Herb Martin writes:
>> I worry that Windows Installer packaging is not planned
>> at least now. Do you know any free tool for making .msi
>> packages?
>>
>
> The WinInstallLE (light edition) comes with Server for
> certain (I am unsure but believe it may also be on the
> XP CDROM).
>
> The Visual Studio (of course is not free) has an installer
> packager.
>
> It is my impression that there are others which have
> working free versions but I have no further information.
>
> The key point about MSI is that it allows for mass installs
> by Active Directory Administrators. (It's pretty good
> technology too, but not -- to my knowledge Open Source.)
>
Let me explain may position. Maxima build on Windows
should no rely on any additional software besides
Windows itself and packages freely available on the net.
Anyone having Windows and Internet access should be
able to build maxima without trouble. At present Windows
Maxima build requires:
1. msys, mingw and some msys packages as compiler/linker
2. starkit as tcl/tk wrapper
3. gnuplot
Thus Visual Studio based solution will not do as the only solution.
We can't require extra software which costs hundreds of dollars
just to build Maxima on Windows. WiX is probably OK.
It is free, it doesn't require any additional software.
Votive (WiX's user-fiendly project designer)
is Visual Studio plug-in but the project it
produces can be processed by freely available WiX.
But honestly now I'm not ready to switch to WiX
completely. For forthcoming Maxima 5.9.4 I plan to provide
traditional Inno Setup installers. If anyone volunteer
to make any kind of .msi packagin as alternative
this will be great.
Best wishes,
Vadim
--
Vadim V. Zhytnikov
<vvzhy at mail.ru>
<vvzhy at netorn.ru>