On Jun 14, 2008, at 3:57 PM, Andrea Valle wrote: > Thomas, I do not know what Oliver is actually doing. > But just 2c: > - suppose you have a ConTeXt distro (the minimal) inside a mac app. > At the end a mac app is typically a folder containing different > programs/libraries etc > - suppose you are provided inside the app of an editor (say, > TeXShop) already configured to read in the app's folder. > > In sum, you have a TeXShop ready to go for the ConTeXt in the app. > > Then, you have a context distro working out of the box. > It can be installed easily. You have always worked with Word and you > want to try to work with ConTeXt? Download, drag and drop, open. > There shouldn't been configuration problems (they have been solved > while creating the installer). > If there are bugs depending on ConTeXt, as usual in case of an app, > the user has to wait for a next release of the app including the new > ConTeXt version. > (with a bit more expertise, maybe you can simply replace the right > folder inside the mac app) > This is indeed a limit, but the previous points can be pros for > another user. >
Andrea, I can see what you want, and from your POV, this is a reasonable demand. But allow me to explain why I see quite a few obstacles: 1. ConTeXt is cross-platform, so you'd need someone to take care and prepare this for widnoze and linux as well. 2. More importantly: yes, a self-contained app would work. But what if your user wants to use a different font? What if (s)he wants to use a third-party module or package such as tikz? bibtex? What it boils down to, of course, is how you want to use your computer. You're right: a mac application is nothing but a couple of directories with files and binaries etc. So in theory, you could have a minimal ConTeXt in such a bundle. But it would be a nightmare to maintain, to add stuff, to make it cohabitate with other packages. One bundle that does just what you like is lilypond. A wonderful typesetting application, all in one installer, not complex to install. It has been broken on intel mac for half a year now. Nobody has the knowledge or the time or the energy to fix it. Result? No lilypond for intel mac users. You know, I cannot stress too much how intensely I prefer my TeX installation. When something goes wrong, I can look under the hood, find documentation, configuration files, I can upgrade etc. I prefer to be able to change the lightbulbs in my house myself, and not wait for somebody to release house 1.1 with all new and improved lightbulbs. So I hope you see why I don't think a GUI installer is such a good idea. Thomas ___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki! maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : https://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________
