RomRaider

Now that RomRaider is becoming more and more widely used and more complete, it's probably a good time to start using an installer. Right now I'm toying around with an open source installer called InstallJammer, and it looks like the best bet so far. If anyone knows of a free installer builder that supports Java applications better (ie, verifying correct version of JRE), please let me know. I'd really prefer a cross-platform installer so Linux and Mac users can use the same installer, but this isn't absolutely necessary. We'll see. There is a commercial product called Advanced Installer, but I can't afford it.

With the installer, we'll be able to associate file types (hex, bin) with RomRaider, allowing users to just double click on them rather than having to open them from within RomRaider. It will also add RomRaider to the start menu, rather than the user having to navigate folders or placing it on their desktop. Plus, file backups, selectable component installs (for right now, just ECU defs, but in the future, modules to flash/log from different manufacturers and such) will be great features.

I think that with how light RomRaider is, and the frequency of updates it would be kind of a pain to be doing various installs over and over instead of just unpacking the contents of the .ZIP file to a Folder. I think it would be good, i just dont think its needed as of yet.

Suppose I should chime in here.


I'm a full time developer, Linux, Solaris, Win etc, mostly Linux when I can help it

Hell, I've written my own UTEC tuning program with some neat features... until I forgot about it and erased it. Got it back by decompiling!

In the past I've been responsible for the installation aspect of some of our companies applications.

Anywho, give this a shot, we use it throughout the UN. Or, PM me if you want some help or want me to do it. (I need source, follow through with the sourceforge?)

http://www.izforge.com/izpack/

I've setup build processes to basically spit out an installation + installer. We use CruiseControl + Maven. Its not a problem really.


CruiseControl:
http://cruisecontrol.sourceforge.net/

Maven:
http://maven.apache.org/

Ant & Maven build systems are able to hook into Izpack.

+1 For the installer . . I'm lazy

geee, a reference to sourceforge on the top thread... lol

Tgui, I'm playing around with IzPack now and have just a couple issues. Can it add programs to the start menu in windows? And can I use it to associate filetypes? If so this is perfect. Thanks!

Edit: I've attached the XML I created for RomRaider. If you could take a look at it and maybe add whatever I'm missing (I'd like .bin and .hex files to be associated, giving the user the option if possible) that'd be great.

You should have a ShortcutSpec.xml to define where you want links to the desktop, startup etc. You can define multiple shortcuts. Is this what you were asking?



Your main izpack.xml should have something like this in its resources section.

Cool.. that helps out. Can I also make it associate filetypes, so when someone double clicks on a HEX or BIN file, it'll open them in RomRaider? If I need to I can do this from within RomRaider.

You'll need to hack the registry for that. This page explains it all.

http://openfacts.berlios.de/index-en.phtml?title=IzPack/ScriptExamples/Creating_File_Associations_in_Windows_XP/2000

Be careful, you're slowly binding yourself to the MS world.

Nah, I want to associate them in other OS's as well

I'm afraid the logging/flashing might not work in other operating systems when we get it working.. Hopefully I'm wrong. Honestly, 95% of the users are going to be in Windows, but being platform independent is one thing I'd really like to hold on to.

Hmmmm, I totally glossed over this. I use JDIC quite a bit at work, and it does all sorts of cool desktop integration (MS, KDE, Gnome).

Here is the main link.
https://jdic.dev.java.net/documentation/index.html

And here is a doc specifically for file associations! (and other goodies)
http://today.java.net/pub/a/today/2004/10/14/jdic1.html


Well, I don't have windows installed anywhere nearby. I'll be there to ensure we at least get a linux working version for logging etc. .... after the 3d graphing goodness is all done.[/url]

I think you going to run into other problems concering the drivers for the Tactrix cable. Can you get a driver for the tactrix cable to work in say linux or 64 bit windows?

(I've been looking for a 64 bit driver and have yet to find one. I would plensently surprised if someone knows of one)

The FTDI "FTD232R" data sheet for the USB-Serial chip used in the obd2 cable says linux support for virtual com devices (VCD) has been included in the kernel source since the early 2.6 kernels. That means if you dont already have support in your 2.6 64 bit kernel, you have the source to compile it in.

Data sheet:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/DataSheets/DS_FT232R_v104.pdf

Web Page info:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm


Good luck with the 64bit Linux kernel. I've not found it worth the time. No performance gains unless you're really doing some heavy math, and a butt load of issues will all sorts of drivers.

"Good luck with the 64bit Linux kernel. I've not found it worth the time. No performance gains unless you're really doing some heavy math, and a butt load of issues will all sorts of drivers."

Not linux 64 bit (windows64bit). Anyone here know how to compile it ? It would be great if I could get a driver for windows 64