Georg Baum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

> For the future I suggest the following:
> 
> - We have only one installer code base that is maintained in svn. If Joost
> does not reappear this will be Uwe's code. If Joost does reappear it is
> hopefully possible for Uwe and Joost to come to an agreement what to use
> and how to code so that both can work on it.
> - There will be a minimal installer that does only install LyX itself and
> nothing else for people who have everything else already and maybe still
> use a modem. The size of this should be around 9 MB.
> - Other installers that include more stuff or can dowenload it from the net
> will be made by Uwe (from the same source code) as he sees the need.
> - Modifications to LyX itself should only be made if there is a very good
> reason. If such modifications are made the installer should be named in
> such a way that it is clear that it is a modified version. The preferred
> way to include modifications requested or contributed by users is to
> discuss them on the list and put them in svn afterwards.
> 
> Georg

Well, I am not a developer, I am only a simple user of LyX. But I am interested 
in the development of LyX, and for what it is worth, I would like to add the 
following:

* The key word is customizability. One will never found an installer that all 
agree is the one and only installer to use. The solution to this problem is 
customizability: A user should have the opportunity to decide what parts of LyX 
and third-party software that should be installed.

* Ideally, there would be only one minimal installer (around 9 MB) that give 
the user the choice (by checking check-boxes) to 

- only install LyX itself and nothing else for people who have everything else 
already

- automatically download and install third party software that are necessary to 
run LyX or to use special features of LyX, such as MiKTeX, ImageMagic, ASpell, 
etc (these should not be inculded in the installer, the installer should only 
give the user the possibility to install these by downloading them from a third 
party web page)

- add some extra features to LyX, such as extra toolbar buttons that are not 
part of the default instllation

- automatically download and install third party software that are NOT 
necessary to run LyX BUT are useful anyway, such as JabRef, LaTeX2RTF, etc 
(these should not be inculded in the installer, the installer should only give 
the user the possibility to install these by downloading them from a third 
party web page)

* A second alternative would be to have two installers: 

- As Georg says, "a minimal installer that does only install LyX itself and  
nothing else for people who have everything else already and maybe still use a 
modem"

- A complete installer, that come with all necessary third party software BUT 
also include check boxes where the user can CHOOSE (by checking check-boxes) to 
add some extra features to LyX, such as extra toolbar buttons, and can CHOOSE 
(by checking check-boxes) to automatically download and install third party 
software that are NOT necessary to run LyX BUT are useful anyway, such as 
JabRef, LaTeX2RTF, etc)

The key word is customizability. Let the user decide what features he or she 
wants and install these if he/she wants, and bot install these if he/she does 
not want to.

Regards,
Andreas

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