Re: Would Any Developers Use This?
Re: Would Any Developers Use This?
- Subject: Re: Would Any Developers Use This?
- From: Darkshadow <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 09:14:18 -0400
How about this?
We have an update program that looks in its plist for programs to
update. The dictionary for the program would consist of the program's
name, its version number and where to get itself at. The update program
looks to the site listed to see if the version is newer or not - if it
is, it lists it as available to upgrade (or automatically downloads it -
that would be a thing for the user to decide, I think).
Programs that would want to use this would "register" themselves by
writing the info in the update program's plist. Not too difficult.
The only hard part may be getting the update program to see whether or
not the version on the site is newer or not to the version on the hard
drive.
Maybe we can implement some sort of XML text for the program's site that
the upgrade program can check - that may be easier. Have it load that
up and check it out. Maybe just another dictionary of the program's
name and version number?
This would be much easier than having some main server that holds all
the programs. Then we wouldn't need a dedicated server or someone
watching over it all the time. I would advise against having the update
program automatically install the updates, though, since anyone would be
able to register something to the upgrade program's plist. We want this
to be Really Great not terrifying "Oh no, I downloaded a virus and it
installed itself." Have the user specify a download folder, then they
can update the stuff themselves. Still easier than searching through
websites to see if a program they have is updated!
You wouldn't really need to worry about licenses, because it would be up
to the programmer or not if they wanted to use the program to check for
updates.
Darkshadow (aka Mike)
On Sunday, September 9, 2001, at 08:22 PM, Scott Anguish wrote:
On Sunday, September 9, 2001, at 06:10 PM, David Remahl wrote:
Yes, but this should be a non proprietary system. Free. Automatic.
Well, Softrak somewhat fits that bill... all that is needed is a
couple of additional fields, and a new direct action or two for the
queries.
However, the central server idea requires that someone maintain
and update that server, and that costs money.
I really don't see the problem with having individual servers
(since then response/update time is in the hands of the individual
developers)
BSD is much preferable to anything GPL (even L) .. I have my own
ideologies to endorse, I don't need to take on RMS'
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