Thanks once again. I downloaded the InnoSetup, it was simple to use with sufficient examples.
________________________________ From: Thomas Hruska <[email protected]> To: c-prog <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:36:07 PM Subject: Re: [c-prog] Proper setup Olufowobi Lawal wrote: > Thanks Thomas for your response. > > However I think your response answers the first part of my question. > > For the second part, I think what I needed was an installer. (just figured it > out) So I was wondering, which is best to use, because I found quite a bunch > at http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Installation_(computer_programs) > > Thanks > Lawal .O > Since this question of mine is not related to c/c++ , I hope it's okay as I > mailed you directly (pls let me know if it is not.) > (I'm a student trying to make the best out of this summer break) To answer your question: I like InnoSetup (www.innosetup. com). It is open source, free, written in some ancient version of Delphi to keep it small and ridiculously fast, works on ALL versions of Windows (Windows 95 through Windows 7), and is easy to use for most applications. It is most useful for quickly packaging a self-contained application (all files are in a single directory structure) that consists of only a few files. If you need to do something more advanced, IS has the ability to include Pascal code. But Pascal is an annoying language to have to know just for one application (I, and many others, wish the language was C++-like instead of Pascal...there is a project idea for someone). I've been tempted many times to learn how to use another installer when I need the more advanced stuff in IS. But then I look around and see all the other installers are STILL equally lacking. The question you should ask yourself is: How big is this project going to get? If you think it has a chance of being continually developed into a complex monstrosity with tons of Windows-specific things, then InnoSetup is probably not the solution. The major downside to IS (and all the other "flat-file" installation tools) is you will get people asking how to deploy across the enterprise. Enterprise tools use MSI for deployment. It is supposedly possible to wrap up an IS build with MSI and then deploy that but I've never personally done that - nor have I had to after letting the person know what installer is being used. If you need MSI deployment, then WiX is supposedly the way to go. It has a huge learning curve but it is Microsoft's "thing". -- Thomas Hruska CubicleSoft President Ph: 517-803-4197 *NEW* MyTaskFocus 1.1 Get on task. Stay on task. http://www.CubicleS oft.com/MyTaskFo cus/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
