YaPI (yet another Puppy Installer) install any Puppy iso

[mavrothal]

search in all plugged-in (mounted and unmounted) devices.
This should start in the background and will hopefully be finished when that question comes up.

Hopefully with the user's permission...

...and Cutting Edge is not for beginners

...Nor for suicidals

[L18L]

...and Cutting Edge is not for beginners

...Nor for suicidals

.. for trolls

[bigpup]

search in all plugged-in (mounted and unmounted) devices.
This should start in the background and will hopefully be finished when that question comes up.

Hopefully with the user's permission...

I think you give permission when you start the program.

The universal Installer as always done a search, in the background, for all storage devices on the computer, mounted or unmounted, before showing the list of possible devices to install Puppy on.
That is part of just running the process.
How is this any different?

Other programs do similar things.

Example:
Start Pmount
Start Gparted
Start Rox file manager
Etc.....

These do searches, in the background, to give you there initial displays.

[mavrothal]

I think you give permission when you start the program

I think permission must be given and not assumed given.
Above all, permission must be asked for first.

But beyond that, pmaount or gparted are programs that have as a job to manipulate drives and partitions and do that because the user asked them to. And still do not search the drives and only mount them momentarily to check filesystem and space. Rox will not mount anything. If the user asks to see the content of a specific partition filemnt will mount what the user explicitly asked for and nothing else. And when you want to install a puppy or create a savefile, drives and partitions are mounted (again) momentarily to test filesystem and space available, and never searched for anything.
So no, is not even close.

Also if you think of it, some may have hundreds of puppies. If they just want to install the latest download they should now find it through the dozens of ISOs. So, the said functionality not only assumes that the user never tested what (s)he is about to install but that (s)he does not even know if and where the said ISO is.

I think Dry Falls' suggestion may be the most appropriate if you want to go down the install-any-untested-ISO road. Edit filemnt so when the user clicks on a puppy ISO to offer the option to install or view, similar to what filemnt does now with SFSs. This will also make the installer's job (and coding) considerable easier and safer.

But that's me. I'm sure you'll do as you see fit.

[bigpup]

But that's me. I'm sure you'll do as you see fit.

Not up to me.
L18L is doing the coding!

I can see we are not going to agree on much.
However, disagreement of how to accomplish something and an open discussion of ideas, always results in a better solution.
However, a wise man said:
"But that's me. I'm sure you'll do as you see fit".

Also if you think of it, some may have hundreds of puppies. If they just want to install the latest download they should now find it through the dozens of ISOs. So, the said functionality assumes that (s)he does not even know if and where the said ISO is.

Well, my hundreds of Puppy iso files are stored on this forum.
That way I always have the latest version.

I would be very happy just looking at an alphabetical listing of iso's and not having to go do a long, step by step, navigation through the file system to get to the location I put the iso file.

I know, a smart person would only put the iso files in one location all the time.
I am not that smart

OH! And halfway into the process. I would realize I forgot to mount the partition(S) the iso files were on.
Again, I am not that smart.

[bigpup]

Well, maybe this Universal Installer will turn into it's own program.
Able to install any Puppy, anyway you want to install it, to any storage device.

No reason Puppy cannot have two Universal Installers.

[mavrothal]

No reason Puppy cannot have two Universal Installers.

As I mentioned many times before a puppy has whatever the puppy builder wants to put in. Would be a good idea though if it develops to something altogether different to have a distinct name. Super/Smart/... Puppy Universal Installer might be better (Actually SPUI would make sense for this case )

[8Geee]

If we can have two one of them should be like the one found in Slacko5.7, the other as modern PUI with f2fs ( theres 7Gb remaining unused in your USB stick... OH NO!!! )

[L18L]

I would be very happy just looking at an alphabetical listing of iso's and not having to go do a long, step by step, navigation through the file system to get to the location I put the iso file.

I know, a smart person would only put the iso files in one location all the time.
I am not that smart

OH! And halfway into the process. I would realize I forgot to mount the partition(S) the iso files were on.
Again, I am not that smart.

I am also not smart

This thread has been started with the question
"can another than the running puppy also be installed from PUI?"

Simple question
There was no simple answer "no, why should it?".

Ever thought about what PuppyMaster does?
Not just renaming "Puppy Universal Installer" to "Quirky Universal Installer"
He is creating a new tool.

And maybe this will become a great new tool.

[bigpup]

Note:
I had to give it exec permission for it to run.
Should point that out.

L18L,

Thanks for willingness to consider ideas by others!!!

Disagreement of how to accomplish something and an open discussion of ideas, always results in a better solution.

You have proven that a truly good pice of software can be produced by simply following this principle.

Thank you very much!!

[bigpup]

L18L,

If the puppyinstaller151211 is just to show what it will look like. OK.

If it is suppose to be functional, to the point of doing an actual install. I am seeing problems.

So, what would you like us to check?

Some problems:
On start. The console is popping up, along with the program window.

When you shutdown the program. The /tmp/PUI is not cleared of any data files.
This showed up as a problem if you restarted the program. The data still in /tmp/PUI is used. No real fresh new search is done.

When selecting the type of device to install on.
If you select CD.
It gives you the info message.
When you close this message.
The program closes.
It should go back to the select a storage type of device window.

From a running full install of Tahrpup6.0
The Tahrpup6.0.iso is on a non-mounted device.
Tried install this running Puppy.
Got to the point that it found the Tahrpup6.0.iso.
Because the iso was not mounted, got this info window. (image 1)
Help info window does not really give any help (image2)
It should say something about needing to have the iso mounted.
(Full installs need the iso mounted to use it for an install)

[L18L]

If it is suppose to be functional, to the point of doing an actual install. I am seeing problems.

It is supposed to be functional to the point of
- having chosen the Puppy to be installed
- having chosen device where to install the chosen Puppy
Nothing can be installed at the moment (and the next versions).

On start. The console is popping up, along with the program window.

Launching a script from console is always good for debugging and watching output of the script. I have forced it to run in console. Can be reverted when development has been finished. You will get this YaPI console black on lightyellow next version.

When you shutdown the program. The /tmp/PUI is not cleared of any data files.
This showed up as a problem if you restarted the program. The data still in /tmp/PUI is used. No real fresh new search is done.

Thanks for pointing to that, too.

When selecting the type of device to install on.
If you select CD.
It gives you the info message.
When you close this message.
The program closes.
It should go back to the select a storage type of device window.

Yes, I have not changed anything in old code for CD which exits with message "not yet implemented".
CD in my case, I do not have one.
Or "old SCSI Hard Disk". If I choose it I get my SSD on SATA...
This is another issue I want to re-code "from scratch".
I do not want to get devices offered that I do not have!

From a running full install of Tahrpup6.0
The Tahrpup6.0.iso is on a non-mounted device.
Tried install this running Puppy.
Got to the point that it found the Tahrpup6.0.iso.
Because the iso was not mounted, got this info window. (image 1)
Help info window does not really give any help (image2)
It should say something about needing to have the iso mounted.
(Full installs need the iso mounted to use it for an install)

needs re-mount if selected

Enough TODO for next version.

Code: Select all

#151212orLater fix for http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=101127&start=70

Thank you very much.

BTW, if you want to look into the code, here is how I edit my code:
- open it in geany
- click Document LineWrapping
- click View ShowSidebar
You might try to change some of the help texts by yourself, I you like.

[bigpup]

L18L,

Thanks!

I know how to look at the code.
I just do not know how to code
I can cut and paste enough to get into trouble.

I knew some issues would pop up about how the Universal Installer was doing things.
I think this is the first time it has ever really gotten any pretesting, by users, before a new version gets released.
Usually, in the past, a new version gets put into the next new release of Puppy and all you can do is just use it. Defects and all.

Wish some people besides you and me would jump in with testing.

Did we scare mavrothal off

I would like to see the idea of selecting to install to a CD and have the program Burniso2cd pop up.
I guess the Universal installer could have the code to actually burn an iso image to a CD/DVD, but sending you to a program that does only that, seems also a good idea.

The code for Burniso2cd is not that big.
I guess it could be added to the Universal Installer

You might try to change some of the help texts by yourself, I you like.

I will be happy to help with that, as soon as I know for sure what you make it do and when it does it

[gcmartin]

Sent PBurn author your request via PM: it may have a cli option that is useful to an actual burn.

But, simply making a new ISO could/should be acceptable in most cases, too, allowing users to select their favorite burn utility.

Or, a final ISO burn screen could put up either instruction or allow user to choose his burn option.

I like the ISO options that you are considering

[zigbert]

pBurn allows you to go straight to iso-mode...

Code: Select all

pburn -m iso

...but it lacks an option to write a specific iso-file from cli. Shouldn't be too hard to implement if you want me to...

[L18L]

If the puppyinstaller151211 is just to show what it will look like. OK.

Sorry, forgot to answer this: Yes just look is enough.

Wish some people besides you and me would jump in with testing.

Your wish has been fulfilled.

Did we scare mavrothal off ?

No, I don 't think so. He is busy with woof-CE. BTW, it is always good to follow the links he puts into his posts.

As for burn things, as i don't have neither burner nor CD/DV/blu-ray, the only thing I can add to that discussion is:
This script should be for novices also, no confusing questions about speed and multisession:
burn should always use slowest speed.
burn should always use enable multisession.

dd can be used to write iso on usb stick.
This iso should always be converted by isohybrid to be used on any system, BIOS and EFI.
Yes, there are tools to make use of full size of the stick.
Just my 0.03 EUR for burning.

[bigpup]

About CD/DVD burning. This script should be for novices also, no confusing questions about speed and multisession:
burn should always use slowest speed.
burn should always use enable multisession.

Definitely set the burn speed low and do not give option to change it.
I think a lot of CD/DVD boot problems are caused by burning the iso image too fast.
I never use any burn speed higher than 8.

zigbert's Pburn works very well, but it does give lots of options.
Well, it is a feature rich Burn program.

As for burn things, as i don't have neither burner nor CD/DV/blu-ray,

If you code it. We will test it!!!

[L18L]

Rebuilt from scratch...and far away from alpha...

Just play with it please.

Two things are working:
- Use entire device where iso is dd'ed to.
- if isobooter is found iso is copied into this partition.

In my working example:
- sdc is a USB stick with the isohybrid fd64-701.iso (no DOS partition table thus not in the menu)
- sdd is a USB stick with isobooter
- you can start from command line using 'this' and other parameters, see usage..


Need info about CD/DVD writer (PuppyPin line) ? Is it 'drive_sr0' ???
Any suggestions for improving TEXT and HELP welcomed.

[mavrothal]

Tried it briefly.
In the "forgotten" search, does not search the mounted devices!
If no ISOs are found Xdialog runs and having nothing to display spits an error screen.
Last searched partition stays mounted.
When you cancel after a successful search spits an error about missing vmlinuz then a help screen and then the make a choice window. If you cancel again then it quits.
No further testing/looking into it.

[L18L]

Tried it briefly.
In the "forgotten" search, does not search the mounted devices!

That was intended.

If no ISOs are found Xdialog runs and having nothing to display spits an error screen.

Thank you, fixed. (I hope so, can not test)

Last searched partition stays mounted.
When you cancel after a successful search spits an error about missing vmlinuz then a help screen and then the make a choice window. If you cancel again then it quits.

Thank you, fixed. (tested)

No further testing/looking into it.

I do like short reports )
Thank you again