As a data company, the choice of "Installer" or "simple-zip" has been a challenge to us over the years. The conclusion I've come to is that neither is perfect for all scenarios.
One additional advantage of the installer approach is that the package can be digitally signed with a code signing certificate. This gives an assurance to the end user that the package (which has most likely been downloaded these days) has not been tampered with, and potential malware introduced.
Installers also give an opportunity to add things which need some integration with the operating system. A good example of this for us is a custom font which contains symbology used by some of our point layers. For the installer this is easy, but for a manual installation, there's the process of documenting an extra step.
The biggest issues against installers is that of difficulty using them due to security lock-downs or installation on platforms other than Windows. Having used an installer for our global data products for several years, I've observed that problem increasing. When our current code signing certificate expires next year, I'll have to make the choice on continuation of installers. I suspect we'll stop using installers for data products next year, except when there is an integrated piece of software. Right now, I'm providing both options for some products, but that's unsustainable.
Regards,
Warren Vick
Europa Technologies Ltd.
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Warren Vick
Knowledge Community Shared Account
Shelton CT
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-04-2019 03:36
From: Daniel Edwards
Subject: Do we still need an Installer for Data Products?
StreetPro is one of the few data products we currently supply with an installer. A few years ago we evolved from individual installers included in each product to a single global installer that could:
- Be pointed at any StreetPro Display or StreetPro Classic individual zipfile or multiple product zipfiles
- Provide an interface to allow customers to choose what to install and where
- Would set up the data in Spectrum Spatial
The Software and data marketplace makes it a lot easier to manage data product installations as you can now see a list of your products and pick which ones to download and install on demand. If you want to automate the download and install process we provide an SDK for doing that easily.
So, I'm wondering if we really need an installer for any of our data products any longer.
I've already had some client feedback around installers so it's time to outline the case
The case against data product installers
- Designed for desktop users, so doesn't allow for easy automated installation on servers
- We have an SDK so you can download and install your data anyway you like it automatically
- Overkill because we are only installing data not software so no customisation or integration with other software is usually needed
- Compatibility issues – some installers won't run on Unix or iOS
- Some firewalls block installer executables
- We no longer deploy data on DVD so no autorun necessary
- Loader tools can be supplied separately for those customers who still wish to use them
- Inconsistent customer experience as very few datasets are delivered with an installer, most products come as zipfiles.
The case for data product installers
- Customers may still expect to have an executable to run
- Allows easy set-up of the data to run in Spectrum Spatial
- Allows correct folder structures to be set up and maintained
- Catalogue functionality allows customers to choose and install only the files they want
- Allows simple uninstall of data or overwrite of the data
Have I missed any Pros and Cons here?
How was your experience of using our installers?
Do you think data product installers are still relevant and useful?
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Daniel Edwards
Product Manager, Location Intelligence Data
Pitney Bowes Software Ltd
HENLEY-ON-THAMES
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