Re: [tdf-discuss] A better idea for a download package.

----- Original Message ----

> From: Charles Marcus <CMarcus@Media-Brokers.com>
> On 2010-11-30 2:16 PM, Kevin Vermeer wrote:
> > Perhaps the installer could  be replaced by a small configuration
> > application, which would allow the  user to select the components they wish
> > to install, and would then  download the selected components?
>
> This is fast becoming an  FAQ...
>
> LibO - like OOo - does not really have separate components. Even  if you
> could download just one component, the resulting size would only be  a
> few MBs smaller than it is now.

While that may currently be the case - that is absolutely ridiculous.
TDF/LO should make a priority of resolving that issue.

> Componentizing it is such a huge job  that it is really not worth
> discussing here.

It will most certainly be worth it as things will get easier to maintain 
(code-wise).
It will also allow for better installation flexibility.

It also has nothing to do with the software being seamlessly integrated. I 
understand that StarOffice was once one big integrated application - I used 
SO5/6 at one point under the free license before OOo exited. However, that 
doesn't mean that everything needs to depend on everything else. Having such a 
complex code structure will simply push developers away - yes, I did look at 
modifying OOo at one point (a few years ago), only I was unable to figure out 
where to even start due to code structure and organization. (I do hope to try 
again at some point when I get the chance.)

Having created installers before - namely MSI's - there should ultimately be no 
reason why the installer should be broken down as:

- core LO libraries used by each package
- package for each app (writer, calc, etc.)
- separate language packages for documentation and language bindings
- extensions & clip art can be added as additional packages of varying sizes 
(e.g. most popular, top 100, etc.)

In MSI terms each of the above would be an MSI Merge Module, with each installer 
just being a conglomerate of Merge Modules for all the pieces
and the necessary glue.

Many open source projects - TortoiseSVN, Pidgin IM, Gtk, KDE SC, to name a few - 
already do this kind of thing too; and commercial software highly utilizes such 
mechanisms to tailor installs to different customer groups.
KDE on Windows (windows.kde.org) even provides an installer that downloads over 
the Internet the required parts for the install - not saying that's how we 
should go about. But you definitely need to target things a bit differently to 
capture more people groups - in terms of language, and network connectivity. As 
an organization, TDF should look at selling USB sticks, CDs, and DVDs on-line 
for those without Internet or extremely slow downloads - a good way to raise 
some money to support the organization with too. (Yeah, volume probably won't be 
very high; though if planned out well, it could even be put into on-line and 
brick & mortar stores too - though I'd just offer on-line to start and provide a 
contact page for distributors that want to carry it.)

A LO/Writer installer should just be the necessary parts for LO/Writer. Same for 
an LO/Calc installer.
Documentation and additional language packages could be supplemental downloads.

> The current size problem  as compared to OOo is because all of the
> language packs are included... and  this situation is only temporary
> until storage is no longer an  issue...

Patience, I'll agree - but a real solution is necessary.

Ben



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