You are here

Home » Forums » General Forums » Request Apps

Idea for non-open souce apps

11 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
March 10, 2008 - 1:05pm
#1
Stevoisiak
Stevoisiak's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-05 11:22
Idea for non-open souce apps

Since you can not redistribute a modified version of a non-open source program, most people use launchers. I have a better idea. This may or may not violate lisence, but I dont think it will. What about this. There can be a patch for it. It will only wrk if you have the origional program since it will not host any of it's files in the patch, and it will not violate redistributing copyrights, as the program isn't being redistributed, just a program that modifys it. Would that work? I'd live to see Project 64 portable.

Also, if that doesn't work, can you make a portable version with the author's permision?

Top
March 10, 2008 - 1:11pm
ZachHudock
ZachHudock's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 months 3 days ago
Developer
Joined: 2006-12-06 18:07
Just adding a launcher is

Just adding a launcher is MUCH easier than trying to write a patch to integrate into the base application. Launchers are somewhat templated, it's easy to replace only the needed parts. For a patch, each base app would need its own custom written patch to work correctly.

If you want Project64 portable, just learn some NSIS and write your own script. It really isn't that difficult, and it is MUCH easier than writing a custom patch.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Top
March 10, 2008 - 1:14pm
(Reply to #2)
Stevoisiak
Stevoisiak's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-05 11:22
Then how come..

Then how come Portable apps doesn't just release launchers instead of programs? Then they wouldn't have to modify every app. Also, where can I learn how to make programs portable? I may be called a computer wizz at my school, but I don't know any real programing at all.

Simplifying daily life through technology

Top
March 10, 2008 - 1:27pm
(Reply to #3)
ZachHudock
ZachHudock's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 months 3 days ago
Developer
Joined: 2006-12-06 18:07
PortableApps.com releases

PortableApps.com releases the full apps for their open source apps because redistributing the full app, along with the launcher, is more user-friendly than expecting them to follow the correct directory structure in all cases. NONE of the apps are actually modified at all, just repackaged with a couple extra files added. And to learn to make apps portable, look at the NSIS source code for some of the official apps here (Sumatra and 7-zip are easiest to follow).

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Top
March 10, 2008 - 7:47pm
(Reply to #4)
rab040ma
Offline
Last seen: 2 months 1 day ago
Joined: 2007-08-27 13:35
There have been a few

There have been a few installers/launchers go by that have either copied a program from its normal install location, or downloaded it from the official web site, then set it up to be portable. But they don't really fit in while PortableApps.com is emphasizing (and distributing on SourceForge.net) OpenSource apps, and most of the attempts at "download and install from its web site" installers were somewhat confusing to an average end user.

You can start with 

http://cubegames.net/development/

or the IRC channel. Download and install NSIS and the various plugins and include files needed, and get it to compile one of the existing apps. Then you can use the help file that comes with NSIS and the NSIS forums to learn what the scripts do and why.

MC

Top
March 10, 2008 - 1:41pm
Devo
Offline
Last seen: 8 months 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2007-09-04 14:55
Project 64

Here's a launcher for Project 64 (https://portableapps.com/node/9700), you still need to download the actual program, but instructions for that are included in the post. I've been using it for a couple of months and haven't run into any problems yet.

Top
March 12, 2008 - 12:50pm
(Reply to #6)
Stevoisiak
Stevoisiak's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-05 11:22
A few questions

1. If I use an older version (for online play) will it still work?
2. Will compressing the files affect the launcher?
3. So, using the launcher no data goes on my PC?

Also, I still want to know if it can be made portable with the authors permision

Simplifying daily life through technology

Top
March 12, 2008 - 5:53pm
digitxp
digitxp's picture
Offline
Last seen: 11 years 8 months ago
Joined: 2007-11-03 18:33
Something new could help.

Maybe the new portableappsupdater could help automatically download, install, copy, and delete the files.

Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.

Top
March 12, 2008 - 6:04pm
(Reply to #8)
spaztastic
spaztastic's picture
Offline
Last seen: 14 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-28 13:53
I'd like to see the ability

I'd like to see the ability to make any app portable, simply by having a program automatically take all files that are installed and compiling them into the PortableApps directory structure. It would be like what LimeWire Portable does. You install the PAF, run it and it finds your locally installed version of "named" app and copies the files into their respective folders in the PortableApps folder on the portable device.

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with Windows.

Top
March 12, 2008 - 6:13pm
(Reply to #9)
powerjuce
powerjuce's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 3 months ago
Developer
Joined: 2007-09-20 21:34
this can do what you ask but

this can do what you ask but it is not for an end user

https://portableapps.com/node/9909

Please search before posting. ~Thanks

Top
March 12, 2008 - 11:24pm
(Reply to #10)
spaztastic
spaztastic's picture
Offline
Last seen: 14 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2008-02-28 13:53
I've tried that before but I

I've tried that before but I am lacking the knowledge to actually be able to create the app. PAC just makes it a heck of a lot easier for me.

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with Windows.

Top
Log in or register to post comments