Convert the README file to markdown

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Robert Knight 2011-12-06 15:08:12 +00:00
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@ -17,44 +17,35 @@ the location of the compressed packages and the path to the update script.
Once the updater has been started, it: Once the updater has been started, it:
1. Waits for the application to exit 1. Waits for the application to exit
2. Acquires the necessary priviledges to install the updates, prompting 2. Acquires the necessary priviledges to install the updates, prompting
the user if necessary. the user if necessary.
3. Installs the updates, displaying progress to the user in a small dialog 3. Installs the updates, displaying progress to the user in a small dialog
4. Performs cleanup and any additional actions required as part of the update 4. Performs cleanup and any additional actions required as part of the update
5. Starts the new version of the main application. 5. Starts the new version of the main application.
In the event of a failure during the update, the installation is rolled back In the event of a failure during the update, the installation is rolled back
to its previous state and a message is presented to the user. to its previous state and a message is presented to the user.
Building the Updater ## Building the Updater
====================
Create a new directory for the build and from that directory run: Create a new directory for the build and from that directory run:
cmake <path to source directory> cmake <path to source directory>
make make
The updater binary will be built in the src/ directory. The updater binary will be built in the src/ directory.
You should also run the tests in src/tests to verify that the updater is You should also run the tests in src/tests to verify that the updater is
functioning correctly. functioning correctly.
Preparing an Update ## Preparing an Update
===================
1. Create a directory containing your application's files, 1. Create a directory containing your application's files,
laid out in the same way and with the same permissions as they would be when installed. laid out in the same way and with the same permissions as they would be when installed.
2. Create a config file specifying how the application's files should be 2. Create a config file specifying how the application's files should be
partitioned into packages - see tools/config-template.json partitioned into packages - see tools/config-template.json
3. Use the tools/create-packages.rb script to create a file_list.xml file 3. Use the tools/create-packages.rb script to create a file_list.xml file
and a set of package files required for updates. and a set of package files required for updates.
4. Upload the file_list.xml file and packages to a server 4. Upload the file_list.xml file and packages to a server
After step 4 is done, you need to notify existing installs that an update After step 4 is done, you need to notify existing installs that an update
@ -64,45 +55,40 @@ Preparing an Update
See doc/update-hosting for more details on hosting and delivering the updates. See doc/update-hosting for more details on hosting and delivering the updates.
Invoking the Updater ## Invoking the Updater
====================
Once the application has downloaded an update, it needs to invoke it. The syntax is: Once the application has downloaded an update, it needs to invoke it. The syntax is:
updater --install-dir <install-dir> --package-dir <package-dir> --script <script file> updater --install-dir <install-dir> --package-dir <package-dir> --script <script file>
Where <install-dir> is the directory which the application is installed into, Where `<install-dir>` is the directory which the application is installed into,
<package-dir> is the directory containing the packages required for the update `<package-dir>` is the directory containing the packages required for the update
and <script> is the file_list.xml file describing the update. and `<script>` is the `file_list.xml` file describing the update.
Once the updater has run, it will launch the file specified in the file_list.xml file Once the updater has run, it will launch the file specified in the `file_list.xml` file
as being the main application binary. as being the main application binary.
See the updater test in src/tests/test-update.rb for an example See the updater test in `src/tests/test-update.rb` for an example
of how to invoke the updater. of how to invoke the updater.
You should design the process used to download and launch the updater so that new You should design the process used to download and launch the updater so that new
versions of the updater itself can be delivered as part of the update if necessary. versions of the updater itself can be delivered as part of the update if necessary.
Customizing the Updater ## Customizing the Updater
=======================
To customize the application name, organization and messages displayed by the updater: To customize the application name, organization and messages displayed by the updater:
1. Edit the AppInfo class (in AppInfo.h, AppInfo.cpp) to set the name 1. Edit the AppInfo class (in AppInfo.h, AppInfo.cpp) to set the name
of the application and associated organization. of the application and associated organization.
2. Replace the icons in src/resources 2. Replace the icons in src/resources
3. Change the product name and organization in src/resources/updater.rc 3. Change the product name and organization in src/resources/updater.rc
4. If you are building the updater on Windows and have a suitable Authenticode 4. If you are building the updater on Windows and have a suitable Authenticode
certificate, use it to sign the Windows binary. This will make the application certificate, use it to sign the Windows binary. This will make the application
show a less scary UAC prompt if administrator permissions are required show a less scary UAC prompt if administrator permissions are required
to complete the installation. to complete the installation.
Updater Dependencies ## Updater Dependencies
====================
The external dependencies of the updater binary are: The external dependencies of the updater binary are:
* The C/C++ runtime libraries (Linux, Mac), * The C/C++ runtime libraries (Linux, Mac),
@ -110,8 +96,7 @@ Updater Dependencies
* zlib (Linux, Mac) * zlib (Linux, Mac)
* native UI library (Win32 API on Windows, Cocoa on Mac, GTK on Linux if available) * native UI library (Win32 API on Windows, Cocoa on Mac, GTK on Linux if available)
Full and Delta Updates ## Full and Delta Updates
======================
The simplest auto-update implementation is for existing installs The simplest auto-update implementation is for existing installs
to download a complete copy of the new version and install it. This is to download a complete copy of the new version and install it. This is
@ -131,23 +116,23 @@ Full and Delta Updates
There are several ways in which this can be done: There are several ways in which this can be done:
Pre-computed Delta Updates * Pre-computed Delta Updates
- For each release, create a full update plus delta updates from the For each release, create a full update plus delta updates from the
previous N releases. Users of recent releases will receive a small previous N releases. Users of recent releases will receive a small
delta update. Users of older releases will receive the full update. delta update. Users of older releases will receive the full update.
Server-computed Delta Updates * Server-computed Delta Updates
- The server receives a request for an update from client version X and in response, The server receives a request for an update from client version X and in response,
computes an update from version X to the current version Y, possibly computes an update from version X to the current version Y, possibly
caching that information for future use. The client then receives the caching that information for future use. The client then receives the
delta file_list.xml file and downloads only the listed packages. delta file_list.xml file and downloads only the listed packages.
Applications such as Chrome and Firefox use a mixture of the above methods. Applications such as Chrome and Firefox use a mixture of the above methods.
Client-computed Delta Updates * Client-computed Delta Updates
- The client downloads the file_list.xml file for the latest version and The client downloads the file_list.xml file for the latest version and
computes a delta update file locally. It then downloads only the required computes a delta update file locally. It then downloads only the required
packages and invokes the updater, which installs only the changed or updated packages and invokes the updater, which installs only the changed or updated
files from those packages. files from those packages.
This is similar to Linux package management systems. This is similar to Linux package management systems.