Prepare an MS Windows Binary Installer about pysolfc

[shlomif]

The solver is working fine in the latest build, so I am closing this bug. Thanks @Programator2 and all!

[shlomif]

With the binary Installer, I am getting this error on a windows 7 x86-64 VM - http://www.shlomifish.org/Files/files/images/pysolfc-2.1.3-in-a-win7-vbox-vm.png . @Programator2 : any ideas?

[Programator2]

Oh right, I see that pysol.exe needs Microsoft VC++ redistributable v100:

D:\pysol_win_dist\dist>dumpbin /dependents pysol.exe
Microsoft (R) COFF/PE Dumper Version 14.10.25019.0
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.


Dump of file pysol.exe

File Type: EXECUTABLE IMAGE

  Image has the following dependencies:

    USER32.dll
    SHELL32.dll
    *MSVCR100.dll*
    KERNEL32.dll
...

We have two options:

• bundle the dll with the binary using py2exe
• bundle a vcredist installer with the installer

I'm inclined towards the second option. What do you think @shlomif ?

[shlomif]

On Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:30:24 -0700 Roderik Ploszek ***@***.***> wrote: Oh right, I see that pysol.exe needs Microsoft VC++ redistributable v100: ``` D:\pysol_win_dist\dist>dumpbin /dependents pysol.exe Microsoft (R) COFF/PE Dumper Version 14.10.25019.0 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Dump of file pysol.exe File Type: EXECUTABLE IMAGE Image has the following dependencies: USER32.dll SHELL32.dll *MSVCR100.dll* KERNEL32.dll ... ``` We have two options: - bundle the dll with the binary using py2exe - bundle a vcredist installer with the installer I'm inclined towards the second option. What do you think @shlomif ?

What is a vcredist installer? How do the options differ in effect?

…

-- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ First stop for Perl beginners - http://perl-begin.org/ Faith: Becky… you have a lot of potential. You’re more than a pretty face. Becky: Heh, I knew that I have potential, but do you really think I have a pretty face? — http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/Buffy/A-Few-Good-Slayers/ Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .

[Programator2]

Visual C++ Redistributable (vcredist) is a package that installs MSVCR***.dll library to a system.

With the second option, if someone who doesn't have msvcr100.dll downloads the 7z archive, it won't work because the library would be included only with the installer.

With the first option, both 7z archive and installer would work on a system without msvcr100.dll.

Otherwise there are no differences.

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : getting it to work from the 7z archive is not a big priority. Do what you see fit. Thanks!

[Programator2]

No problem.

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : now I am getting this error dialog box upon installing in my win7 vm - http://www.shlomifish.org/Files/files/images/pysolfc-2.1.3-in-a-win7-vbox-vm--install-error.png . Can you look into fixing it?

[Programator2]

Hm, strange. I'll look into it.

[shlomif]

On Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:43:58 +0000 (UTC) Roderik Ploszek ***@***.***> wrote: Hm, strange. I'll look into it.

thanks.

…

-- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ http://is.gd/KNvczZ - The FSF Announces New Versions of the GPL Chuck Norris is a real programmer. He writes programs by implementing the most optimised machines for them using real atoms. — http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/bits/facts/Chuck-Norris/ Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .

[shlomif]

Thanks @Programator2 ! On my win 7 vm, PySol FC now installs and runs successfully. One problem is that the solver for FreeCell (and I presume for black hole and all in a row as well) is disabled, but it's still very good progress. thanks again.

[Programator2]

Great! I'll look into enabling the solver.
We can also bundle the fc-solve binary together with the installer, as it was the case with version 2.0 installer.

[shlomif]

On Tue, 27 Mar 2018 17:53:32 +0000 (UTC) Roderik Ploszek ***@***.***> wrote: Great! I'll look into enabling the solver.

thanks.

We can also bundle the fc-solve binary together with the installer, as it was the case with version 2.0 installer.

sounds good.

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-- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ Funny Anti-Terrorism Story - http://shlom.in/enemy Chuck Norris can convince everyone that the colour of the bikeshed should be his favourite colour. — http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/bits/facts/Chuck-Norris/ Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : any news regarding the Freecell solver? Note that there is now also http://www.shlomifish.org/open-source/projects/black-hole-solitaire-solver/ but I'm not sure how popular these two games are, so integrating it is not too critical. Anyway, do you need any help? Thanks.

[Programator2]

@shlomif Sorry for not responding. Yes, solver will work when it's bundled with the pysol binary. I just need a zipped version of fc-solve. Could you add an artifact for that in fc-solve appveyor? It should be the 32-bit version. Aftwerwards, I'll just bundle it with pysol.

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : I can, yes. Does it have to be statically linked? Or can I just put fc-solve.exe and freecell-solver.dll together? Note that there are also some data files for presets/etc. though their location can be relative to the binary.

[Programator2]

@shlomif You can put them together. Keep the folder structure as it is when it's installed and it should be ok. Thanks!

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : thanks! I'll be getting to that

[Programator2]

@shlomif fc-solve is now bundled with the installer, see 1aa4315

[shlomif]

On Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:20:45 -0700 Roderik Ploszek ***@***.***> wrote: @shlomif fc-solve is now bundled with the installer, see 1aa4315

fabulous ! Let me try. Thanks!

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-- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ http://is.gd/htwEXQ - Integrating GNU Guile into GNU coreutils Jessica on the phone: Sel, you’re getting strange lately, but you are becoming more amusing in the process. — http://www.shlomifish.org/humour/Selina-Mandrake/ Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .

[shlomif]

@Programator2 : thanks! The solver works fine for freecell and for Seahaven Towers, but doesn't for Baker's Dozen. I think I'll have to build the .zip with the rights limits.

[Programator2]

@shlomif You're right. Sounds good.