#131107 - 17/12/2002 09:20
Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
|
stranger
Registered: 11/08/2001
Posts: 47
|
Just gonna float this out...
I've been googling the newsgroups but I'd kind of like a real time opinion here as I can't find a clear consensus on which is better. My company would like to utilize the new MSI technology. The two big tools are InstallShield and Wise. Does anyone have any recommendations? Now I already have some InstallShield experience here but very little knowledge of MSI. In that light, I'm wondering which tool would help me get something up and working the quickest.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131108 - 17/12/2002 09:35
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: Burgin]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
|
My company would like to utilize the new MSI technology.
Does your company have a strong business case for this, or is it just an instance of management wanting to be buzzword-compliant?
Microsoft have been trying to get installation APIs right for years. They still (IMHO) haven't actually succeeded.
_________________________
-- roger
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131109 - 17/12/2002 09:44
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: Burgin]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 13/07/2000
Posts: 4180
Loc: Cambridge, England
|
I can't find a clear consensus on which is better
That would be because all installers and all installer-generators are hopeless, under- or mis-featured, quixotic, pigheaded and hateful pieces of software. If you have any hope or expectation of being able to produce an installer without pain, anguish, heartbreak, anger, fear, heavyweight profanities and considerable secondary ill-effects on your surrounding co-workers, you can forget that right now.
Writing an installer is usually considerably harder work than rewriting your program not to need "installing". Of course, if your program needs random third-party stuff to be installed (Win32s, Windows Media etc.) then that may not be possible.
Peter
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131110 - 17/12/2002 10:38
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: Burgin]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31597
Loc: Seattle, WA
|
I'm a long-time InstallShield user, and I have a lot of good things to say about it. But if I were starting out fresh today, from scratch, I'd probably be going with Wise. InstallShield has become top-heavy, which is (IMHO) counter to the whole idea of an installation program in the first place.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131111 - 17/12/2002 12:27
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: tfabris]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
|
Also, Wise is cheaper and will usually do what you need it to do. I use it exclusively. Sorry...no experience with MSI.
_________________________
~ John
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131112 - 17/12/2002 12:34
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: JBjorgen]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
|
I can't recommend, but you might want to check out InnoSetup, as it's completely free of charge.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131113 - 17/12/2002 13:17
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: wfaulk]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
|
Oh, and don't forget about the also free Nullsoft SuperPiMP Install System.
(It occurs to me that these might not comply to the Windows Installer standards referred to. I don't know much about that.)
_________________________
Bitt Faulk
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131114 - 17/12/2002 13:57
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: Burgin]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
|
Another program to look at: InstallerVise from Mindvision.
Bruno
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131115 - 17/12/2002 15:53
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: peter]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
|
Why do I get the feeling you have used both UnWise and InstallShield, Peter?
InstallAnywhere is somewhat better than either of the above, but it's still not without problems. I would recommend simple copy deploys where possible; however, where you need DLL registration and registry key insertions, it's not always possible.
The best solution is to install Linux or FreeBSD, really.
_________________________
One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#131116 - 17/12/2002 20:31
Re: Way OT, Installation Tool Recommendation
[Re: Burgin]
|
carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12338
Loc: Sterling, VA
|
_________________________
Matt
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|