Aqua-Soft ForumsAn excellent idea.
Some thoughts:
Will it be easy to alter some of the icons, BMPs, AVIs to the ones I choose to use?
[preview] FlyakiteOSX v1.0
An excellent idea.Some thoughts:
Will it be easy to alter some of the icons, BMPs, AVIs to the ones I choose to use?
You'll still be able to change your system files as before - this just does a complete overhaul with accurate mac icons, avi's, etc...
But the advantage of flyapacks is that as part of flyakiteOSX, there will eventually be a selection of different icons, avi's and bmps that can be installed. That's the beauty of the whole flyapack system 
They also require a lot less work than creating a new full release so there should be a good selection to choose from in time. If you have any requests then I'm sure that Flyakite will have a requests page.
It is also hoped in time that icon authors will eventually also release their work as flyapacks to be used with FlyakiteOSX
i can't give much ideas but i have a free http server to share with everyone. my server will max out y'all connection speed. so, flyakite, if you need a mirror to upload the install pack, PM me a message.
cris.. i think you already forgot the phrase "go to sleep man" haha.
i used flyakite since the sp1 version 5 to 7.0 and also the sp2 in my other computer. cris work is very amazing. and i can't imagine he come up with a third pack/version.
cris you are very genious you deserved a lot of money for this.
good luck i can't wait to try that work of yours.
but remember to get sleep man. AM here in the philippines is PM there in us but even 3:00pm here i can still see your name on my ym and msn. 
can you share that knowledge to me....... just kidding but your my inspiration.
Been out of the aquasoft wolrd for about a year and come back to here this. WOW!!!, Hey fly I can host the files as well.
so with flyapacks, are we talking about a world where some dumba$$ like me can write a kde flyapack so some other dumba$$ could have a linux theme, if he wanted? poor chris. people are gonna be pm'ing him going, 'yeah, some dumba$$ guy wrote some dumba$$ flyapack that hosed my dumba$$ system. can you help, dumba$$?'
(the secret word is 'dumba$$')!!
Hmm... I don't think you said the word dumba$$ enough....
Yes, in theory you could have a KDE FlyaPack. However, to maintain quality control I'll still be writing the packs, since depending on what you include in each one the installer code will need to be modified and that's not something I trust anyone to do.
But all you'd have to do is send me the files, resources, etc. and then I'll convert everything into the format I need and package it all up and test before it will be available to the public.
so with flyapacks, are we talking about a world where some dumba$$ like me can write a kde flyapack so some other dumba$$ could have a linux theme, if he wanted? poor chris. people are gonna be pm'ing him going, 'yeah, some dumba$$ guy wrote some dumba$$ flyapack that hosed my dumba$$ system. can you help, dumba$$?'
(the secret word is 'dumba$$')!!
No - Flyakite and I already discussed this a lil while ago - He'll be the one making these Flyapacks - people can request for a Flyapack to be made and depending on whether he can get permission off the author's and time constraints etc (depending on if he has other plans for other flyapacks such as a huge list - or if he'll be too addicted to Half-Life 2, etc 
) then he'll be able to make it.
But no, it's not intended that anyone make Flyapacks as that will most likely result in a lot of copyright arguments as well as the fact he has to program the installer code himself. However - there's a new method for creating Flyapacks not use respatchers but I'm not going to go into it cos I don't know all the details and it's being kept a bit hush hush for now anyway.
When he's ready to release it - then you'll know
And it's not just being kept a secret cos I'm a dumba$$ lol
i figured as much. funny, the first thought i had when pondering this was: the analogy between the 'open' pc world and the 'tight control' of apple. i think it's smart (if not exhausting!) of chris to go the apple route. fewer 'themes' but better qc.
Less angry people too! If we went the open pc route, then we'd most likely have to hire a large army of ninjas! 
The only reason I'm keeping the installer source to myself is I don't want people screwing with it and then getting a million e-mails asking what this function is, or what this command does, or why they can't get it to compile, or why when they test it it doesn't work, etc. I don't want to be held responsible for other peoples problems.
It would just be an enormous hassle and not something worth dealing with. I'm not trying to be like Apple I'm just trying to make sure that things work the way they are supposed to. I've used NSIS for over a year now, and read through almost the entire user manual, so I know it well. If I released the installer code to the public who has no knowledge of NSIS what-so-ever not a single thing will make sense to them.
That's because it doesn't work by ResPatchers alone. FlyakiteSP1 and FlyakiteSP2 both use installers coded by Flyakite to install the files. FlyakiteOSX will use a similar installation method - though the installer has had to be rewritten to allow for the use of Flyapacks.
Thanks for the info
Yeah, basically to sum things up:
FlyakiteSP1 & SP2 both included physical system files. The installer would rename the original file and then extract the new one, and on restart delete the original.
FlyakiteOSX however, isn't going to use ResPatchers now (been expirementing, had some problems), but it is still going to patch the file. It instead includes a resource file. The resource file contains all of the moddified resources. Using a command line switch, the installer takes a copy of the original file and places it in a temp folder. It then injects the resource file into the original, renames the actual file in system32 or whatever, and copies the new file with the injected stuff to the folder, and again on restart deletes the original.
Basically it's an enhanced version of the method BatchMod uses, only it's been simplified and cleaned up.
I'm sorry for ask this again Flyakite, but i'm curious,
this new installer becomes like a new and advanced
version of GuiReplacer (with a similar interface)?
chris: if someone (such as myself) is already using FaKsp2, how would the new install affect us, if at all? any reason to 'upgrade'? would i have to uninstall first?
(i know this all kinda premature. just curious.)
altoprofilo
Yes and no. Yes because it patches your files, but it will be much safer. My installer is the only system file/resource replacer that can fully disable Windows File Protection while installing (built into SP1 v7.0, wasn't in the SP2 version).
shmengie
To be completely honest, there's not going to be a huge benefit if you've already got FlyakiteSP2 installed. Some icons are fixed, some bitmaps, etc. Probably some extra skins added to the installer. In actuality, it would be best to use this on a clean system, or to uninstall FlyakiteSP2. However it won't really hurt to upgrade either. I'm always trying to clean things up. Add new icons, fix old icons, fix toolbar images, etc.
Flyakite,
I like this concept very much.
Smaller download, less risk installing, easier to maintain changes (aka M$ updates)...
this is a no-brainer: go for it dude!
p.s.:
If you need a translator to Dutch, just say so.
brilliant mate....I can mirror for you if you need it
You'll still be able to change your system files as before - this just does a complete overhaul with accurate mac icons, avi's, etc...
I think you misunderstood my question.
I have other icons, AVIs and BMP that I would like to use.
These do not cover all of the replaced items, but just some of them.
For instance, I do not prefer the candycane animation, so I would like to use the ones I have. Also, I use the G5 drives by Dave Brasgalla.
This is what I would like to know, will it be possible to replace some of the items with those of my choosing?
Yes it's always possible, but not from within the installer. You will have to manually edit the file yourself.
The other option is to, with permission from the icon author and other resource authors, let me create an installer that will take care of the work for you.
UPDATE!
Wooooo! Well so I just compiled a VERY early test version of the new installer using the resource file patching method, and I can safely say.... IT WORKS! The installer contains NO system files. It contains only resource files that it uses to patch the system with.
And something everyone will benefit from, is the installer is now around 18mb at the moment, instead of the previous 30mb!
awesome chris...really looking forward to this
You da man... keep up the good work!
Update 2:
I forgot to mention before, but in addition to the above, now you NEVER EVER see any Windows File Protection dialogs, even on restart! Also, the installer doesn't close explorer.exe now, so your desktop doesn't disappear, making the installation appear more seamless.
Woo I'm excited, lol.
We've got some good news about this that's gonna get you guys all excited (Chris and I both are!)
But we're going to tease you and not reveal it until it's released. But had to say something cos it's quite exciting.
Here's a quote from an im convo with Chris showing his excitement...
Flyakite, 23/11/2004 18:29 :
HELL YES
Also (on a sidenote) he's done some fantastic work with the re-coding for the installer and so now it's going to me more flawless, more seamingless, and more worthy of ninjas!
Edit: Hehe, he beat me to the description of his new installer, but heh - still keeping the other exciting news hush hush lol - like a ninja! God I love the word ninja!