dhis2-devs team mailing list archive

[Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 3 March 2010 09:58, Knut Staring <knutst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 10:49 AM, Jason Pickering
> <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, it is certainly possible, but this is not how the DHIS2 live app
>> is launched. It is not launched with a bat script.
>>
>> So, if we want users to have a "double clickable" icon to start the
>> application and not a batch file, then it would need to occur from
>> within the DHIS2 Live EXE itself. That is how I see it, but maybe Bob
>> has other comments.
>>
>> The downside of this is that users may  need the Postgres service
>> running anyway, for instance if they need to use the PivotTables
>> without having DHIS2 running.
>>
>
> Well, could be a resource issue, of course - you'd rather not have Jetty eat
> resources when not needed. On the other hand, the Postgres service would
> always be running (assuming you set it to automatic). I don't think it would
> be to onerous to ask a user to start DHIS2 before refreshing the Pivot
> table, but the resource issue could be real.
>

One can easily enough implement stop the database, start the database,
stop the webserver, start the webserver as menu options from the tray.
 But I can imagine this could be very confusing for users.

>>
>> I think a service is the best way to go at this point for the Desktop
>> install. It is not that much more complex to add a custom user and a
>> custom service.  Comments welcome however.

By far the best way to go longer term with the desktop install would
be to get first class citizenship for the h2 database.  Which I
suspect largely means making the dxf dumps more complete.

>
> I say go with what is easiest for you. But I in general like the use of the
> tray application, especially if we can get developers from OpenMRS working
> on it. We could perhaps also use it for the Public Health Information
> Toolkit (PHIT)
> http://www.openhealthconsortium.org/wiki/doku.php?id=phit
> The needs of many tools are very similar - even PHP apps like iHRIS perhaps,
> if ran on Quercus http://quercus.caucho.com/ as Saptarshi has suggested. So
> the Launcher/installer/updater could be factored out as a separate project,
> perhaps (though I know you just merged the installer it with trunk....)
> Knut
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Knut Staring <knutst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> > I'm pretty sure it is - and I think I did it (though I certainly also
>> > used
>> > it as service). Looking through my bat scripts (attached) I see this
>> > line:
>> > @@DHIS2DIR@@\pgsql\bin\pg_ctl start -D @@DHIS2DIR@@\pgsql\data
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 10:35 AM, Jason Pickering
>> > <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Not installing postgres as a Windows service would remove a
>> >> significant amount of the complexity of the installation. If it could
>> >> be done, it would really be great. So, prior to launching jetty,
>> >> Postgres would need to be fired up manually. It is certainly worth
>> >> considering if this is possible.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > If we are committed to using the dhis2-live model for the desktop
>> >> > installs - with the tray icon+jetty+hibernate-points-to-whatever -
>> >> > then it makes sense to expand on our current lonely "exit" option to
>> >> > include others such as upgrading the war, updating the database and
>> >> > what have you.  This is also a direction it seems the openmrs guys
>> >> > are
>> >> > considering taking with our approach.  We can then build in as much
>> >> > or
>> >> > as little flexibility is desired.  There are many rich maintenance
>> >> > use
>> >> > cases which we can deal with here rather than with an uber-smart
>> >> > installer. The important thing with the trayicon app is that it has
>> >> > full control over the webserver - so it could pause it, run psql or
>> >> > mysql scripts - unpause etc.  Also manage hibernate connections
>> >> > through a nicer gui dialog than hand editing hibernate.properties.
>> >> > There's a list of maintenance tasks which we should consider.  Given
>> >> > that it is easy for the app to read the hibernate.properties (and
>> >> > manage the webserver) it could also be possible to intelligently
>> >> > select between running pgdumps vs mysqldumps and restores and the
>> >> > like.  My two cents.  Anyone interested in doing a little bit of
>> >> > swing?
>> >> >
>> >> > Cheers
>> >> > Bob
>> >> >
>> >> > On 3 March 2010 08:27, Knut Staring <knutst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> >> A couple of comments:
>> >> >> While it maybe somewhat instructive to have a look at the Netbeans
>> >> >> installer, it was not targeted at Postgres and I doubt much of it
>> >> >> would
>> >> >> be
>> >> >> transferable to BitRock.
>> >> >> Also, I really think we shouldn't waste our time trying to detect
>> >> >> all
>> >> >> sorts
>> >> >> of things. Rather, there are two options:
>> >> >> 1) Create a nonstandard username for Postgres (i.e. not "postgres")
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> run
>> >> >> it on a nonstandard port (i.e. not 5432). This should avoid 99% of
>> >> >> conflicts
>> >> >> 2) State very clearly in the docs and on dhis2.org that the FULL
>> >> >> installer
>> >> >> is for people who don't already have a database engine installed. If
>> >> >> you
>> >> >> already have Postgres, it would be much better to go with the
>> >> >> minimal
>> >> >> installer, which is just DHIS2 Live and a few links in the menu.
>> >> >> THEN
>> >> >> we add
>> >> >> clear instructions as to how to modify hibernate.properties, and all
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> well.
>> >> >> Similar clear instructions for server installation, where the full
>> >> >> installer
>> >> >> would not be used would do the trick. I see very little value in
>> >> >> putting
>> >> >> more work into the installer at this point (beyond making Postgres
>> >> >> an
>> >> >> option).
>> >> >> I agree with Lars that we should strongly promote Postgres over
>> >> >> Mysql
>> >> >> (even
>> >> >> more so after Oracle's takeover). However, I think we should promote
>> >> >> the use
>> >> >> of H2 unless it is a server-type installation.
>> >> >> Knut
>> >> >>
>> >> >> On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 6:01 AM, Jason Pickering
>> >> >> <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> Hi Saptarshi,
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> It will certainly be a lot of effort, but nothing compared to the
>> >> >>> number of  man hours devoted to DHIS2. If we cannot get this
>> >> >>> product
>> >> >>> installed on more peoples machine's, all of that development effort
>> >> >>> is
>> >> >>> just wasted. So, it is absolutely critical we get a good installer
>> >> >>> together, regardless of the effort that is required.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> Could you release what you did in NetBeans, and let others, like
>> >> >>> myself that are in need of a proper installer, learn from what has
>> >> >>> been done previously. Knut has provided valuable information to me
>> >> >>> with a previous BitRock installer that he was working on.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> I think there are ways to do this, but we will need to try and be a
>> >> >>> bit more clever. :)
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> Let me know what you think.
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> Regards,
>> >> >>> Jason
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 8:29 PM, Saptarshi Purkayastha
>> >> >>> <sunbiz@xxxxxxxxx>
>> >> >>> wrote:
>> >> >>> > This is what the Netbeans-based installer is doing... Infact it
>> >> >>> > is
>> >> >>> > able
>> >> >>> > to
>> >> >>> > do that for Linux, Windows, Mac and Solaris from the beginning.
>> >> >>> > It
>> >> >>> > was
>> >> >>> > able
>> >> >>> > to detect mysql and jre's installations on the system, tomcat was
>> >> >>> > not
>> >> >>> > detectable, which could have been detected from the registry or
>> >> >>> > services
>> >> >>> > like MySQL... but it was too much effort and I lost interest in
>> >> >>> > developing
>> >> >>> > that further...
>> >> >>> > Anyways, what happens when postgres/mysql/tomcat is already
>> >> >>> > installed
>> >> >>> > and
>> >> >>> > running?? The bitrock installer screwed a few things and I know
>> >> >>> > ppl
>> >> >>> > just
>> >> >>> > uninstall it and all the data entered just goes... Possibly most
>> >> >>> > important
>> >> >>> > for an installer is to understand what's installed and not
>> >> >>> > overwrite
>> >> >>> > anything, which is why msi is so good for Windows.
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> > ---
>> >> >>> > Regards,
>> >> >>> > Saptarshi PURKAYASTHA
>> >> >>> > Director R & D, HISP India
>> >> >>> > Health Information Systems Programme
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> > My Tech Blog:  http://sunnytalkstech.blogspot.com
>> >> >>> > You Live by CHOICE, Not by CHANCE
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> > 2010/3/2 Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx>
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> OK. A quick update.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> I managed to get DHIS+Postgres installed on a "clean" system,
>> >> >>> >> meaning
>> >> >>> >> one without a Postgres user or previous install Postgres
>> >> >>> >> instance.
>> >> >>> >> This is good, as this may be 90% of the cases we will encounter
>> >> >>> >> for
>> >> >>> >> a
>> >> >>> >> first time install, but it is only part of the problem.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> On a system with the postgres user already there, I do not know
>> >> >>> >> how
>> >> >>> >> to
>> >> >>> >> get the password  in order to start the windows service, where
>> >> >>> >> the
>> >> >>> >> password needs to be set when the service is installed.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >>  This is not a big deal if you can start the postgres DB from
>> >> >>> >> the
>> >> >>> >> command line, but will users know to do this and-or can DHIS
>> >> >>> >> start
>> >> >>> >> it
>> >> >>> >> if it is not started. So, it will install a new instance of
>> >> >>> >> postgres,
>> >> >>> >> but, the service cannot be started, as the password is not
>> >> >>> >> correct.
>> >> >>> >> Hmm..maybe there are some bright ideas out there. Perhaps we can
>> >> >>> >> set
>> >> >>> >> it to the system account?
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> So basically, I can release tomorrow for testing an installer
>> >> >>> >> that
>> >> >>> >> will install on system without a postgres user. I tried to
>> >> >>> >> install
>> >> >>> >> Postgres as a different user by creating a different user
>> >> >>> >> account,
>> >> >>> >> but
>> >> >>> >> the installer did not manage to create it. Will need some more
>> >> >>> >> work
>> >> >>> >> here.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> Let me know what you think.
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> Regards,
>> >> >>> >> Jason
>> >> >>> >>
>> >> >>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> >>> >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >>> >> Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >>> >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >>> >> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>> >
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> --
>> >> >>> --
>> >> >>> Jason P. Pickering
>> >> >>> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>> >> >>> tel:+260968395190
>> >> >>>
>> >> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >> >>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >>> Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >>> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Cheers,
>> >> >> Knut Staring
>> >> >>
>> >> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >> Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>> >> >> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> --
>> >> Jason P. Pickering
>> >> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>> >> tel:+260968395190
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Cheers,
>> > Knut Staring
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> --
>> Jason P. Pickering
>> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>> tel:+260968395190
>
>
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Knut Staring
>