Call for Gtk+ Win32 contributors!

I've done the first release for the win32 binaries that will be at some point an .msi or .msm installer, you can grab it here as .tar.bz2 or .zip.

After discussing with some people about the issue, it looks like .msi is the way to go, it's the only missing bit to add value over the existing .zip from Tor and the gladewin32 releases. But I'll need help with this task.

We need contributors!

Right now is really hard for me to run Windows, I can do it with VMware but the lack of ram on my laptop makes it hard to try some things without making the swap play break dance, and I cannot leave the native Linux session for more than a couple of minutes due to other reasons. So I need people familiar with development environments on Windows, and if possible some experience with WiX, the opensource .msi creator.

Another problem is that the .mo message catalogs format on Linux and Win32 is different. So internationalization is broken. I need to try some kind of fix that doesn't break the jhbuild automation tool chain.

Why .MSI?

Well, let's say that it's the DEB/RPM of Windows, it handles version issues and it's deployable on hundred of machines through Active Directory, it doesn't solve the dependency issue, but you can bundle .msm, which is like a modular .msi, inside a .msi, which would make the release of third party apps easier. At the same time, it would make integration with Windows RADs easier too.

Why do you work on this if you don't run Windows?

I want everyone to be able to do what I do, enjoy PyGTK, there are people that cannot choose their operating system, and at the same time, they would like to be able to write GUI apps easily. I want to remove this "Linux/*BSD/Solaris Users Only" advertise on the doors of the GNOME community.

At the same time, I find the current release process of GTK+ on windows obscure, due to lack of time on the people that are doing the releases already, a proper documentation of the process is hard to get and requires self made scripts. My will is to integrate everything in just a .jhbuildrc and a moduleset, so anyone can give it a try with familiar tools.

Comments

[Gabriel Gunderson]

Keep up the great work. We need this to help our Windows friends to get their first taste of PyGTK.

[Alberto Ruiz]

Thanks Gabriel, it is the comments like yours what keep me working on this :)

[miguev]

You know I know what I know... a little of GTK+, not so little of Python (or so I hope) and practically nothing of Windows, but if you still think I could help just let me know!

[toojays]

Thanks for your work on this Alberto.

I use Ubuntu in my job, but my boss uses Windows. Without your easy W32 PyGTK installer, I would not have been able to choose PyGTK+Kiwi to build my latest project.

I still need to install several different packages on my bosses' computer (PyGTK+crypto+serial+Kiwi+gazpacho+...) but since all these packages now have easy installers, it is actually feasible for me to do this.

[Alberto Ruiz]

@miguev:

Mmm... I'll call you :P

@toojays:

I'm really glad to know it was useful. As soon as I end with the Gtk+ releasing stuff, I will focus on PyGTK releases.

[Adam]

Would remote access to a Windows XP VMware Server instance (on a fast pipe of course) be useful for your testing? I could easily provide such...

[Nate Nielsen]

BTW, your work, and everyone who's contributed to GTK+ and gtkmm on Windows is really appreciated.

When the project I'm working on gets closer to release, I'd be willing to help with polish, MSI installer etc... if nobody has stepped up to the plate before that point.

[pvanhoof]

ps. If somebody gets a hello world Gtk+ app running on a WinCE device before GUADEC, he'll get free beer for the entire week from me.

:-)

[Alberto Ruiz]

@Adam:

That woud be great for me! Please, contact me. aruiz at gnome dot org

@Nate:

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

@Philip:

Heh, there is so much to do...

[Felipe]

Hi, just right now I am developing an applicaction with Glade/GTK on windows, and it was very hard set up the development environment (mainly because windows sucks if you don't want to use a RAD like visual studio)

so please don't quit this job.

I'll try to write a little tutorial for the people that want to develop Glade/GTK apps with Dev-Cpp

[Lorenzo]

Desde luego, si consigues que un instalador para Windows serás el héroe indiscutible de toda una horda de programadores :-)

Por cierto, has pensado en una pequeña ponencia en la Guadec-ES que anime a los hackers a ayudarte? Quizás un hackfest o un pequeño sprint pueden dar sus frutos....

[Lorenzo]

Desde luego, si consigues un instalador para Windows serás el héroe indiscutible de toda una horda de programadores :-)

Por cierto, has pensado en una pequeña ponencia en la Guadec-ES que anime a los hackers a ayudarte? Quizás un hackfest o un pequeño sprint pueden dar sus frutos....

[Alberto Ruiz]

@Lorenzo:

Me temo que no puedo ir esta edicion. Esto de trabajar en Irlanda tiene sus problemas.