"The best Installation Method" Poll

[paterpeter]

1. I'm fine with executable installers. But please remember any paths and settings configured in the installer so that when there's an update I don't have to enter everything again.

2. Don't install any shared data (such as factory presets or other resources) in a directory that is only accessible by the user who installed the software (e.g. %APPDATA%, %USERPROFILE% or HKCU on Windows). It's a PAIN for those who know how to use the operating system correctly (ie, having a dedicated non-privileged user account). If really necessary, copy that data to the respective user's folder on the first start of the plugin.

3. If applicable, make the path to any data folder configurable.

4. Don't assume the plugin directory is writable when the plugin is used.

Addendum: make your plugins 64 bit. Seriously. It's 2013. It should be your top priority for this year

[MFXxx]

Simple DRAG'n'DROP works so well.

Installers seem to dump loads of stuff all over my house.

Configure data fodlers etc within the daw.

Personally use symbolic hardlinks to data folders on a non os drive for data where developers have ignorantly decided the data must be installed on the os drive.grrr

[morelia]

The only problem I have with installers is there are so many different ones. They all seem to have different methods of choosing where the files go and some are a bit painful in that regard. Drag and drop is therefore the best for me.

[do_androids_dream]

I personally don't mind installers if they:

1. Tell you exactly what is going where - by this i mean that some installers need to install certain files in one place and then the .dll somewhere else but they don't make this clear in the installation process. It might say 'Where do you want to install 'product xyz'?' So you point to your vst folder. In the next window it might say 'Where do you want to install the .dll/plugin?' So you have to go back or exit out of the installer so the the installer can reset the first path to 'programs(x86)' or whatever. I personally find this very annoying. Some clear explanation would be helpful in these kind of cases ie. 'Where do you want to install the program files of 'product xyz'? You can choose where to install the .dll/plugin on the next page of the installer wizard'.

2. Give you full control of where to install each component.

3. Give you full control of what to install. I recently installed a synth which gives you no option to choose what to install - i didn't want to install the 64 bit version but it forced me to choose an installation path for the 64 bit version or it wouldn't complete the installer. Most annoying.


Having said all that i do prefer a simple drag 'n drop dll.

[RunBeerRun]

I think when there's extra files, just put em in a folder next to the plugin so it can all be moved.

[SODDI]

Only 3 choices?

Well, the one truism about polls is that the questions asked are far important than the answers gotten...

I vote for comprehensive custom installations on big packages.

[Crackbaby]

Dll in zip, yes please.

[faun2500]

zippy zip zip

[xhunaudio]

It would be an interesting idea for Microsoft to adopt an installation method similar to OSX's 'Content' folder/package installation.

No executables, check the content of the package with a double-click and install it with a right-click->install operation...

[arkmabat]

No installers for me, i'm a control freak and have to know where every single file is located

YES! Some installers make it very difficult to change the directory or are dependent on the default directory. I'd rather just have it all in a zip.

[arkmabat]

It would be an interesting idea for Microsoft to adopt an installation method similar to OSX's 'Content' folder/package installation.

No executables, check the content of the package with a double-click and install it with a right-click->install operation...

+1

Like Linux, too!

[dalor]

ZIP with .dll and my job to copy into a folder PLEASE.

[Crackbaby]

with dll's you can just delete and move them around as you fit. Some plugins won't even work if you move them after installation. With hosts like mulab and reaper that's not much of a problem, but with live you get a damn mess in your plugin's folder

[ponce]

I simply don't use plugins that comes with installers anymore.