Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Moderators: Moderators, Lobby Developers
Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Is it worth the time to create a simple installer for SpringLobby? Or is the zip file enough?
It would just install springlobby to %PROGRAMFILES%\SpringLobby and create a start icon, nothing else.
I'm asking because atm should be able to easily create one as since a few days i have access to the buildbot of springlobby.
also when it has its own installer i would like to remove springlobby from the spring installer.
It would just install springlobby to %PROGRAMFILES%\SpringLobby and create a start icon, nothing else.
I'm asking because atm should be able to easily create one as since a few days i have access to the buildbot of springlobby.
also when it has its own installer i would like to remove springlobby from the spring installer.
Last edited by abma on 30 Sep 2015, 15:02, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: adjusted topic
Reason: adjusted topic
- Silentwings
- Posts: 3720
- Joined: 25 Oct 2008, 00:23
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
Imo worth the time to create an installer, because the chances are it will gradually become "the" Spring installer, and people will expect an installer. I guess a direct engine install will become something only used by developers.
I also don't see the point of keeping SL in the engine installer.
Both of these points though, only make sense to act on once the issues with SL not detecting engines & content files properly after auto-dl are well and truly fixed. I know they've been improved recently but idk if fully fixed or not - obviously its not realistic to rely on a newbie user to figure it out for themselves as the first thing they ever have to do.
I also don't see the point of keeping SL in the engine installer.
Both of these points though, only make sense to act on once the issues with SL not detecting engines & content files properly after auto-dl are well and truly fixed. I know they've been improved recently but idk if fully fixed or not - obviously its not realistic to rely on a newbie user to figure it out for themselves as the first thing they ever have to do.
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
Is there a way to customize the installer in such a way, that it autodownloads a list of games/maps on installation?
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
Also if it could autodetect and existing Spring install (something like Zerok stuff) could be cool, nope ?
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
If it's truly easy and fast, then yeah, but otherwise I'd prefer work be invested in improvement of pr-downloader with previous Python rapid features such as make-sdd and search/list packages (both via an API and CLI).
-
- Posts: 96
- Joined: 26 Jul 2014, 07:11
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
For clarifications sake, we are talking about windows, correct? OSX doesn't need one, opening the dmg and drag and drop the app is the preferred method.
Linux deb file might be useful though, but I suppose the distros handle that pretty well with their package managers.
Linux deb file might be useful though, but I suppose the distros handle that pretty well with their package managers.
Re: Installer for SpringLobby?
Correct.darklord42 wrote:For clarifications sake, we are talking about windows, correct?
It also excludes Steam and other distribution systems.
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
imo these issues are fixed, but not sure as i either couldn't reproduce the problem or fixed it when i could reproduce it. Thats why i need feedback :)Silentwings wrote:Both of these points though, only make sense to act on once the issues with SL not detecting engines & content files properly after auto-dl are well and truly fixed. I know they've been improved recently but idk if fully fixed or not - obviously its not realistic to rely on a newbie user to figure it out for themselves as the first thing they ever have to do.
thats not planned, imo repack the installer / create a new installer which contains these files... also its already possible to create an ingame-menu, lobby support / downloading in-engine is planned.PicassoCT wrote:Is there a way to customize the installer in such a way, that it autodownloads a list of games/maps on installation?
when zero-k installs in common directories, springlobby will detect it. If it uses some "custom" directories, it won't detect it but still you should be able to add it manually.otyugh wrote:Also if it could autodetect and existing Spring install (something like Zerok stuff) could be cool, nope ?
CLI tool aready exists: https://springrts.com/wiki/RapidTools#MakeZipgajop wrote:If it's truly easy and fast, then yeah, but otherwise I'd prefer work be invested in improvement of pr-downloader with previous Python rapid features such as make-sdd and search/list packages (both via an API and CLI).
i've corrected the thread subject. for linux imo only a static build makes sense, but thats not planned atm.darklord42 wrote: For clarifications sake, we are talking about windows, correct? OSX doesn't need one, opening the dmg and drag and drop the app is the preferred method.
Linux deb file might be useful though, but I suppose the distros handle that pretty well with their package managers.
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
IMO this should be done with the make sdd tool you mentioned for rapid modules.Is there a way to customize the installer in such a way, that it autodownloads a list of games/maps on installation?
Maybe create a script that would package everything and have installers capable of installing such packages?
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
whats the goal of this? each game/engine/lobby update the installer needs to be recreated / updated...gajop wrote:IMO this should be done with the make sdd tool you mentioned for rapid modules.
Maybe create a script that would package everything and have installers capable of installing such packages?
"autodownload" = call pr-downloader with some parameters... for install without download pack it like in LD: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33682
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Seems like a great idea to me.
Even better would be if it were possible for game developers to ship their games, engine and some maps with it and even preconfigure the lobby to filter other games, even tough i know we all in the same boat, players may be confused and play another game instead and be like "wtf is this!"
I know its asking a bit much, but i think it could be worth it.
Even better would be if it were possible for game developers to ship their games, engine and some maps with it and even preconfigure the lobby to filter other games, even tough i know we all in the same boat, players may be confused and play another game instead and be like "wtf is this!"
I know its asking a bit much, but i think it could be worth it.
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Well this is long past the installer, but what would make lobbies lot friendlier is a support of all last playable mods (who cares about version ? The last) and and be able to make a team and just set a search to "look for 1v1, 2v2, 4v4..." starcraft style with a list of "played and approved map" that get pick randomly.
Maybe one day I'll learn how to do more than my actual gibberish in code, but I guess it won't be for the years to come yet as my talent goes ;..;
Maybe one day I'll learn how to do more than my actual gibberish in code, but I guess it won't be for the years to come yet as my talent goes ;..;
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Codeman seems to have a similar idea so I'll quote him.abma wrote:whats the goal of this? each game/engine/lobby update the installer needs to be recreated / updated...gajop wrote:IMO this should be done with the make sdd tool you mentioned for rapid modules.
Maybe create a script that would package everything and have installers capable of installing such packages?
"autodownload" = call pr-downloader with some parameters... for install without download pack it like in LD: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33682
It's true that it would need to be recreated, but that's not a problem if you have everything locally. It would be done when distributing content either via download links like LD, or using third party distribution systems like Steam or Desura.code_man wrote:Even better would be if it were possible for game developers to ship their games, engine and some maps with it
It's important that users don't have to download stuff immediately after the first install.
For LD since I made all of those, I can tell you it's a time consuming, error prone process with suboptimal results that no one should have to do, especially not in the last few minutes of a compo after a 20h~ coding session
I already made some scripts for that which I'll continue to improve, and maybe eventually that could be released as a tool when it matures enough.
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
PicassoCT wrote:Is there a way to customize the installer in such a way, that it autodownloads a list of games/maps on installation?
abma wrote:thats not planned, imo repack the installer / create a new installer which contains these files...
Many years ago, I modified Spring installer to make a Kernel Panic installer. Then, when I made Smoth a GundamRTS installer, I tried to make it clean and generic, with all the game specific stuff easily customizable with !define at the top. Here it is: http://pastebin.com/7qrwYF6Tcode_man wrote:Even better would be if it were possible for game developers to ship their games, engine and some maps with it and even preconfigure the lobby to filter other games, even tough i know we all in the same boat, players may be confused and play another game instead and be like "wtf is this!
- It's old, very old, as you can see it was for Spring 0.82
- Even if it was up to date, there's still some manual labor for every new Spring version that comes out
- Not included in the .nsi are various customization files such as custom uikeys.txt, start script to trigger ingame menu, lobby filters, etc...
- I don't download files, I put them in the installer
(I don't trust files hosted by varied websites to stay in exactly the same place forever, and I prefer a all in one complete package) - I included both lobbies, but I prefer TASClient, as I find its interface prettier
Though imo a big zip, with the engine, the game, the maps, etc... is easier to make for the game dev, and less opaque for the end user player.
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
ok, thanks for the feedback.
i'll create an installer a simple springlobby installer. it will take a bit as i refactor the buildbot config as well.
https://github.com/springlobby/springlobby/issues/568
i'll create an installer a simple springlobby installer. it will take a bit as i refactor the buildbot config as well.
https://github.com/springlobby/springlobby/issues/568
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
ok, a basic installer is done: http://springlobby.info/windows/SpringL ... taller.exe
it basicly is a copy of the spring installer with not used stuff removed.
its integrated into the springlobby release process, so the installer will be up to date when a new release of springlobby is made.
it basicly is a copy of the spring installer with not used stuff removed.
its integrated into the springlobby release process, so the installer will be up to date when a new release of springlobby is made.
- Silentwings
- Posts: 3720
- Joined: 25 Oct 2008, 00:23
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
Nice, I guess after some testing this is what we should use as the "official" way to distribute Spring?
I thoroughly dislike this & hope its never implemented. Imo the player retention rate of Spring overall is much better without any pre-defined filters. It protects against unsuccessful game launches and gives new games better visibility.preconfigure the lobby to filter other games
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
give it some time for testing, then maybe yes.Silentwings wrote:Nice, I guess after some testing this is what we should use as the "official" way to distribute Spring?
imo some url hander makes sense, maybe sth. like springcontent://ba:stableSilentwings wrote:I thoroughly dislike this & hope its never implemented. Imo the player retention rate of Spring overall is much better without any pre-defined filters. It protects against unsuccessful game launches and gives new games better visibility.preconfigure the lobby to filter other games
and this will launch springlobby (when installed) and then download the game. but... imo missions are needed so this is useful :)
Re: Windows installer for SpringLobby?
i've updated the springlobby homepage and linked to the installer:
http://springlobby.info/
if someone has a problem with the layout...
https://github.com/springlobby/springlobby-website
pull requests with improvements are welcome!
but i'm not sure if the page makes sense at all for the long term, most stuff should be moved or is already at the wiki.
http://springlobby.info/
if someone has a problem with the layout...
https://github.com/springlobby/springlobby-website
pull requests with improvements are welcome!
but i'm not sure if the page makes sense at all for the long term, most stuff should be moved or is already at the wiki.