There are a few things to consider, when it comes to producing a setup. - should it be simple or should it have a certain set of essential features - is J bundled as runtime or a full distribution is used for users to benefit from the installation - should J be used as a platform, like Java, such that installed once, the applications will just use it - regardless of installation builder, what would be the mechanism of determining what goes into the installation
Thinking of install features in order of importance: - install files, folders, recognize know lications like program files, etc. - create a start and desktop shortcut icons - offer browse for location to install - write registry entries - launch a program at the end of install - clean uninstall, but leaving new files and folders intact in the destination tree - detection of previously installed apps, version aware to uninstall oldies and refuse to install same or later versions - create a compliant entry in Add Remove Programs - offer feature selection - repair and reinstall with different features - license show and accept steps - conditional steps based on reading registry, etc. - extensibility to include a DLL to check product keys etc. Because of many of these considerations, a model of external professional (but possibly free) installation builder, with possibly a project for it generated by a J tool which will know where things come from, such as Project Manager, sounds more compelling than a quick do-it-all option, which will become very limited in real-life scenarious. A free install builder for Windows, and as powerful as it can get, because it is made by Microsoft for Microsoft (Office installs are made with it) is WiX. And it's released to open source, same as a few other good tools like WTL. In my impression, it can all what InstallShield does or even more with a command-line insterface and clear declarative XML specification. WiX home http://wix.sourceforge.net/index.html WiX tutorial http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiX Using WiX to create Windows Installer Packages http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/transcripts/windows/windows_110904a.aspx --- Geoff Canyon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > For me personally it's about the ease of dealing with a single file. > The development environment I've used most often in the past few > years is Revolution: http://www.runrev.com > > It is a wonderful environment from the standpoint of assembling an > application. I used to do a demo for them at trade shows where I > would build a single-file executable for three platforms (OS X, > Windows, Linux) while holding my breath. It takes about 1:45 to do. > In Revolution you pretty much say, "Make me an app," and it says, > "What platforms?" You check them off and you're done. > > So if it's possible to put together a single install that results in > a single folder that contains <whatever> then I'm pretty much > covered. A single file isn't really required -- just nice. > > regards, > > Geoff > > On Mar 25, 2007, at 10:03 AM, Devon McCormick wrote: > > > Geoff - > > > > when we discussed something along these lines at the NYCJUG meeting > > last > > month, we concluded that you might as well install the entire J > > application > > package; see http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/NYCJUG/2007-02-13 , under > > "Proceedings", the section "Installing J Applications". > > > > This has the advantages of not forgetting anything and allowing on- > > site > > debugging. Is there a particular reason you don't want to do this? > > Obviously > > this is a shared concern as a number of people have worked on ways > > to avoid > > installing the entire J system in order to install their > > application. I'm > > just wondering what arguments we may not have considered. > > > > Or is this more about the ease of dealing with only a single file? > > > > Regards, > > > > Devon > > > > > > On 3/24/07, Geoff Canyon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> Is there a way to bundle a J application into a single-file > >> executable? If not, how close is it possible to come? > >> > >> regards, > >> > >> Geoff ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
