It might be worth looking at InstantRails. It provides a single installation that installs (on Windows) Ruby, Rails, web server, mysql and sample rails apps ready to go. If I understand correctly this is virtually what you want to do I think (where your app replaces the sample apps). That suggests that what you want to do is at least feasible.
2009/3/5 Chris Kottom <[email protected]> > Hi David, > > Always tough to answer a question about how easy something's going to be > for a completely non-technical user. (Tech people tend to have a blind spot > in this area.) > > I don't personally know of anyone who's distributing applications like > this, so whether or not it's possible for someone to make such a model > simple enough and to make it scale. Maybe have a look at Bitnami's > RubyStack product (http://bitnami.org/stack/rubystack). Something like > that might take you part of the way to where you want to go, though I'm not > sure how you would go about wrapping your application code into the > installation package. (Maybe try getting in touch with them directly to see > if they do custom distributions?) > > > > On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 9:21 AM, David Nitzsche-Bell < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Thanks for the response, but my interest is not in *adding* an entire >> language, but switching to RoR. >> >> I want to know if this is possible at all, not just with this app. >> >> So the question is reduced to: >> >> Is it possible to develop a RoR app that someone can download and >> install all necessary pieces (web server, database, RoR, and app) for >> local use only without any technical knowledge? >> >> >> >> On Mar 5, 2009, at 00.54 , Eric wrote: >> >> > >> > adding an entire language with bells and whistles would complicate >> > your install package immensely. given your reqs I'd just plan to run >> > the whole thing in the browser and move it to .js and maybe a filedb. >> > >> > On Mar 4, 2:46 pm, Zonker <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I am consulting on a software project which is database intensive and >> >> the interface is web-based. Users can download an installation >> >> package >> >> which, if necessary, installs Microsoft IIS, some free Microsoft >> >> database server (I think it's a stripped-down version of MS-SQL) and >> >> then the HTML, ASP, and JavaScript-based app. It only runs on Windows >> >> machines and only works in IE. Oh, and it needed certain tweaks or >> >> patches to make it work under Vista; the version which worked under >> >> XP >> >> didn't work 100% in Vista. >> >> >> >> As one who appreciates standards and not being tied to one >> >> technology, >> >> especially browsers, and having seen the database design and the >> >> actual app in action, plus lots of insight into how difficult it is >> >> to >> >> maintain, upgrade, etc., my immediate thought was: it must be >> >> possible >> >> to do it better by adhering to web standards as much as possible >> >> (rather than as little as possible), break the dependence on MS >> >> products, etc. >> >> >> >> I'm a huge fan of RoR but still relatively new to it, but based on my >> >> readings (Agile Web Dev for Rails) and investigations, I thought that >> >> this app would be perfect for RoR. >> >> >> >> But, before I suggest making a switch which will take lots of time >> >> and >> >> cost lots of money, I need to know how easy it would be for anyone to >> >> take a basic office computer with just XP or Vista (or Mac!) and >> >> install all that is necessary: a web server, a database, Ruby and >> >> Rails, and the app itself? >> >> >> >> What would need to happen is: >> >> >> >> 1. User downloads my-app-install.zip >> >> 2. User unzips download >> >> 3. User runs install-my-app.bat or something like that. >> >> 4. User opens any browser and enters: my-app.local (or whatever) and >> >> the app starts. >> >> >> >> Is there a way to do this with a RoR solution? >> >> >> >> Note: This web-based app would only be run locally, not as a general >> >> website available to all. >> >> >> >> I'd be really interested if anyone has done something like this or if >> >> anyone has some thoughts on the matter. >> >> >> >> If I'm not being clear, please let me know - I'll try to rephrase. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Zonker >> > > >> >> >> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby on Rails: Talk" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
