2xExplorer Installer suggestion

[flexigon]

I like the new installer for 2xExplorer... but have you considered (or even heard of) NSIS? It's the free Nullsoft Installer (also used for Winamp).

The installer only adds 34KB to the package... which is way less than what the current installer adds (which actually doubles the size if I'm not mistaken).

Anyways... maybe something for the next release then
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/site/Comparison.9.0.html

[tmarkoski]

Everybody's a critc
You make an install that fit's completely on a single floppy and people STILL find something to complain about.
I'll certainly take a look at it but lets get some facts straight.
This setup does NOT double the size of the distro.

Inno Setup has a long history of top-shelf Professional For-Profit software companies using it. It IS a professional Open Source program.
So far it is the only Open Sourceprogram I have found any use for.
Most Open SOurce is junk.

NSIS can make all the claims about overhead it wants.
Unless it was written in assembler, it ain't no 34k overhead.

But I am very intrigued by and Iwill definitely be doing some in-depth testing.

[flexigon]

This wasn't intended as criticism on your work... I am sorry if it came across as such. I just wanted to point out that NSIS could be a good alternative.

Agreed... The current installer does not double the size, but it does add 380kb. I know for a fact that the Nullsoft installer does have an extremely small overhead (I use it myself for various applications), which indeed can be as small as 34kb. Moreover it is build up of modules wich can be disabled so that only functionality that is actually used is included in the installer.

NSIS is a professional open source application too and is used by many people and companies. Moreover it is considered by many to be the smallest and most flexible out there. I don't know if this is true (there are some really neat alternatives out there as well), but I do know it is damn small and flexible.

All I'm saying is: Just take it into consideration... I'm not going to turn this into a discussion. If you don't want to use it then that is fine with me (seriously). I'm already happy that someone is creating a true installer for 2xExplorer, no matter on which technology it is build.

In any case... Keep up the good work!

[nikos]

there was a guy that made a NSIS-based installer for 2x some time ago and I can confirm that the package was very small. Don't know about features though. My standard defence is that if you can't figure out how to install 2x then probably you have no use for it!

[flexigon]

hehe... can't argue with you there. Maybe the best installer is a self-extracting ZIP file after all then.

[tmarkoski]

This wasn't intended as criticism on your work... I am sorry if it came across as such. I just wanted to point out that NSIS could be a good alternative.

Agreed... The current installer does not double the size, but it does add 380kb. I know for a fact that the Nullsoft installer does have an extremely small overhead (I use it myself for various applications), which indeed can be as small as 34kb. Moreover it is build up of modules wich can be disabled so that only functionality that is actually used is included in the installer.

NSIS is a professional open source application too and is used by many people and companies. Moreover it is considered by many to be the smallest and most flexible out there. I don't know if this is true (there are some really neat alternatives out there as well), but I do know it is damn small and flexible.

All I'm saying is: Just take it into consideration... I'm not going to turn this into a discussion. If you don't want to use it then that is fine with me (seriously). I'm already happy that someone is creating a true installer for 2xExplorer, no matter on which technology it is build.

In any case... Keep up the good work!

No Offense taken.

A Couple notes on NSIS.

It most certainly is NOT a Professional level app.
I didn't see any For-Profit Companies on their list of users.

It's Open-Source which means it's not designed to be used by anyone other than someone who's willing to wade through miles nonsense included with the install.

Its Help is atrocious and and it doesn't even have an integrated editor/GUI for the developing and debugging scripts.

It's a good thing they don't charge for it because they'd go broke.

[flexigon]

I don't agree with you on any of the points you've put forward. I can understand though that you may find NSIS a bit akward in use after coming from Inno Setup. This is really a shame IMO, but then again, everyone is entitled to an opinion and I don't have any intention of changing yours.

As said before I'm already glad that someone is creating an installer... and because of that please do keep up the good work