Install Software

BrockVnm

Hey everyone, I am looking for software to create installs for an application. I am looking for something that is free or open-source for personal or commercial use. Does anyone know of any good software to create installs? Thanks! :-D

We shouldn't assume something's debugged just because everyone in the whole world has access to the source code.

Indivara

I've used NSIS[^] and found it lightweight and customizable. Haven't built anything complicated though... - Indivara

"...This city desert makes you feel so cold. It's got so many people but it's got no soul..." - Gerry Rafferty, Baker Street

Jeremy Falcon

http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php[^] Jeremy Falcon

Jim Crafton

This comes up from time to time, and I'll second Jeremy's link - Inno Setup is superb. I use it for the VCF with a script that handles over 1200 files, plus deals with custom code in the installer through it's ObjectPascal script language to do stuff like register environment variables, checks for which version of Visual Studio is installed, etc. One of the cool things about it, is that you can include an existing script into another one. I use this feature to dynamically create a source code listing script that just contains the list of source files to install (like .cpp/.h, etc), and then include this inside the master script for the installer. ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF!

BrockVnm

Are the scripts easy to write? How does the scripting languag work?

We shouldn't assume something's debugged just because everyone in the whole world has access to the source code.

BrockVnm

When looking at this I saw that I have to write scripts, is this something that is complicated to do? Thanks!!!

We shouldn't assume something's debugged just because everyone in the whole world has access to the source code.

Michael P Butler

I'll just add another recommendation for Inno Setup. It is a great tool. It only has one downside, it doesn't generate MSI installers. Most of my customers require their software to be delivered as an MSI, so the software can be deployed by Windows Group Policies. Michael CP Blog [^] Development Blog [^]

Jim Crafton

Inno scripts themselves are pretty easy, it's a text based language. However there are GUI tools that make it even easier - I use ISTool[^] in conjunction with Inno Setup. ISTool makes the installer script really easy to configure. In addition it has a little editor for editing the "Code" section where you can edit the ObjectPascal script to drive what ever custom operations you want. You can see what a complexe script looks like here: VCF installer script[^] ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF!

Jim Crafton

Given that the IS script itself is just text, and seem pretty straightforward to parse, I wonder how hard it would be to write an app that parses this and then generates an MSI file from it? What I remember about MSI is that it seemed insanely complicated to deal with at a low level so maybe this is why no one has attempted this. ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF!

peterchen

...again Just in case: Don't use Installshield - it's neither free nor open source, but I have to say it

Pandoras Gift #44: Hope. The one that keeps you on suffering.
aber.. "Wie gesagt, der Scheiss is' Therapie"
boost your code || Fold With Us! || sighist | doxygen

rentzk

Does anyone have any experience with any MSI'ish installers? Our WISE Installation system installer we use here is getting very long in the tooth. Sales wants us to go for the little windows logo in our next release, which I believe means we need to be MSI compatible. We also need fairly complete scripting, as our installers end up doing quite a bit of behind the scenes work for updating older versions of our software.

Matt Gerrans

Check out WiX[^] (Windows Installer XML), here's a nice tutorial[^] for it, too. Matt Gerrans

Michael P Butler

rentzk wrote: Does anyone have any experience with any MSI'ish installers? Our WISE Installation system installer we use here is getting very long in the tooth. Sales wants us to go for the little windows logo in our next release, which I believe means we need to be MSI compatible. We also need fairly complete scripting, as our installers end up doing quite a bit of behind the scenes work for updating older versions of our software. I currently use Installshield to build my MSI's. It is a pain in the arse[^] to use, especially for complicated installs. I haven't used WISE in a few years but people tell me it is slightly better than Installshield. I'm currently investigating the WIX toolkit[^] as an alternative. Michael CP Blog [^] Development Blog [^]

Rage

... definitely :-D ~RaGE();

Lost User

I have only used it for simple installations but it does what it promises. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D

Lost User

Inno Setup, it is good for the simple installs I've needed so far. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D

BrockVnm

Thanks for all of your input. I will be looking at all software that you all recommended. Thanks again!!

We shouldn't assume something's debugged just because everyone in the whole world has access to the source code.

peterchen

One problem: in Gemany, the name would belong to the soapbox :rolleyes:

Pandoras Gift #44: Hope. The one that keeps you on suffering.
aber.. "Wie gesagt, der Scheiss is' Therapie"
boost your code || Fold With Us! || sighist | doxygen

El Corazon

BrockVnm wrote: When looking at this I saw that I have to write scripts, is this something that is complicated to do? get nsis edit, another project, and use the wizard to write the script. But once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult to write the scripts. I always start with the wizard, then work from the result script to extend it. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

Ed K

I generally use custom actions to handle all my special needs during an install. Check out this article.[^] ed ~"Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -Frank Outlaw.