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Research Seminar - October 24, 2003

Starkits - Simplified Deployment of Scripted Applicatons

Steve Landers
Digital Smarties
Software Design Solutions

11am Friday 24 October


Computer Science & Software Engineering
Seminar Room 1.24

Abstract:

Software deployment is to hard - developers must address issues like packaging, delivery, installation and updating. Not to mention binary vs scripted code, cross-platform support and de-installation. Whilst there a lots of options for packaging and deployment, none makes software as easy to install as common appliances.

This talk describes Starkits - a deployment technology that has become the deployment mechanism of choice in the Tcl/Tk world. Starkits are a single-file, self-contained, portable packaging of scripts, binary code and data, documentation and images. They are directly executabable and so are installation becomes a simple copy - somewhat analogous to plugging in an appliance. Starkits lower the barriers to obtaining, installing and using applications.

The talk also covers the Starkit implementation technology, and covers areas such as the Starkit internal virtual file system, support for multi-platform binary extensions, and embedding C code into scripts

Biography

Steve has over twenty years experience in the Open Systems marketplace, being a founding member of both AUUG (the Australian organisation for UNIX and Open Source professionals) and SAGE-AU (the Systems Administration Guild of Australia). He is currently a member of the AUUG executive. Steve combines a broad understanding of the Open Source Software (OSS) market, with practical experience in utilising OSS within both large and small organisations, and in the use of OSS to augment proprietary software.

He is active within the Tcl/Tk language community, where he regularly contributes both software and expertise. He has a particular interest in the development of cross-platform scripted applications, and is a co-author of the Starkit deployment facility.

He regularly speaks at conferences, both in Australia and internationally.

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