Hi everyone,
I’m quite new to portablizing, but I like the idea—and the PortableApps way of doing it.
Before I make any mistakes, here’s my questions:
I plan to portablize two freeware apps (non-Open Source) that I found useful in the past and think others might like to have portable, too:
1. MELM, a German-language software to check wins in the German state lottery "6 aus 49" (6-of-49). This software is freeware for up to 35 tips but can be registered to allow for more.
2. IDAImageEditor, a versatile screenshot tool, especially useful for making manuals and eLearning content. This software is freeware and comes with support for English, German and Korean language.
(Sorry, both links currently lead to German-language-only web sites.)
To make installation hassle-free and not violate any licenses, I’d prefer to provide a PAF.EXE-type Installer that downloads the original and unmodified software from the author’s web sites and "wraps" a Portable Launcher around them. I also thought about displaying their EULA in the installer beforehand.
A. Would that be okay with PA’s rules?
B. Where should I post these for others to test?
C. Would I have to name them "WhateverPortable x.xx Development Test 1" and use the grayscale splash screen?
D. How to handle the only three languages for IDAImageEditor? Set it as "Multilingual" and specify the languages available in [Languages]?
E. If it’s not allowed to make a downloading installer, how would I post a Launcher? Isn’t the installer just a Launcher that packages all in one neat EXE?
Thanks for your feedback!
What you are describing is know here as a live installer, or online installer, and is already used by a number of apps, both official and otherwise.
uTorrent Portable springs to mind, also Chrome and others.
I believe that there is even support for the downloading and unpacking of them within the PortableApps Installer system