[izpack-users] Two important features needed

[Miraodb]

Hi Darren,


> Hi,
>    We've been working with IzPack and pushing it to the limits for the
> past couple months. I will say its a great piece of work with a LOT of
> innovative thinking in it.

Thx for that ! We're all happy to see these kind of comments from time to
time :-)

>Two features that we found out would be VERY
> important (and comparatively not hard to implement) are:
>
> 1) An install log file that records exactly what the installer _has_
> installed. Especially in the event it fails mid-way through.
> 2) Put the uninstaller down first, and then allow it to work using the
> above log. This way, partial installs can easily be uninstalled.
> This is hugely important if an install fails and a new install will not
> succeed over the failed one, at which point you're really stuck.

That looks like good ideas.
The first feature should be easy. To write a log containing all files
installed. Maybe a tree like view would be cool.
Something like:

pack1:
-> file1
-> file 2
....

pack2:
-> file1
-> file2

and so on...

The second feature is interesting but will be a bit more complicated to
implement.
I guess we'll need to find a nice way to catch the installation failure.
Thus, retrieve all files installed maybe from that log of feature1 and
uninstall all of them. I think we could send the data to the uninstaller
listener..
i have to check the sources.. not very familiar with this part yet.


> I'm happy to help with these new features too!

Any help is always welcome !
Feel free to exchange ideas, code and even better already done piece of work
:-)

Each patch, fix or new feature will be tested, approved by developers and
julien and then commited to cvs for next release.

Cheers,
fabrice