Re: Static linking in GTK Windows

[rhkelly <rhkelly myrealbox com>]

Michael Torrie wrote:

>>Does the above mean that there is no practical way to distribute
>>a single .exe file and expect it to run on the user's computer?
> 
> 
> That is correct.  There are very few apps that distribute for windows in
> one exe (you're not talking an installer, but the app itself, right?). 

Right. We have a test/demo package, and the most common response
from the users who decline to even look at it (in its present 
form, before this possible rewrite to gtk) is: 'I'm not going 
through the trouble of installing etc. etc...' (and mostly for
the reasons mentioned before). We would like to say: look, this 
is a single .exe file, put it anywhere on your drive, run it as
you would run any *.exe applet, (e.g. notepad) and simply
delete it if/when you decide you don't want it any more.
The program will *not* write to any system file or directory, 
period.  It will read and write *only* from the locations you
explicitly provide to it.

>>In my experience most Windows users are becoming very reluctant
>>to "install"...

> Most Windows users are over-eager to install software, in my
> experience.  They click on setup.exe without a care in the world...

You are absolutely right when it comes to novices and 'home 
crowd'. Our target audience are experienced computer users, 
professionals in the industry we serve - this probably explains 
their reaction.

> If you do your installer right, then this whole issue shouldn't be a
> problem.

Of course, but it's those users that are not convinced. And we
would rather not fight them on the issue - the customer is,
after all, always right.


Thanks for your comments.
Roger