I know that open source requires to have the source available, but many people (like me), just don't use or don't know how to use the source... here at PApps.com the source is included in the folder "other" when a PApp is installed in our PDrives... but that increases the size of the installers/downloads...
My question is, is it possible to make the installers without the sources, and keep the sources in a separated download in the same PApp page? that way Apps like Portable OpenOffice will be smaller downloads/installers and faster install process.
...Just a suggestion.
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It adds quite a bit of overhead to the actual releases to package things up separately at the moment. And it makes it easier for distributors to distribute the code in compliance with the GPL. Did you know that it would actually be a violation of the GPL if, say, Download.com hosted Firefox Portable without the source for the launcher and installer and didn't also make the source available for download?
The only source included is for the launcher and installer (not the base app). Take your example of OpenOffice.org Portable... The installed size is around 186MB for the current release. The 'Other' folder is 286k.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ok
Understood...
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report
I remember some UPX-ing and re-zipping actions I did, only to discover that some things are included multiple times. Take the Icon for example. it can be found in App\AppInfo, as well as in \Other\Source. I also noted that the splash images could be optimized better (256 colors, jpg optimization) without degrading the quality at all.
I'm glad you can spread the GPL'ed app itself without the sourcecode of the app. But I find it hard why the App itself can be without source but the (also GPL'ed?) launcher must be with source. And installer too? Oh well, I'm no expert.
Well OpenOffice being 186MB 286Kb isn't much extra, but smaller apps do matter. I have PA with 31 apps, so thats 31 times 200Kb..? around 3.2MB? oh well. we can always delete those folders after install and put that few MB's to better use.
99% of all GPL'ed software I've seen does not include the sourcecode, and some point toward the official site where the source is made available. The end users of the applications normally don't compile themselves. (Unless we're talking hardcore linux users
Thanks for the trouble of making PA, it's much apriciated!
You'll notice that the apps are getting more optimized now. Specifically, the icons aren't in the source directories anymore and the source nsi files reference the icons in the appinfo directory. The splash screens look pretty bad at 256 colors as they use several gradients. The next OpenOffice.org release has a source directory of only 174k.
Legally, if you distribute a GPL licensed binary, you are required by law to also make the source code available from your own servers ('from the same location') or include a written offer and mail it to folks for a period of no less than 3 years from when you last offered the binary. Referencing another source of the code, like the main site, is not sufficient. If you're unwilling or unable to meet these requirements, then you have no legal right to redistribute the binaries. It's all part of the same agreement.
So, we make all the code available from PortableApps.com for the apps. And we include it within the packages for other distributors. It's easy for us to do that as they're small bits and it saves us from having to police other sites about our code (except for the blatant ones that rip it off and pass it off as their own, of course). And, it ensures that the source is released for each release and doesn't get lost anywhere along the way.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
The next OpenOffice.org release has a source directory of only 174k.
*cries* If only the whole thing were smaller...
On a related note, are you going to offer a simple template, or am I going to have to download each new release to check what's changed?
On an semi-unrelated note, any progress on the WMP (WinMerge Portable) front?
On a completely unrelated note, can you enable <blockquote>s? Please?
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
You can delete the folder after installation... lol...
What about compressing the source into a .zip archive?
Read the whole thread: https://portableapps.com/node/10447#comment-58733.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
@porterkm: I've read!
What I mean is to add the source as a zipped archive within the "Other" directory. This will save nearly the half space.
E.g.: the size of the folder "Other\Source" for Firefox Portable is about 173 Kb, but the same folder compressed into a .7z archive weighs 79 Kb. 100 Kb saved for one program, 1 MB for ten programs
I guess I didn't understand what you were saying. I suppose that might be a good idea, but it is completely up to John.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
delete the folder... and any .lng and .txt and "license" "readme" and any other file that looks useless for me (since I don't distribute, just personal use)... but I have to do it each time I update...
I was just looking for an easier solution...
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report
You can create a batch file that you'll place within the PortableApps folder, with this instruction:
for /f %%i in ('dir /a:d /b') do rmdir /s /q %%i\Other
This will delete all "Other" subfolders.
Anyway, I'll advise you to make a backup of your drive before trying for the first time this solution (if you're going to do). I don't want you to lose your data because of me
But I think I'll not take the risk... I'll keep it doing it the old way... by hand!!!
There are some others files I delete, like txt's, and even the AppInfo folder, since I use PStart, I don't need that folder, that is not used yet by PAM...
Thanks anyway!
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report