Forty-Two

OpenInstaller 0.9.4 Released

Version 0.9.4 of Cross platform Install Framework

• Zip Support
  
• Zip based packages for all supported platforms Solaris, Linux, Windows.
  
• Untested on MacOS, AIX
  and HPUX.
• Zip Product Example 
• Cross platform install example using zips as packages
  
• Product Selection
• Create more complex installers comprised of multiple products
  
• New Product Selection UI page created 
• Works with Upgrade 
• Install over HTTP 
• Using Java Web Start and JNLP an http based distribution
  can be created.
  
• User run over JNLP 
• Configuration Heartbeat
• Using JMX a product configurator can provide a heartbeat
  to the progress bar to give accurate feedback to the user.
  

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Project openInstaller:
https://openinstaller.dev.java.net/index.html

Available for download:
https://openinstaller.dev.java.net/downloads_index.html

The full release notes are available:
https://openinstaller.dev.java.net/docs/releasenotes/0_9_4.html

Please download and try!

Posted at 01:58PM Sep 11, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  | 

Thanks SwiX^ml

SwiX^ml has featured GlassFish and openInstaller on it's site and for that I would like to say Thank You SwiX^ml. As James (aka bytor) blogged when we first released openInstaller 0.9 one of the primary goals of openInstaller was to provide a declarative way to describe install applications and to get UI for "free". One of the key components that has provided a means to meet this goal is SwiX^ml. So again, thank you SwiX^ml community.

Posted at 11:21PM Aug 25, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  | 

New Brand, New Day?

I was sitting in my hotel room from Bangalore last evening when I came across the RSS feed from "El Reg" regarding the change from the SUNW stock symbol to JAVA. My first reaction was, "is this a joke". I immediately typed this thought to my fellow openInstaller community members on our IRC chat channel. We made some jokes and poked a lot of fun at the report, which by then was confirmed by Jonathan's blog entry. We knew there would be mass resistance internally, and probably externally too. Sure enough, for the most part, that has been the initial reaction. Most of the comments are against the change. Is it because this is the usual reaction to change? Maybe. I admit that some of the issues in the comments are constructive.

Since I am no marketing expert, and certainly no financial expert (if you saw my portfolio you would understand),  I will trust  the people who are the experts and are doing all they can to grow awareness of Sun, worldwide. Maybe this change will translate into many new opportunities for Sun. Perhaps from business leaders and decision makers who know about Java by seeing it on their cell phones, or browsers. The new JAVA symbol will lead them to check out all the other goodies Sun has to offer. Also, I place a lot of trust in someone who creates results.  I believe that Jonathan and his team have created some amazing results. Since that team has taken over the helm we have seen way more positives than negatives. Sure, Sun has had to reduce it's workforce in order to keep costs down which does mean letting go of our most precious commodity, very smart, hardworking people. Seeing my friends and colleagues leave saddened me but I understood the need and I know these former co-workers, who are some of the best and brightest, would land on their feet. Many have since come back because Sun provides a great work environment. The changes made by the executive management team have created great results. With Jonathan at the helm we have returned to profitability, shipped an excellent OS in Solaris 10, increased Sun's commitment to community and open source, increased Java usage around the world, built some amazing servers and desktops, changed the face of software licensing and much more. In the end that's what will determine if the change to JAVA was the right thing to do. So, after sleeping on it, really reading Jonathan's blog and many others, I say let's go for it. "Change is good" is my motto and after all I love having a cup of java while the sun is rising.

Posted at 01:03AM Aug 24, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  | 

The source is in erm...out

The openInstaller source is available. Have at it.

 The dev meetings have also been opened up. The first was held today. Read the minutes. If you wish to contribute to the development efforts join dev@openinstaller.dev.java.net and join the meetings.

Posted at 08:05PM May 16, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  | 

Timing is everything

I was able to attend CommunityOne today and was fortunate enough to sit in on the GlassFish day lunch session with Rich and Jonathan. A very good overview of the talk is on Arun's blog. After seeing and hearing what is coming for the GlassFish community I am even more excited to announce that openInstaller is joining the GlassFish community.

See the updated  openInstaller site with the GlassFish logo as well as the new skin. The 0.9.0 binaries have been pushed to the site. The source is coming, as soon as we clear one last legal review. Hopefully this week.

Kudos to the openInstaller team and special thanks go to Manpreet and Rajkumar for the great work they did in getting the site up and running.

 

Posted at 11:40PM May 07, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  | 

Welcome to the openinstaller.dev.java.net community

The openInstaller community site goes live on Monday, May 7. Here is the announcement sent to the community. Please come join the fun!
----------------------------------------
Welcome to the openInstaller, <http://openinstaller.org> &
<http://openinstaller.dev.java.net>, community!

openInstaller is an open source install framework. It's purpose is to
simplify the creation and maintenance of single system product
installers. Build individual product installers or easily combine them
into stacks and suites.

The openInstaller community welcomes developers building installers and
developers who wish to contribute to the framework.

openInstaller 0.9.0 features include:

* Cross platform
    - Native packaging
    - Zip based packaging for cross platform
* Declarative installer
    - Describe the installer
    - No compiling required
* User Interface
    - No coding required
    - Skins
    - Single source for Console or Graphical
    - Silent install
* Initial Configuration Interface
* Install Engine
    - Pluggable providers
    - Advanced logging
* Repair, Upgrade, Uninstall
* Desktop Integration
    - Gnome
    - KDE
    - Windows
* Multiple Installs on a single system
* Developer tools for Netbeans used to create installers


Email lists for support and questions:
    - announce@openinstaller.dev.java.net
    - users@openinstaller.dev.java.net
    - dev@openinstaller.dev.java.net

Join the community and download the source or binaries today.
    - https://openinstaller.dev.java.net/downloads_index.html

Posted at 11:12AM May 04, 2007 by Matt Williamson in Sun  |