up vote 3 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

Some installers open a console when they are trying to install the program on the machine (specifically on Windows).

Why is it so? What exactly is possible through a console that is not possible otherwise?

link|improve this question
86% accept rate
feedback

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Apart also from @John T said, it maybe not be the reason that thay -what they do- cannot be done otherwise, but is probably that it is easier to do it this way. For example, copying through a batch file. Nothing easier to setup than that. So why would someone bother making it any other way.

Some things which can be accomplished through a command line are hard to beat.

link|improve this answer
Was just adding a comment to my answer about this as you made your answer, hivemind. – John T Oct 6 '09 at 19:06
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

They don't need to open a console, I think the verbose information is there to show the user whats going on. They could have also used it for debug purposes when creating the software.

link|improve this answer
@John T no, they do not show the user any info, they just run some commands and then close themselves. I wish I could site the name of some installer like that, but it is not uncommon. – Lazer Oct 6 '09 at 19:01
2  
Some software also uses batch scripts to build extensions that come with it. Batch scripts will run in a command window when executed. – John T Oct 6 '09 at 19:05
I think it also depends on the software installer they used. Some execute console commands, but hide it, other issue console commands and display the output in the pretty wizard window, and others just launch the dos window in the background. – Roy Rico Oct 6 '09 at 19:11
1  
Yep, as Idigas pointed out, sometimes it's easier to type a batch script with a bunch of copy statements as opposed to CopyFileEx() [ msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa363852%28VS.85%29.aspx ] a bunch of times in code for example. – John T Oct 6 '09 at 19:16
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.