Xenonsoft, South London, England is very pleased to announce the
availability of:
FreeInstaller, version 0.2.0
A software installer that can install Java and non-Java from a self
extracting archive. The software is **open source** and is distributed "as
free software.". Please read the LICENSE*.
The FreeInstaller software can be obtain from the FTP server:
`ftp://ftp.demon.net/pub/java'
or as a last resort `http://www.xenonsoft.demon.co.uk/software.html'.
The software requires the Java Development Kit minimum version 1.1.6 and
Swing also known as the Java Foundation Classes miminum version
1.1-Beta3. These are available from JavaSoft's web site:
`http://java.sun.com/products/'
*** WARNING ***: The software will __ONLY__ work with JFC 1.1 and
beyond, because this JFC release now features the new stable package name
`javax.swing.*'. The current version of the XenonSQL software expects to
find Swing under the package name `javax.swing.*' as in the JFC 1.1
and the new Sun Java 2 Platform release.
+++STOP PRESS+++
THE SOFTWARE WORKS with the latest JFC / Project Swing 1.1.1 Beta 2.
The installer works on UNIX/LINUX and Windows NT. However the Installer
does not create windows shortcut and add or remove registry entries.
The software was developed on a Linuxed/PC with Blackdown's 1.1.7-v1a port
of the JDK `http://www.blackdown.org/java-linux.html'
Please read the license file `LICENSE*'.
For installation instructions read the `INSTALL' file.
It may also be worth reading the `PROBLEMS' file if you have trouble.
The `FreeInstaller' is available as free software under the license
agreement ("the XPeL") that is compatible with the open source model. This
means that the software will remain free forever more. However, nothing in
the license agreement prevents the `FreeInstaller' from distributing closed
source software too. In fact, I, Peter Pilgrim, as the initial developer,
welcome this provided that the license agreement is followed to the letter.
If you want to contribute to this project then feel help and mail me.
RAISON D'ETRE
==============
After writing `"Xenon-SQL"' the database editor, and publishing it on the
net. I got many requests, about running it on Windows NT systems (and OS/2).
You see the version of `Xenon-SQL' only worked with UNIX, because I had
code that launched the Java interpreter from a shell scripts. I also had a
Makefile and a some more super shell script to generate, what I call, a
Java runtime stub. Of course non these Bourne shell compatible scripts can
work by default on non-UNIX systems like Windows NT. So I had problem of
distribution.
I had also coded by programs to be biased towards UNIX by using a malicious
techniques of back substituting the output of `env' (or `printenv') into a
system property. Ouch!
There had to be a better way of supplying software users on all systems,
which is what Java was designed to do, and also giving the users a better
method to configure there software. I wanted to create some sort of
standard method only to allow the software to be distributed nicely.
I had a brief look through the Java magazines, and there are "installer"
programs out there. The installer programs advertised in the magazines are
very professional, propretiary, and cost money. I had a look on the web for
a freely available Java based software installer, which had source code
available, which was supported actively, and one which did not restrict
your software distribution to point to it was worthless to distribute
anything with it. I did not find one that was available as free
software. So I created this mini project to create a professional looking
Java based Software Installer for "Xenon-SQL", and then expanded it for any
type generic Java or non-Java application.
NEW FEATURES
=============
o Strongly Object Oriented in terms of design
o Main Frame
o Progress Frame
o Pager and HTMLViewer pseudo custom Swing component
o Use of different `Installable' objects
o Creates runtime stub files shell script (UNIX) and batch script (NT)
o Creates and uses Self extractable archive
o Can actively supports Java Audio sound and other future multimedia.
o Generates an uninstaller script for UNIX and NT
TESTS
======
The software has been tested on:
Linux/JDK 1.1.7
Solaris 2.5.1/JDK 1.1.7
Windows NT 4.0/JDK 1.1.5
FINITO
=======
Contact the author at `[EMAIL PROTECTED]'.
It is __widely__ known that the author occasionally lurks around
Blackdown's Java Linux (`http:www.blackdown.org/java-linux.html>') mailing
list (`[EMAIL PROTECTED] ').
Enjoy baby bop.
Peter A. Pilgrim
Member of the Association of C/C++ User group UK. <http://www.accu.org/>
Sun Mar 07 20:53:07 GMT 1999
--
Del Segno Al Coda
Pete
Powered By
__
/ /= __ ___ __ __ __ __ __
/ /= / // |/ // // / // /
/ /__ / // /| / // _/ / > <==
/____/__//_/=|__//____/__/__/= Slackware 3.5
==== == == === ==== == ==
"... ,because Unix is the best!"
Peter Pilgrim <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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