AutoPatcher December Update Wishlist

By FlishFun
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Neowinian

cat5

Posted
Posted

Man, I can't wait to get my hands on the december release...

If only I had more bandwidth, I'd share more...

but if there's a torrent, I think I'll leave mine on for over 24 hours to help out.

I've passed this addon to others at work, and everyone loves it.

Glad that 2k and 2k3 are being worked on as well.

Apprentice

HotBlack

Posted
Posted

In my opinion the release date isn't all that crucial, at some point in the not too distant future the Dec version will be released at that point we will all DL and start our own testing and I am certain that we will find some errors (quite what these will be and how serious they are is another matter). This is simply in the nature of software development. Once it is out there will be features that some of us hoped for that are not there and others will find it bloated and full of stuff which they have no use for. But (and this is my main point) it is freeware, FlishFun is giving this away so stop ****ing moaning.

I would much rather he puts out something he feels is tested and that he (I presume you are a he) can stand up for. We can flame him if he has done something stupid; put spyware in, is waiting for a certain amount of donations or something, but for now lets just wait. It really is a much better solution than us all shooting each other in the face.

As to the size of the thing I am quite happy to have it grow, I use it as a separate CD I run after I have installed XP-SP1, and crucially some drivers, so keeping it under 700 is more my concern (even then it could just go on DVD) and for that reason I am quite happy to see more stuff go into it.

Having said that I think working towards a more general framework where autopatcher becomes more of a CD/DVD image file maker, where users can not only slipstream autopatcher onto a XP CD but also then add their choice of drivers (support would be written via plugins by the people who want various stuff) and even add various applications so that a DVD can be burnt which will install a full customised system the way a given user likes it. This is the only way I can think of to please everybody and here is how I think it could be done.

Now this is only an opinion but I think this could be done via some sort of plugin system if FlishFun created a framework we could write plugins for our favourite apps and FlishFun could focus on "core" stuff we all need, keeping development moving;

I imagine something like when you run autopatcher version X with the plugins you want, it will prompt you for a XP-SP1 CD, along with info needed for install, and begin creating a CD/DVD image to which it will then let you pick which updates (part of the core stuff) you want added and via the plugin system drivers for various hardware can be added along with various apps, tweaks and so on.

Each individual plugin would work something like this; it would prompt the user for the location of the install files (plugins that install freeware can have the soft included if the author allows). It would prompt the user for whatever install options that given software/tweak allows such as serial, name, install location, etc... Then a bat file would be created, along with whatever other files are needed, and this and the install files would then be added to the image using some sort of standard directory structure.

The ultimate goal here would be that users would have just one disc that, probably after a long wait, leaves them with a full system that is customised and truly is ready to go.

Anyway is just an opinion, and finally FlishFun you did say you were done with the changelog/"whats in this ver file" you could post that to placate those plotting your execution.

Anyway thanks for a great product, take as long as you need. :)

Grand Master

AgEnTsMiTh

Posted
Posted

Flish and Raptor have already made it so that you can add your own files you wish to have and customize it yourself with your desired files. Its been there and perfected in the Nov update and even more so with this update. Take a look at a few of the other threads on this, one person even added there Office program to the Autopatcher. Flish can only do so much with this to make all of you happy to a point without making this so over bloated with programs that are not standard. He wants to keep this in that line of thought. now he is adding some new tools that are usefull, but please people, read. You can add any programs, large or small, drivers and other additions on your own, there is a guide on how do to so, and when flish comes on, he will be more then happy to go into further detail on how to accomplish this.

Once the download hits, I would also like feedback on the menu, as it stands, you have to manualy exit it. but other then that, everything is perfect and tested.

Apprentice

HotBlack

Posted
Posted

Ofcourse at the moment it can be customised like crazy and indeed I have burnt a version that includes my drivers, and the guide was quite helpful. But as slipstreaming and "could you add app X" are so often requested making it more user friendly would be of great help to everybody.

I know this can all be done already but my system I think would get many more people to use it, give users more choice and moves quite a bit of the development effort off to the plug-in makers.

Indeed I am playing with some code that to a great extent turns the guide into a wizard and allows you to add almost anything, in the way I suggest.

I also have an interesting tool (in that it produces some strange results at times) that probes an install file to see if it can find a silent install option, that I will make more user friendly if a few of you want it.

Enthusiast

Phil K

Posted
Posted

Well, speaking as someone who could never do in a month of sundays what these lads have done in no time at all, relatively speaking, I have nothing but admiration for their efforts on behalf of everyone. Well done lads. :yes: :D

And as for the whingers.....screw 'em. Let 'em do it themselves. :no: :p

Thanks again for a nice prog. Whenever your ready, I'll be happy ! :yes:

Contributor

EBOLA_rulez

Posted
Posted

I think (hope ;)) that FlishFun is sleeping at the moment and will release this long waited release as soon as he gets up ;)

And next time please specify the time zone with the release date :lol:

Personally i thought it will be released on 15th GMT, but later remembered, that FlishFun lives in GMT -6 or such timezone ;)

A day or two is nothing compared to these several weeks of waiting :D

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

Posted
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Posted

Hey guys, sorry about the wait, after my last post I was up till past midnight my time helping my sis finish her report (unfortunately by the time we got done I needed to get some sleep), but never fear... I have all the files I need and it *will* be finally compiled this morning. As far as all the posting been done, I appreciate AgEnTsMiTh for sorta helpin' to calm the crowds while I was in bed (he's a few hours behind me so he's normally up longer). I'll try to answer most of the questions here in a little bit... I need to eat and get ready for work first (downside to workin' for a law firm... you hafta look nice when you go in... can't just throw on just anything. lol). And trust me, the only reason this was delayed was because that CD didn't burn right, and when I got home my sis had to write a report... that's all. ;)

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

Posted
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Posted
When it's done... ;)

Good answer. (Y)

Just an update on status, I have what I think is the final version with me all compiled, I'm sending a copy to a tester to test for me and report any bugs, if it's all good, the uploading will begin. :D

Mentor

speedy_kevin

Posted
Posted
Just an update on status, I have what I think is the final version with me all compiled, I'm sending a copy to a tester to test for me and report any bugs, if it's all good, the uploading will begin. :D

No more bugs hopefully, so it can be uploaded :)

And then downloaded!! :D

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