.
[19/21] from: maarten:vrijheid at: 20-Nov-2003 21:49
SDK users, you'll need an encap.
--Maarten
[20/21] from: maximo:meteorstudios at: 20-Nov-2003 16:17
ah well,
<snif, weep, snif> :.-(
-MAx
---
This signature was intentionally left empty
[21/21] from: Christophe:Coussement:mil:be at: 21-Nov-2003 8:09
Hi Gregg,
Glad I could help you a bit ;)
> Hi Christophe,
>
> CC> BTW, another very usefull feature is the generation of a
> CC> shortcut (*.lnk) into the start menu, desktop, etc... with
> CC> the option to choose the profile (all users, particular
> CC> user,...). But I think you already knew this ;-)
>
> Already there; for current user or all users.
;-))
> We've talked a bit about the ability to build setup packages
> dynamically, and remotely, so your comments there are helpful as well.
I do not see what you mean by 'dynamically and 'remotely in this context - sorry if I
am slow here :(
Could you give an example of your thoughts ?
> Thanks!
Thanks to you for your work :)
==christophe