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The goal of this project it to create one-click software installation feature for Linux users, especially for third-party developers to provide easy way of installing their software.
Example: user clicks on link on web page, wizard appears which guides user through simple steps to add repository, choose what user wants to install (allowing to choose not to install for example docs) and finally installs the application and accompanying packages. User does not have to know what distribution he is using, what package type, how to add keys for digital signing, etc.
For more screenshots of wizard, see Screenshots page.
What one-click-installer is:
- Simple way for users to install software without knowing what distribution you use, how to add repositories, keys, etc. Just click on link, click Next, Next, and you are done. For instructions see InstructionsForUsers.
- Simple way for application developers (also proprietary) of providing their apps to users. For instructions see InstructionsForApplicationDevelopers.
- Simple way of providing apps to users by third party packagers and loco teams. For instructions see InstructionsForPackagers.
- Simple way of providing apps to users by distributions. For instructions see InstructionsForDistributions.
What one-click-installer is not:
- Application packaging system like deb, rpm, autopackage, etc.
- Package repository tool like apt, yum, etc.
- Package frontend like Synaptic, Adept, Yast package manager, etc.
Possibilities created by one-click-installer:
- Creating web application catalog with immediate installation link, screenshots, comments, etc.
- Adding links to install necessary software on forums, blogs, web pages, etc.
- Adding links to install some software on CDs, in distribution welcome pages (for example "Recommended software to install"), etc.
Other important features:
- Supports full localization, both installation files and installer.
- Integrates with native package management system, so provides automatic updates using distribution update system.
If you want to try out One Click Installer, please download and install package from Download section on the right (or you can browse full downloads list). Then, go to ExampleInstallationFiles page to install example applications.
Key points of design:
- This project specifies file format and tools which provide such wizards for specific distributions. For installation and repository management, tools and package formats included in distribution are used, in particular, this project does not specify any new packaging format.
- File format allows to specify in one file distribution-specific software channels to use for many distributions, keys, package sets , thus user does not have to know what distribution he is using. There is only one file to be clicked.
- Installation must be possible in localized manner, in native user language, as users not always know English.
More information about file format is available on OneClickInstallerFileFormat page.
More information about tool implementation is available on OneClickInstallerTool page.
Details of current impementation:
- The tool currently works on Ubuntu using apt archives (should also work on Debian-based systems). We are looking for developers interested in extending the tool to work on other distribution/software channel (for example to handle RPMs using yum on Fedora).
- The tool is implemented in Python (no compilation necessary) and uses Qt for frontend. The tool is split into frontend and backend, so implementing other frontends is possible. We are looking for developers interested in porting frontend to different toolkit (especially Gtk, text frontend would also be useful).