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Author SHA1 Message Date
Michael Bradley, Jr 29e74b6b3f build: implement packaging steps for the Windows build
Implement a `pkg-windows` target that ultimately results in `Status.zip` being
written to `pkg/`.

Note: this commit does not introduce code signing for the Windows build since
that piece is still a work in progress.

`pkg-windows` creates a portable folder in `tmp/windows/dist` with the help of
[`windeployqt`][windeployqt], which copies the needed portions of Qt into the
folder.

Since DLL resolution is relatively inflexible, a launcher `Status.exe` is
created at the top-level of the folder; the launcher opens `bin/Status.exe`
while adding the portable folder's `bin/` to the `PATH`, allowing
`bin/Status.exe` to resolve the DLLs in that folder.

A few additional tools need to be installed (e.g. with [scoop][scoop]) and
availble in `PATH`:
* 7-zip
* dos2unix (provides unix2dos)
* findutils
* go
* rcedit
* wget

The above list builds on the tools list in PR , and the other requirements
and instructions in that PR's description still apply.

**Why not build an installer?**

When starting work on packaging for the Windows build, my initial plan was to
build an installer, and for that purpose I researched the [WiX Toolset][wix],
the [Qt Installer Framework][qtif], and some other options.

I found that building an installer is a bit complex. I then recalled, from
personal experience, that [Cmder][cmder]'s [Mini download][mini] is
installer-less. You simply unzip the download and place the `cmder_mini` folder
wherever you prefer. Such an approach was also recommended to me in one of the
Nim language's community chats.

In addition to being simpler, the installer-less approach also gives
installation of Status Desktop a lower profile than an installer-application
would since nothing is written to the Windows registry, added to the *Add or
remove programs* list, etc. I think that's a benefit given the privacy-security
focus of Status, but others may feel differently so please provide feedback on
this point!

[windeployqt]: https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/windows-deployment.html
[scoop]: https://scoop.sh/
[wix]: https://wixtoolset.org/
[qtif]: https://doc.qt.io/qtinstallerframework/index.html
[cmder]: https://cmder.net/
[mini]: https://github.com/cmderdev/cmder/releases/download/v1.3.15/cmder_mini.zip
2020-07-17 13:57:32 -05:00