Runtime downloader?

[DovyWeiss]

We all have a problem when distributing our programs. Some computers have the VB runtimes. Some don't. It's a pain to distribute 1.2MB of runtimes with a 30kb program. So...

Would someone mind writing (in a language that compiles to a dependency-less exe, not vb) a program that downloads runtimes to a computer?

It should check in its own directory for a file called runtimes.txt which will have the following syntax:

The first line of the file contains the exe to run if all the runtimes exist, and the title of the app.
The remaining lines of the file will be files that must be downloaded if not present or if too old.

i.e.
"<yourAppName.exe>","<YourAppTitle>"
"<localFileName>","<minimumVersion>","downloadURL"
"<localFileName>","<minimumVersion>","downloadURL"
"<localFileName>","<minimumVersion>","downloadURL"
...

Example:
"myapp.exe","MyApp"
"%System%\msvbvm60.dll","6.0.92.37","mysite.com/runtimes/msvb60.dll"
"%System%\mydll.dll","2.0.44.33","mysite.com/runtimes/mydll.dll"
"%System%\mydll2.dll","1.1.22.12","mysite.com/runtimes/mydll2.dll"

1) The program should go through each of the files to ensure that they exist, and that their version is at least as good as the specified version.

2) If all files exist and versions are correct, run the application (in the first line of the file) and exit quietly.

3) If not, alert the user: "Some files need to be downloaded before running <appTitle>. Click OK to download them, or Cancel to exit." (where <appTitle> is taken from the first line of the file.)

4) If Cancel is clicked, exit quietly and do not run anything.

5) If OK is clicked, download the files from the URLs specified to the local file names specified, preferably with a progress bar.

6) After files finish downloading, run the app.

I know that I am asking a lot, but we could all use this utility and it would be very useful. I'd write it myself but I don't know what to write it in. I'm not so good at anything but VB (and QuickBasic, but you can't call DLL's or download files from there, can you?)

Thanks in advance,
DovyWeiss

[phinds]

rentacoder.com

[DovyWeiss]

I was looking for a way around spending money

[DovyWeiss]

*bump*

I would be grateful, and so would anybody else who would use this program, if someone could help me...

[alacritous]

Hello,
This would be another solution...::.

Use INET to download exe, run to install files...

that was funny, rendacoder.. lol

*CHEERS*
alacritous

[BuggyProgrammer]

Originally posted by alacritous
Hello,
This would be another solution...::.

Use INET to download exe, run to install files...

that was funny, rendacoder.. lol

*CHEERS*
alacritous

rentacoder is a real site where you rent coders to help you program. (ie it is not a joke)

and how do you expect a VB program to run when there are no dependencies???

[alacritous]

Hello,
I know its a real site..lol its just funny.. how people are like can you make this real quick..then someone goes $5...lol

ANYWAY

Download exe and depend...

*CHEERS for the CODERS*
alacritous

[BuggyProgrammer]

Originally posted by alacritous
Hello,
I know its a real site..lol its just funny.. how people are like can you make this real quick..then someone goes $5...lol

ANYWAY

Download exe and depend...

*CHEERS for the CODERS*
alacritous

do you understand what he wants?? if he download the dependencies then the program would have no point. he wants a program that can run WITHOUT ANY dependencies, AND to DOWNLOAD those dependencies so a VB program can run.

[DovyWeiss]

BuggyProgrammer is correct that I need an exe with no dependencies, to download the dependencies for my exe.

In light of these posts, I am raising my budget to fifty cents.

[Zelzorix]

Just program it in c++...

[DovyWeiss]

As I mentioned in the first post - I am not very good at writing programs in C++.

[Zelzorix]

I am also a c++ n00b to be honest.

And its true that it is hard to make a downloader.
But if you want it so bad there are 3 options that i can think of.

1. Build a File Transfer server (in vb) and run it yourself and build a c++ client that contacts that server (in c++)

2. Find a HTTP File Downloader on the net (c++ source), and modify it so that it will download the runtimes files.

3. Use another language that doesn't need runtimes.

[mebhas]

i have a suggestion that can fix the problem te,porarily till someone actually volunteers or i actually make it.

the solution is to make 2 copies of distribution, one with the dependency files and the other without it. ask your user to choose. another idea would be to ask the user to scan if the dependecny files are present in their systems. this can be done with asp or vbscript.

[frigginjerk]

if you use innosetup, theres a free download dll at istool.org

maybe you could use this when you distribute your app. The source for the dll is also available but it's written in delphi/pascal I think.