DevelopmentOpen SourceXRap

XRap Version 1.0

By April 26, 2009August 21st, 20133 Comments

Well its been a long time coming, a lot of research, and a ton of learning, but here it is.  XRap version 1.0.  You can now successfully create a Windows Installer(msi) if you are working on Windows, a tarred bunzip2 (tar.bz2) archive if you are working on Linux, and an Apple Disk Image (dmg) if you are working on a Mac.  I have worked out the bugs which I am aware of, but will definately still be working on any new ones that come up.  

Here are the steps for each platform:

Windows:

  1. Open up XRap, and select the root of your XULRunner application directory, and click next.
  2. Select the type of License you would like to attach to your application from the drop-down list of available licenses.  You can optionally select your own license, or no license at all. Once you have selected your license option, click next
  3. You must now select the type of installer you would like your end-user to have.
    • Automatic Installer – Will automatically install your application on to the end-user computer, with no wizard.
    • Wizard Installer – Will start the Windows Installer wizard, showing your license agreement on a single page, and giving the option for the end-user to install your application to a custom path.
    • Minimal Wizard Installer – Will start the Windows Installer wizard, using only one page, which shows the license agreement, then installs your application to the default directory.Windows Installer Description
  4. Once your have selected the type of installer you want, click next, and XRap will package your application
  5. When successfully completed, XRap will go to the last page where you can open the directory of where your new msi will be located, and your can close XRap.

Linux

  1. Open up XRap, and select the root of your XULRunner application directory, and click next.
  2. Select the type of License you would like to attach to your application from the drop-down list of available licenses.  You can optionally select your own license, or no license at all. Once you have selected your license option, click next
  3. You can optionally select to create a zip file of your application for distribution on Windows.  Click next to continue.
  4. XRap will now package your application into a tar.bz2, and optionally a zip file if selected.
  5. When successfully completed, XRap will go to the last page where you can open the directory of where your tar.bz2 file will be located, and your can close XRap.

Mac

  1. Open up XRap, and select where your XULRunner application (with the .app extension) is located, and click next.
  2. Select the type of License you would like to attach to your application from the drop-down list of available licenses.  You can optionally select your own license, or no license at all. Once you have selected your license option, click nextLicense Page
  3. XRap will now package your application into a dmg.
  4. When successfully completed, XRap will go to the last page where you can open the directory of where your dmg file will be located, and your can close XRap.

I hope to release an updated version where you can create simple packages for different platforms.  Similar to how you can create a zip file on Linux for distribution on Windows.  My current plans are:

Windows:

  1. Create a zip file for release on Linux
  2. Create a zip file for release on Mac, I will have to refactor the directory structure so that it aligns with the Mac model

Linux

  1. Create a zip file for release on Mac, I will have to refactor the directory structure so that it aligns with the Mac model

Mac

  1. Create a zip file for release on both Windows and Linux

I plan to work on it over the summer, and hope to be compeleted within the next couple months.  Please post any new bugs found on xrap.sourceforge.net.

Enjoy!

XRap Version 1.0xrap64

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