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Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:54:45 GMT

Have anybody used the "AppLife Update" from Kinetic Jump?

[url=http://www.KineticJump.com/vspromo]www.KineticJump.com/vspromo[/url]

I am looking for an application update solution and will check this out.

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:54:45 GMT

Following on my experience with AppLife Update...

One of my project is currently being beta test by one customer on 3 workstations, the method I was using to release beta updates was:
1.- Build my beta release in VS
2.- Building another InstallAware setup (with all files) or creating a zip file with just the files that have changed.
3.- Upload my update to my FTP server.
4.- Remote login to those 3 workstations
5.- Download update to a share folder
6.- Apply and test the update on each workstation, not to mention that one of those workstations have a very tight security, so I had to run my update programs with the "Run As" option, otherwise the update will not install or ask the administrator to do it himself which he will not be happy to do.

Now with AppLife Update, the whole process was completely simplified:
1.- Build my beta release in VS
2.- Create an update with AppLife Update which will compare new version with previous one and just build the files needed for the update and will also automatically upload the update to my FTP server.
3.- Customer press a button on my application to "Check for updates" and accept the update. AppLive update will close my application, apply the update, then opens up my application when update finished.

I just did a quick build today to fix a bug and in less than 10 minutes customer was up and running the new version.

I have to be honest, I am using the simplest way to apply update using the UpdateInterative method, so when I start digging the custom updates with all events available on my main form, then that will be another chat :)

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:33:19 GMT

Hi guys,

Just to let you know of promotional offer from the folks of Kinetic Jump Software, LLc for the StrataFrame community.

[url=http://forum.strataframe.net/FindPost24694.aspx]Check promo here...[/url]

RE: Updating applications?

Trent L. Taylor — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:33:30 GMT

As mentioned, this is actually something that we have done ourselves internally for PracticeStudio. The process is automated and has been working flawlessly in the field. At some point in the future, this is actually something that would be nice to tie into SF (as was mentioned by Russell). This is actually something that would most likely be tied into the licensing product that has also been requested before.

There are some really neat things going on behind the scenes right now. Once we release a SF 2.0 in 2010 then we will look to start adding add-ons like this. Thanks for the ideas ;)

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:12:04 GMT

Good deal.

It's looking really promising for me too. I plan on using the Limited version until I really need it to conserve money but it looks like I will ultimately go with it as well.

RE: Updating applications?

Bill Cunnien — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:42:10 GMT

This is perfect!

:w00t::w00t::w00t:

I downloaded and installed the AppLife Update product. Using the "Add & replace files by comparison" action, I have been successful in updating my workstation's StrataFrame application. It was really simple. Since this is the free "let's-check-it-out-before-we-buy-it" version, I will not be able to utilize this in our production environment. The full license will allow some security escalation so that the end user does not have to have Admin rights in order to install the product. Hopefully, my manager will get on board with this and get this thing licensed, even by tomorrow!

Using this in conjunction with our initial rollout phase through AD Group Policy is perfect. This couldn't have come at a better time.

Thanks!!
Bill

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:52:57 GMT

I see that Infralution Licensing Manager is much cheaper than AppLife Update even if you buy source code and IPN.NET.

Thanks.

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:12:36 GMT

Also Brian mention a prodcut that many of their customer use for Licensing Manager from [url=http://www.infralution.com/licensing.html]Infralution[/url]. I will take a look at that also.

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:40:20 GMT

That's good news. Interesting development. Really fortunate that they know about Strataframe too.

I subscribed to their forum and downloaded the Limited license, etc. and was very impressed by their product. Thanks for pointing them out.

I wonder if potentially they could work something out to give a discount to Strataframe users?

I'm going to start selling applications in January and so this fits in great and the timing is nice too. I probably won't start really looking at them in earnest until late November/early December the way things are going now.

By the way, their AppLife DNA is something I will probably take a look at in my "spare time" too. I was looking at a product along those lines called Lucid Spec (http://www.elegancetech.com/Default.aspx) when you let us know about AppLife Update. AppLife DNA is realatively inexpensive too at $330 (Lucid Spec is $499). AppLife DNA seems much more professional although it lacks the Screen Design and Simulation features Lucid Specs has. Alas, no one ever seems to have everything!;). AppLife DNA + Lucid Spec would be perfect if from the same vendor and integrated.

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:15:48 GMT

Hey Russell, I just had a very interesting conversation with Brian Haas from [url=http://www.kineticjump.com]Kinetic Jump[/url] about how to integrate AppLife Update with my current SF project.

I will work on this over the weekend and post my results next week. So far by talking with Brian it give me a great deal of confidence about their product and we spend quite some time talking about different update scenarios in which AppLife Update covers all the angles.

Here is Brian information in case somebody wants to inquire more and by the way he does know about StrataFrame framework and the forums. :hehe:

Brian Haas
Kinetic Jump Software, LLC
(612) 486-9653 ext 115

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:48:29 GMT

This idea would seem to fit in perfectly with the Strataframe product line of Framework, DDT, RBS, ES, etc.

I really liked AppLife Update after reading watching their videos, etc. Really simplifies adding "Check for Updates" capability to any .NET application. $799 is not unreasonable either given how important this is but I was like you and wished we didn't have to look at yet another vendor for something we all know the Strataframe folks could do.

Shoot, while we are working hard developing new product ideas for Strataframe, besides updates, licensing and registration, we may as well add the ability to do trialware. This would be the whole package!

Something like ExeShield:

http://www.exeshield.com/

I for one can't wait to see the first beta.

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:14:50 GMT

[quote][b]Russell Scott Brown (09/16/2009)[/b][hr]Sounds like a a potential great new product idea for Strataframe!

They already do these types of thingswith Strataframe and Practice Studio, etc. I think it would be a nice addition to combine something like what AppLife Update does for updatesand what Shareit does for Licensing and Registration.

Just think how amazingly convenient that would be for anyone who already uses Strataframe?

Stratraframe Updates and Licensing. Has a nice sound to it, don't you think?[/quote]

You just read my mind :w00t:

Yes, I see the need for such a product and I would rather stay with a single vendor source instead of having to make it all work with different vendors. For example I have a CRM for my own customers, but I cannot synch this with Protection Plus database, so I have to make double entry for the customer information in order to enforce the copy protection.

What I do like about AppLife Update is that it is .NET and I can make all form's based on SF controls to keep the same look and feel as well or create my own extensions in .NET if it is not cover by them.

I really wish SF could really consider this kind of product for the SF community.

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:04:12 GMT

Sounds like a a potential great new product idea for Strataframe!

They already do these types of things with Strataframe and Practice Studio, etc. I think it would be a nice addition to combine something like what AppLife Update does for updates and what Shareit does for Licensing and Registration.

Just think how amazingly convenient that would be for anyone who already uses Strataframe?

Stratraframe Updates and Licensing. Has a nice sound to it, don't you think?

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:47:18 GMT

[quote][b]Russell Scott Brown (09/16/2009)[/b][hr]... and am looking at using Shareit for licensing. They have reasonable rates and would take the hassle out of licenses, registration, etc.[/quote]

Thanks for the info Russell.

In my case I need to handle licensing since this project will use the subscription model for support and updates (pretty much like SF) and I must control which license is allow to be updated based on the subscription status. So every year or so there will be a new license release and only those with current subscription will be allowed to update their systems.

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:38:19 GMT

I use InstallShield for the install only because I've already invested so much time and money into it, otherwise I would probably switch to InstallAWare, and am looking at using Shareit for licensing. They have reasonable rates and would take the hassle out of licenses, registration, etc.

http://www.shareit.com/publisher.html?pid=feature&sessionid=1386280708&random=69bf087273bc021ad74514b104929ef9#sell

I notice that a lot of software companies used Shareit.

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:02:47 GMT

[quote][b]Greg McGuffey (09/16/2009)[/b][hr]If anyone has any brilliant ideas related to the initial install, please share![/quote]
Hi Greg,

Well, I use InstallAware (IA) for the initial install, and right now I am also using the IA update feature which works fine, but there is not control from a License Manager perspective, so it is either update everybody or nobody with IA.

I am looking for a complete License Manager and update product, but unfortunately I have not found anything complete.

In my VFP applications I use [url=http://www.softwarekey.com]Protection Plus[/url] and it is pretty good but then they do not have full support for .NET just yet and also they do not handle the updates.

RE: Updating applications?

Greg McGuffey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:35 GMT

I was hoping this would be a very nice replacement for ClickOnce(more). However, it [u]only[/u] does updates. You have to do the initial installation via some other method. If anyone has any brilliant ideas related to the initial install, please share!

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:28:52 GMT

AppLife is definitely better.

You can do a lot with the free Limited license too.

http://www.kineticjump.com/update/nethelp/default.htm

RE: Updating applications?

Edhy Rijo — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:18:55 GMT

Hi Russell,

Thanks for the link on "True Update", I looked at their web and its price is very affordable even though it is not a .NET based product which I like about AppLife Update giving us more flexibility and control from our .Net applications, but the price is higher around US$800.00

RE: Updating applications?

Russell Scott Brown — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:00:02 GMT

Looks very interesting. I'm going to check it out too. Thanks.

I've also heard of True Update but have never used it:

http://www.indigorose.com/trueupdate/overview-true-update/

RE: Updating applications?

Trent L. Taylor — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:27:38 GMT

I've not used it, but it looks pretty cool.