The Business of Software

Hi BoS,

What do you think is the most convenient file format to deliver software?

1. Installers
2. Standalone apps
3. ZIP, RAR or EXE
4. Direct format: PDF, ...

Actually I'm testing the RAR option to ship the trial version. I intend to save a bit of my bandwidth. Otherwise the bigger ZIP would eat it up :o)

I don't fancy EXE because of virii, firewall issues which could make it a trouble for prospects.

But...
Wouldn't the RAR format confuse the non-tech users?

What do you think?

I think most users wouldn't have a clue about rar files.

+1 for -RAR

It's a great compression format, but... Ask your mother what it is...

ZIP is supported by default in Windows, so it's safe.

MSI is a good alternative. Not sure if it's filtered like EXE's though. My guess is that it isn't nearly as bad.

What's wrong with a .exe on your website, and then email prospects a URL?

Anything that's not an exe (on windows) adds another step between your prospect and them actually running the software. I don't think that's a good thing.

Any filter that drops exe's is likely to also drop zip files.

I can't think of a single reason to even try RAR. If you can't pay for the extra bandwidth of an exe/zip from the sales revenue, your business model sounds like a toughie.

"""I can't think of a single reason to even try RAR. If you can't pay for the extra bandwidth of an exe/zip from the sales revenue, your business model sounds like a toughie."""

Besides the fact that an installer package like Inno Setup will compress your files for you anyway.

Assuming we're talking Windows only I'd go for a .exe installer every time. Whenever I see Windows software downloads which are anything else it makes me thing... "man... I might have to read the instructions just to start this thing up"... sometimes at that point I just move on.

I'm a techie and I don't have anything (to my knowledge) that can uncompress RAR. Unless I was desparate to try your product, I wouldn't go searching for other software just to uncompress it.

Good points there about the RAR.

But personally, I get nervous whenever I download EXE/installer. So I presume it's the same with people out there... or is it just my paranoid mind?

>But personally, I get nervous whenever I download EXE/installer.

How would this be different than if your RAR contains the EXE/Installer? Aren't you equally nervous when clicking on an EXE hiding within a RAR package?

I think that making the end user doing one extra step in order to install your software isn't going to help your sales.

But that extra step allows to me rain down a complete scan on the archive and its contents before anything gets in my system.
Unlike EXEs which are more "sensitive" ;o)

@ Magnus
Will prospects abandon the download because of archive type?

Sidenote:
My app is B2C.
My customers do not know what md5 is.
They might get access to the app from different directories /!\

MCoder, you need to get comfortable with this fundamental fact very early: you are not your customers.  You are NOT your customers.  You.  Are.  Not.  Your.  Customers.

Your customers want to click twice on something and run it.  They will not scan it for viruses.  They will not check MD5 signatures.  They do not care where they got it from.  All of these things just prevent them from enjoying your software.

Give them what they want.  Give them an installer, and make it absolutely braindead simple to use. 

(Hands up here: whose B2C software includes a screen that asks for the install path?  Like your users care -- dump it in Program Files, like everything else.  Do you ask whether to create a link on the desktop?  It is just as easy for them to hit the delete key as to uncheck your box -- add the link, save a screen.  Yes, for pete's sake, they DO want Start Menu entries, and they do NOT want to rename your program group.  etc, etc)

Snap!

Thanks Patrick for the heads-up. I've never shipped an installer before. Only zipped files. Anyone can open an ... ...

!?!

All.    Right.    I got it ;o)

Now, looking for a quick installer solution.

Thank you all very much.

InnoSetup and Nullsoft are two good, quick options.  There are scads out there, but those two have worked well for me.

Exactly, InnoSetup wins:

http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?joel.3.247857.20

I'll check it out immediately.

As a software consumer, I'd rather have a .EXE since I don't perceive any extra safety from a .ZIP.  What _does_ make me feel a little safer is if the .EXE is signed -- that way I know that at least it probably came from the creator without having been tampered with -- but to Patrick's point, I'm not a typical consumer either.

+1 InnoSetup

Does InnoSetup let you create an MSI?

+1 Inno setup with ISTool

Patrick's tips are great, have just changed the scripts  :)

But beware when sending the download link, don't use a direct link to the EXEs or Gmail users may not receive the link.

@Ryan
As far as I can see,  EXE output only.

@MCoder

Thanks. Muchly appreciated.

MSI is a good alternative to EXE for those firewall and pesky problems. I've not used InnoSetup for anything in well over a year, and never looked at MSI there before. (I use MSI installers.)

Just wondering can you send MSI via Gmail as an attachment?

to OP. I would use EXE, but my EXE is unsigned and InternetExplorer "complains" about my software is unsigned.

The only way I found is to put the EXE installer into ZIP. It helps.

A zip/rar with an exe in it is just as dangerous as an exe.
I know this, you know this - the IT admin at your customer doesn't (and neither does the pop up warning message writer at Microsoft)
I have to zip .exe sent from development to testing because the internal email wont allow them to read .exe attachments - 'for security reasons' , this attitude isn't rare.

We have a simple free installer that is also capable of exporting to NSIS as of the latest version:

http://installer.excelsior-usa.com

There is also a paid version that adds some bells and whistles.

@Martin

> ...wont allow them to read .exe attachments - 'for security reasons'.

Spot on! My host doesn't allow EXE files of any size.

Alternatives:

File hosting.
http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?biz.5.777947.3

Yet another "radical" alternative by Patrick:

Web Apps vs. Desktop Apps (Not That Thread Again!)
http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?biz.5.778357.21

I think the switch is worth it beyond the shipping/install issues.