TiddlyInstall: A universal, reusable, install system

hckrnws

TiddlyInstall: A universal, reusable, install system

(robertsdotpm.github.io)

by Uptrenda

andai
12h
This project is inspired by TiddlyWiki, which is from 2004, and apparently still going!
https://tiddlywiki.com/
TiddlyInstall appears to be unrelated (and not by the same author?), and serving a very different function. The only similarity is the "single HTML file" part?
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Previous discussions on TiddlyWiki for context:
Why every programmer should have a Tiddlywiki (2011)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2913670
TiddlyWiki: a local, single-page wiki (2017)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13523660
Tiddlywiki – A non-linear personal web notebook (2018)
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18107271
1. Uptrenda • OP
  02h
  I love tiddlywiki. It even has plugins for AES encryption. So you can save all your notes encrypted every time. It's really interesting to consider the design of tiddlywiki as a decentralized application system. I think the design could work well for a lot of things. As it is built around users managing their own data.
pmarreck
02h
So basically Nix, but more user-friendly except WAY more limited?
murderfs
44h
> Designed by Matthew Roberts and implemented by Claude. If you like this software why not hire me?
Why would I hire you when I could pay $17 for a Claude subscription?
1. mooman219
  03h
  Yeah I agree with that sentiment. The readme is also just a run on mess as well, so it doesn't not inspire confidence.
treetalker
25h
> One file, like TiddlyWiki
> TiddlyInstall is a single HTML file. This page carries the installer programs, the runtime catalogue, and all the code that makes, edits and signs them
1. Uptrenda • OP
  14h
  Click save page, buddy.
Uptrenda • OP
04h
Author here: TiddlyInstall is based on the observation that programs written for runtimes like Python, Nodejs, and so on -- all follow the same basic requirements for installation. In that they need the runtime installed and then the software. Existing approaches like freezing apps and trying to port it to an exe directly usually break.
The simplest possible approach is to install the runtime on a users computer, isolated, with the package inside it. It's wasteful in terms of disk space but can be generalised to build reusable installers that work for just about any language.
Reusable installers
A reusable installer reads its own meta-data to decide on the runtime to install and the project. Linux and Mac are supported through a bash script while all windows versions use an NSIS program. The unusual thing about this is once you build the reusable installers since it's just meta-data everything can be edited inside the browser without compiling new binaries.
Like TiddlyWiki: You can actually download this entire system as a single HTML page to create installers without ever needing a server. Though Github project support only works online at the moment (not a limitation, haven't added this feature yet.)
Edit: thanks HNers for checking out my project. I am actually really excited about it. I know installers aren't exactly the most exciting topic but I thought you would all appreciate a different take on it.