Prof. Dr. Frank Bellosa, Konrad Miller

Abstract:

Classic installation systems suffer from a number of disadvantages, such as version conflicts and a lack of user control. A number of approaches to mitigate these disadvantages exist, for example portable applications, zero-install systems and application virtualization. However, these approaches do not provide the same end-user experience since they lack proper desktop integration.

In this work we determine the improvements necessary to allow a zero-install system to provide the same level of desktop integration users are accustomed to from classic installation systems while providing more user control and retaining a conflict-free environment.

We developed a domain-specific language, extending the application-metadata language of an existing zero-install system as a proof of concept as well as a real-world-suitable system. The accompanying tool set is capable of capturing systems changes made by classic installation systems and automatically generating desktop integration metadata from them.

BibTex:

@bachelorthesis{eicher11desktopintegration,
author = {Bastian Eicher},
title = {Desktop Integration Management for Portable, Zero-Install and Virtualized Applications},
type = {Bachelor Thesis},
address = {System Architecture Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany},
month = aug # "4",
year = 2011,
url = {http://os.ibds.kit.edu/}
}