Comments on: Packaging is Hard http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/ The latest on Abe's work Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:12:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: metafeather http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-175 metafeather Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-175 I'm really looking forward to an OS X package (or Fink install). As you correctly state, getting all the dependencies in place by hand when you are unfamiliar is a real turn off. I'm happy to give feedback on the install on some fairly clean machines (definitely had no other Python stuff installed before): OS X (10.3), Debian, and a Win2k Server. Also wondered if you are in touch with Marc Liyanage, the package master of OS X (<a href="http://www.entropy.ch/)?">http://www.entropy.ch/)?</a> I’m really looking forward to an OS X package (or Fink install).
As you correctly state, getting all the dependencies in place by hand when you are unfamiliar is a real turn off.

I’m happy to give feedback on the install on some fairly clean machines (definitely had no other Python stuff installed before):
OS X (10.3), Debian, and a Win2k Server.

Also wondered if you are in touch with Marc Liyanage, the package master of OS X (http://www.entropy.ch/)?

]]> By: Michael Twomey http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-176 Michael Twomey Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-176 I've done this sort of stuff before and I can vouch for how underappreciated release engineering is, trying to go from an assemble the bits release to a fully fledged standalone app is a huge job. If you want to simplify your life a small amount on the mac you could stick with fink only at first (though you'll get many more people with a nice standalone app). The fink info files are easy to edit, and if stuff is distutil'd properly, python stuff is a breeze to install. If you want good examples of packaging an server style application I'd look at Plone (<a href="http://plone.org/)">http://plone.org/)</a> on the mac. The plone folks have done a great job of packaging up plone with a proper startup script and package management. Upgrading plone is fairly easy too. On the windows side they deliver a nice control panel too, and hook into windows services. For more on python mac app bundle generation, look at Bob Ippolito's work, <a href="http://www.pycs.net/bob/weblog/">http://www.pycs.net/bob/weblog/</a> , he's aiming for py2exe style .app generation. The pyobjc stuff has some relevant info too. py2exe *should* take care of the windows side fairly easily, then use nsis (<a href="http://nsis.sourceforge.net/)">http://nsis.sourceforge.net/)</a> to generate a nice windows installer (nsis is great, faster, more powerful and nicer to develop with than most of the commercial installers). I’ve done this sort of stuff before and I can vouch for how underappreciated release engineering is, trying to go from an assemble the bits release to a fully fledged standalone app is a huge job.

If you want to simplify your life a small amount on the mac you could stick with fink only at first (though you’ll get many more people with a nice standalone app). The fink info files are easy to edit, and if stuff is distutil’d properly, python stuff is a breeze to install.

If you want good examples of packaging an server style application I’d look at Plone (http://plone.org/) on the mac. The plone folks have done a great job of packaging up plone with a proper startup script and package management. Upgrading plone is fairly easy too. On the windows side they deliver a nice control panel too, and hook into windows services.

For more on python mac app bundle generation, look at Bob Ippolito’s work, http://www.pycs.net/bob/weblog/ , he’s aiming for py2exe style .app generation. The pyobjc stuff has some relevant info too.

py2exe *should* take care of the windows side fairly easily, then use nsis (http://nsis.sourceforge.net/) to generate a nice windows installer (nsis is great, faster, more powerful and nicer to develop with than most of the commercial installers).

]]> By: Abe http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-177 Abe Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://fettig.net/weblog/2004/08/16/packaging-is-hard/#comment-177 Wow, great links, guys. Thank you! metafeather, I'll definitely be looking for some testers once I get my packages together. Thanks for volunteering! Michael, any thoughts on NSIS vs. InnoSetup? Wow, great links, guys. Thank you!

metafeather, I’ll definitely be looking for some testers once I get my packages together. Thanks for volunteering!

Michael, any thoughts on NSIS vs. InnoSetup?

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