"Sean M. DonCarlos" <se********@newsgroups.nospamwrote in message
news:05**********************************@microsof t.com...
[Warning: I may wander OT at times.]
"wally" wrote:
>There is a brilliant application that allows you to wrap your EXE and all
associated DLLs, OCXs, etc. into a single executable and run the
executable
on Windows OSs with no install and nor registration of the files. It
will
even include only the portions of the .Net framework that are required
for
your application.
I hesitate to call this idea good, much less brilliant. But I'll move
on...
>The app is called Thinstall. the problem is the cost. $4,000 license
fee
PER APPLICATION PLUS A PER PC LICENSE FEE for the "virtual OS" on each
client PC that runs your application. This is clearly ridiculous. I
bought
the program when it was only $795 for unlimited use and I thought that
was a
bit steep for most developers.
It may not be so ridiculous. Niche-market software can be incredibly
expensive. Otherwise, the developers wouldn't recover their costs. I once
had
the experience of reviewing a particular piece of smart motion detection
software for digital surveillance systems. It was $25,000 plus $5,000 per
simultaneous camera feed. It was considered a moderately-priced smart
motion
detection system at the time.
In more common software, the industry-standard AutoCAD computer-aided
design
software can easily run over $4,000 for a full version, because that's
what
the market will pay.
IMHO, the market will pay those prices only as long as there is no
alternative. When alternatives are brought to market, the original widgets
generally drop substantially in price. That's what we need here.....an
alternative.
Xenocode is trying to do a .Net version of Thinstall, but it is not nearly
as robust and cannot currently wrap 3rd party controls or components with
your .Net code - so, IMHO, it is very limited.
And, while the original effort to make such software may have indeed been
substantial for the original writer, this may have been due to his/her/their
lack of programming knowledge, OS knowledge or other reasons. So, the
effort required by the original software designer is not necc the same that
will be required by the second widget designer. And, the ideas and
approaches of the original designer will not be exactly those of the second
writer.
>
>I and want to build a cheaper version of this application. I would
appreciate any links to source code or theory on virtual registries and
virtual file systems (as these seem core to the success of the
application).
Maybe we can make this an open source project to eliminate the need for
installations altogether and ease the frustrations of sys admins and
software shops everywhere.
Careful. Check for applicable patents first. A piece of software at the
$4,000+ level probably has at least one and maybe several patents
protecting
it. Even if you go open source, you can't violate existing patents in
doing
so. Consult a good patent attorney to find out more.
Sean
Patents that cover software are hard to prove. If I come up with a new way
to do something independent of the source code of their apps, it may still
be covered by patents, but patents are easily nullified. To nullify a
patent, your new widget must show new capabilities that would not be readily
apparent if one were to look at the old widget. Your widget must show some
type of innovation.
This innovation may require some thought....but thinking is free and
Thinstall is not.
And, if need be, I can have the code designed in Europe - where software
patents have, for the most part, been tossed aside.
Besides, they'll let me know if I'm doing something wrong. I feel most sure
of it.