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Geek Culture / Distributing Software, Which Format Is Best?

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nonZero
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 10:27 Edited at: 14th Feb 2013 10:29
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Hey everytwo. I'm having quite an internal conflict. The way it started is long and irrelevant and I'm tryna get back into shortening my overly verbose posts. So, with specific regard to freeware and donationware distribution formats on the Windows-PC platform:

zip/etc......VS.....msi/exe

In other words, archive VS installer or Self-Extracting Archive. Here's the pro's and cons I've already thought about.

PRO'S

zip
- Transparency: the user knows the installer won't do malicious things
- Economical for developers (no purchase of expensive install-tools)
- Easy for developers (no setting up a million events, etc.)
- Somewhat smaller file size.
- Can update archive with a single drag 'n drop

installers
- Can setup automatic dependency checks (eg DirectX)
- Can setup specific task (eg: keys to add to registry, cleanup)
- Automated process is simpler on users who aren't very cmputer literate

CONS


zip
- No automated process, user must know how to extract files
- Software must be 100% portable (not actually a bad thing)
- No setup events, software needs to run checks on first run
- Doesn't come across as very professional

installers
- Hassle with licensing sometimes
- Freeware ones seem to mess up builds a lot
- Decent install-maker software costs money
- Install-makers can be a hassle (not the most valid point I know, lol)
- Needs to be completely rebuilt for the smallest change.
- Some installers become outdated or have dependencies themselves

So, does anybody have an answer as to which they think is better? Any pro's or cons I haven't though of? Can anyone invalidate anything I've mentioned, eg "WTH, 99% of users could extract a zip file" or "Have you tried this freeware install-maker <insert link>?"

Thanks, I really value everyone's input. I want to be able to weight this up with more than just my perspective in mind.

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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TheComet
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Location: I`m under ur bridge eating ur goatz.
Posted: 14th Feb 2013 10:32
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You wouldn't believe how many times I've sent someone a 7z file, and they respond with "wtf is this file?". I then proceed to send them a zip version of the file, and they respond with the same stupid answer.

I think it depends who your target audience is. If you're targeting the average joe, I'd say use an installer.

One thing you haven't listed is an automatic updater system such as this one.

TheComet

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"ZIP files are such a retarded format!" - Phaelax
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Quik
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 10:34
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I would prefer a installer - and I use winrar regularily.. I would imagine a "silly common user" would be like: WHAT IS WINRAR??!!

so - from acustomer view, i have to say installer



Whose eyes are those eyes?
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nonZero
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 10:48
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Quote: "One thing you haven't listed is an automatic updater system such as this one."

Hmmm, I'd actually forgotten about that (for the second time, I was like wut? with PCTS when it started up, lol) looks like it's more or fully complete now.
Will have another look at it and see if its easy to use and works purely as a packager too (I know some people, myself included, who don't like running an installer that has to actively download - mainly bandwidth issues). Tks.

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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nonZero
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 11:17
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Well Advanced Updater is a nice app, but not quite what I'm looking for installer-wise -- at least not for these apps. Am aiming for something simpler and more-local. It's a great app for larger games and software that'll have major updates but for my use I mainly just need a very basic packager. Maybe I should try and just write one myself. I downloaded the LZM SDK and it's C friendly so maybe I'll get around to checking it out now.

Well, anyway so far the verdict so far seems to be "give the user something they can double-click".

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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easter bunny
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 11:21
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a good free installer creator is called inno setup, it's free and open source

There are 10 types of people, those who understand binary and those who don't
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The Zoq2
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 12:47
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Why not do both, the more advanced users could download a zip file, while the average joe could use the installer
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Van B
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 12:49
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.ZIP is handy when you need to send out updates or installers through email - for web downloads, an installer is usually better though. Most email systems will block .exe attachments completely - .Zip is not affected. Maybe installers inside zip files is an option.

I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more memes.
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nonZero
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Posted: 14th Feb 2013 13:19
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@MissJoJo:
Thanks, that seems to work. Fairly uncomplicated too.

The Zoq2 && Van B:
Good ideas. I think I'll have the installer as the main download and add "other downloads" or something that contains the zip file and a separate installer that just copies the directory tree to the desired destination. Should keep everyone happy that way.


Yay! Resolved!

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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bitJericho
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Posted: 15th Feb 2013 03:46
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self extracting zips aren't a bad way to go either. The common gamer would be used to those and would probably know how to handle that, as long as the default path makes sense.

I'd say a regular installer is the most foolproof.

Visit my blog http://www.canales.me.
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nonZero
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 09:32
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Okay, uploaded the first thing (well a beta-ish kinda thing of it) to Google Drive last night as a test. I've got the installer and the zip. Nice thing about Google is it displays the zip contents so the user should be able to view the readme.txt too, which means I won't need an auto-installer as I plan to add download and install instructions to the actual final products' zip versions. Google Drive is pretty nifty actually.

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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mr Handy
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 18:28
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Inno setup, just try it.

*** Merry Chuckmas! ***
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nonZero
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Posted: 16th Feb 2013 21:12
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Quote: "Inno setup, just try it."

I did, it worked great. Really is better than what I have been using. It's what I used for my installer version and prolly what I'll use for years to come.

"Quotes in signatures are just stupid, especially if you're quoting yourself" ~ me
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