PyInstallShield is a simple, compact Gtk-based, cross-platform installation program written in Python. PyInstallShield is now bilingual (Spanish and English). It is tweaked for installing Python applications but should work for others as well.
PyInstallShield is known to run on Linux/Unix and Windows 95/98/ME. PyInstallShield requires: Python 2.2 or better, Gtk+ 2.0.0 or better, PyGtk-2 1.99/2.00 or better. PyInstallShield is open source under the GNU Genural Public License. A copy of PyInstallShield is included inside most .tar.gz/.tar.bz2 (tarball) distributions of Pythoñol, PyBabelPhish, and PyPrint for easy, cross-platform installation.
PyInstallShield includes both a 'setup' and an 'uninstall' program. Using PyInstallShield is simple. Extract the PyInstallShield archive to a directory of your choice. Then, place all the files you wish to install for your program in the same directory you extracted PyInstallShield (or appropriate sub-directories).
Next, edit the 'install-config.txt' file in the PyInstallShield directory (detailed instructions are inside the file). Finally, test your installation by running the 'PyInstallShield' script or by running the 'INSTALL-ME.sh' script. PyInstallShield works well, but still has limitations and is still considered Beta code.
PyInstallShield cannot yet create 'Start' menu links or icons under Windows, a feature which may or may not be supported in the future. I'm not sure if I feel inspired enough to do the necessary hacking of the 'shelllink' in Windows, which makes adding menu shortcuts unnecessarily difficult. Under Linux/Unix, PyInstallShield does NOT add menu shortcuts, as I know most Linux users don't want programs tampering with their precious menus.
However, 'quick' start-up script executables are made on the PATH (for easily launching the program with one command), and icons can be placed in the system icon folders. Note: If you need a version of PyInstallShield that uses Gtk+1/PyGtk-1, you should obtain a copy of version 0.3 or earlier. As of version 0.4, PyInstallShield uses Gtk+2/PyGtk-2 for the user interface.
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