Just wanted to get something of my chest with some scripts.

Right i am a lazy sod :p Just gotta admit that.

When i download a script like for example webmail, i dont wana be sitting around for hrs trying to understand the config so why cant you coders do a installer! :rolleyes: Like for example. Ikonboard! Whey! Nearly the whole scripts are in Tars. All i have to do is upload the files, go to install.cgi and fill in my details and i am done. :D Brillaint.

Just a idea :p

Because installers are annoying to make, although i do make them sometimes it just cant be done and a bit of user knowledge needs to be there to install the product if you need to easy to install webmail use Instant Webmail.

Aye, I dont mind simple configs like colours and paths and urls etc but when theres a lot it would help with a install just to make it less brain killing ;) Some script owners make forums on there sites so you filll in your config details and it prints it off with the config so all you have to do is copy and paste.

Brillaint ;)

Hi TheGreatOne,

When I make some server side applications, my focus is pleased on the functions in the script, and the way it works :) but not on the way you install it.

But maybe it should start focusing on the "install part" of my scripts ?! I don’t know ?

But I also think, you are the one, who are too lazy.! :) We (Programmers) use days/week on a scripts, and you will not spend – even some hours configurating it ..

Baad Baad Booy :) LOL

Best regards
Daniel Bahl

I have not seen any "hard to install" scripts - any links ?

Oh nooooooooo!!!

The thing is if i go to the info for the install and it says config, I will look at it and if its a ***** i wont even attempt to install it. I know its a bad thing but its a way alot of people see it. Well students anyway :P

lol! I didnt say it was hard to install the script, but just confusing to look at when ya view the config. For example. I need a script for my site. DOwnload it. Unzip it, Read Install Doc, Says Do Config File. So i open it up and to start with, it has no formatting so i have to open it with Word Pad, Save it and open it again in note pad. Soooooooooo now at last i can see the config. Its about a few 100 lines. And about 50% is needed just to run the program. By then i cant be ar*ed too do it by then lol!

I know one script which has a confusing config too me is webmail scripts

Ohh Sorry for misunerstanding your first question :)

I can agree about the config-files! - sometimes!

Daniel... not weeks or days for some of us... Months :p

Well... i have been concentrating, whilst developing my forum software, to make it easier for people who dont know PHP to install...

At the momment you run setup.php and it fills in all the values for cookie domain/path etc... (they are still editable for power users). All the front end user has to know really, is how to upload the files and what there database settings (username/password etc) are...

However some programmers would like to concentrate more on the power and functions built into the program than install scripts and expect most users today who are trying to install the software have previous knowledge of the scripts and programming languages...

Just my $0.02

Chris Boulton

I must admit when I started using scripts etc. I thought HTML could be used to make a forum, then I found PHP. Without the auto-installers I would of been lost but even then I had troubles installing things eg. I didnt have a clue what mysql was. But even then if there wernt any manual install programs I probably wouldnt of started learning PHP, so sometimes manual installs can help you learn about how the language works even if you are only filling out a few variables.

Oh yea thats how i learn. I can do some hard scripts if my brain does not fry but for example i sore a webmail one. Look at it for about 20 seconds and gave up :P

I agree. Installers should be included with every script that needs some configuration. Not only to help the user with what to put in the different options, but to see that the stuff that are entered is correct (or not stupid,dangourus or something).

If you are trying to sell a program, an installer is extremely important, not because your users is stupid, but because it seems unproffesional not having one(my oppinion).

And, when you have used months making a program, why don't spend a day making an installer. ;)

Anyway, i know making an installer is the most boring thing to do.. i have some experience writing them, but.. they can improve your script much, with almost no work.

Totally Agree.

Wana here a funny story about professinal (sorry i am pissed)

A site i worked for bought a script, cost £75. It had no installer, still had the wsftp.log still in the zip. it had files in the zip which wasent even for the script. Was not worth the money and we didnt use it in the end. 75 pound down the drain!

You know something...I'm talking from my personal opinion. When you code something, you're so happy that the actual system is ready that you actually couldn't care less about an installer. Of course if you're going to do the system for your clients (selling a products), the least you can do is an installation system. Clients are not coders and you must provide installers...if they where coders they wouldn't buy your products or hire you to code them.

Well the site its self was PHPNuke! All the demos where from other sites, you had to pay £25 for them to install it!

All php programs SHOULD have an installer if they connect to a database or another type of server (mail, etc).

If you really can't be bothered making one you should at the least make an understandable config file where all settings have a comment discribing clearly what they do, some of those webmail programs are useless for most people because they fail to do so.