[Kopachris]

unless someone is going to develop and maintain an alternative multi platform launcher the programming language discussion is a mute discussion as it wont change anything, where as Goober's launcher which is getting along nicely in it's development will make a real difference once it is complete.

What's wrong with wxLauncher?

(Note to self: Start working on wxPython launcher?)

[jg18]

He meant installer.

As for developing an alternate to Goober's installer in something other than Java, it's much easier to port a working installer than it is to write one from scratch. Thus it might be best to wait until after Goober's installer is released and available for long enough to be confident it works.

And yes, headdie is probably right that the non-Java discussion is veering off topic, although if the split includes my post, then I'll have to copy over the parts that weren't Python-related.

[headdie]

I dont know why on earth I said launcher when i meant installer 

[mjn.mixael]

O.
M.
G.

He wrote it in.. JAVA?! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

He must start over! YES. He must. Disregard all posts and threads about how we need an installer. Using Java is bad taste! Delete it. Start over! We can wait.

[MatthTheGeek]

Your Java cables are too thick.

[Goober5000]

Seriously?

Yes, seriously.  Reread what I said in the post before yours.  I'm quite aware of all the Java security advisories, especially considering I program in Java for my day job.  I said that I'm unaware of anyone having a problem with the fact that the Installer was written in Java, until this thread.

I would have imagined you to have reservations about using Java after all these months of Java security issues being in news, not just in internet but also in papers and tv. I am honestly quite amazed this is not the case. People who have Java installed must be record low as of now, thanks to all that news drumming.

As I said, I program in Java for my day job, and nobody is more than mildly concerned.  We've disabled Java applets in our browsers, of course, but we are continuing to go full speed ahead on all of our programs, collaborative projects, and research efforts.  All of which are written in Java.

And... thread split.

[Fury]

Fair enough. Would it be too much to ask if when no Java is present on the computer, user would at least be given a choice whether he wants to install Java system-wide or just for the installer? In the latter case, JRE would be downloaded to wherever the installer is and no admin privileges are required to run the installer and no java plugin would be installed to any browser.

Or don't give user a choice and go with the latter option always.

[Goober5000]

What?

1) The FSO Installer does not install Java.  Java is required to run it in the first place.

2) The FSO Installer doesn't give the user a "choice" in this situation; he makes his own choice as to whether and how he wants to install Java.  It's the user's responsibility to disable Java in his browsers.

3) The FSO Installer doesn't require administrative privileges for anything.

[Fury]

1) I was hoping it wouldn't be a jar file as Windows doesn't know what to do with them if Java isn't installed. You know many java apps for Win platform are exe files and have JRE included. I don't know if http://launch4j.sourceforge.net can do what I described, but at least it can embed JRE.

3) It does if no Java is installed and doesn't have its own JRE.

[Goober5000]

The download will be provided as simply a jar file.  If Java isn't installed, the jar file won't do anything.  It will either run, or it won't run, without admin privileges.  If your argument is that the FSO Installer requires admin privileges because you need them to install Java, that's as ridiculous as saying that Notepad requires admin privileges because you need them to install Windows.

[Fury]

That comparison is way off. But eh, I give up.

[chief1983]

Actually, I have to point out that even Minecraft wraps the launcher in an exe for Windows and an app for OS X.  Linux is the only one that has to run a plain jar file.  If we can do that such that it's a small enough file it might improve the user experience.