Hello everybody, Hi Bertalan, I just wanted to let you know about a recent project of mine: I called it EasyLilyPond, as it is meant for people who are not familiar with using computers and installing programs.
A few weeks ago, Bertalan made the suggestion to regroup in a single bundle all that's needed to work with LilyPond and LilypondTool. He suggested using NSIS to put it all together; I noticed it and then stopped thinking about it. About a month ago, since my laptop went down again and I found myself forced to use an old 600 MHz Windows box, I started using msysGit and, just out of curiosity, downloaded the whole GUB sources. I discovered that the current LilyPond MinGW installer itself was written using NSIS; this made me realize that it would be great to take it as a base for an extended new LilyPond installation, that would not only install LilyPond but jEdit and LilyPondTool as well. After having spent a few weeks working on it, I feel like I have a made a first step. It is still very buggy, but here are a few ideas I had: - Installs LilyPond using the authentic GUB procedure (slightly updated); everything is preserved, the PATH integration, the "use bundled python" option etc. - Installs jEdit editor, absolutely unmodified, just like in a standard installation. LilyPondTool can also be installed, with a few additional configuration files and examples. The user can choose to use the bundled (1.6) Java Environment; if he chooses not to, the setup checks for a decent JRE available, and if there isn't, another choice is proposed: use the bundled JRE anyway, or download and install Java "for real". - Installs Sumatra PDF reader, that is both lightweight and free as in freedom. LilyPondTool is preconfigured to use it. - Installs the EasyLauncher: a small application that is meant to give newbies an initial familiar feeling: a smooth transparent splash screen, a nice startup sound of piano music (the Free Software Song as recorded by Markus Haist, used with his permission). The Launcher provides an "easy" and quick way to launch LilyPondTool, open an examples folder, open the online Learning Manual, LSR, etc. - Installs (optionally) some skins: I have completely reskinned the jEdit interface, with transparent/blur effects, new splash screen and icons, customized colors and backgrounds to make it look a bit like the EasyLauncher. Those who do not like the green color, or my "happy little note" drawing, probably do not want to select this option :) - the whole thing (setup+Launcher) is fully localized (English/French only for now, but it's easy to add more languages). Besides, if a French user launches the application for the first time, he will see a translated version of the "Congratulations etc." ly file (with French explanations, \include "italiano.ly" and so on). - there are currently three predefined installation types: "Full", "Standard", and "LilyPond Only". - Finally, there's an option called "Offshore installation" that allows users to install EasyLilyPond on a USB drive, a bit like the PortableApps you may know. Unfortunately I'm having a pretty hard time trying to implement it, so hopefully this will be ready for a future version... That's about all. It is still a pre-pre-pre-alpha-beta-whatever version, plus it's the first time I code anything (besides LilyPond scores, of course). It was more about demonstrating some concepts than anything else. If you're interested in having a look at it, please visit the page on http://valentin.villenave.info/spip.php?article44 All suggestions are welcome -- and that includes the design ;-) Thank you very much, and a merry Christmas to all LilyPonders! Regards, Valentin _______________________________________________ lilypond-user mailing list lilypond-user@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/lilypond-user