qt-installer-framework-config

Development

Configure Qt Installer Framework for cross-platform installers with component management, online updates, and custom UI

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qt-installer-framework-config

Configure Qt Installer Framework (IFW) for cross-platform installers. This skill generates installer configurations with component management, online updates, maintenance tool, and custom branding.

Capabilities

Generate installer configuration files
Set up component structure with dependencies
Configure online repository for updates
Customize installer UI and branding
Set up maintenance tool configuration
Configure uninstaller behavior
Generate component scripts
Set up platform-specific settings

Input Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "projectPath": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Path to the project"
    },
    "installerName": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Name of the installer"
    },
    "appInfo": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "name": { "type": "string" },
        "version": { "type": "string" },
        "publisher": { "type": "string" },
        "url": { "type": "string" }
      },
      "required": ["name", "version", "publisher"]
    },
    "components": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "name": { "type": "string" },
          "displayName": { "type": "string" },
          "description": { "type": "string" },
          "version": { "type": "string" },
          "required": { "type": "boolean" },
          "dependencies": { "type": "array" }
        }
      }
    },
    "onlineRepository": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "enabled": { "type": "boolean" },
        "url": { "type": "string" }
      }
    },
    "targetPlatforms": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "enum": ["windows", "macos", "linux"] }
    }
  },
  "required": ["projectPath", "installerName", "appInfo"]
}

Output Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "success": { "type": "boolean" },
    "structure": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "configDir": { "type": "string" },
        "packagesDir": { "type": "string" }
      }
    },
    "buildCommands": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "offline": { "type": "string" },
        "online": { "type": "string" },
        "repository": { "type": "string" }
      }
    }
  },
  "required": ["success"]
}

Directory Structure

installer/
├── config/
│   ├── config.xml
│   ├── controller.qs
│   └── style.qss
├── packages/
│   ├── com.company.app/
│   │   ├── meta/
│   │   │   ├── package.xml
│   │   │   ├── installscript.qs
│   │   │   └── license.txt
│   │   └── data/
│   │       └── [application files]
│   └── com.company.app.plugins/
│       ├── meta/
│       │   └── package.xml
│       └── data/
│           └── [plugin files]
└── build/
    └── [generated installer]

Configuration Files

config.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Installer>
    <Name>My Application</Name>
    <Version>1.0.0</Version>
    <Title>My Application Installer</Title>
    <Publisher>My Company</Publisher>
    <StartMenuDir>My Application</StartMenuDir>
    <TargetDir>@HomeDir@/MyApplication</TargetDir>

    <!-- UI Customization -->
    <WizardStyle>Modern</WizardStyle>
    <StyleSheet>style.qss</StyleSheet>
    <TitleColor>#2196F3</TitleColor>
    <Logo>logo.png</Logo>
    <Watermark>watermark.png</Watermark>
    <Banner>banner.png</Banner>

    <!-- Behavior -->
    <AllowNonAsciiCharacters>true</AllowNonAsciiCharacters>
    <AllowSpaceInPath>true</AllowSpaceInPath>
    <MaintenanceToolName>MaintenanceTool</MaintenanceToolName>

    <!-- Online Updates -->
    <RemoteRepositories>
        <Repository>
            <Url>https://updates.mycompany.com/repo</Url>
            <Enabled>1</Enabled>
        </Repository>
    </RemoteRepositories>

    <!-- Controller Script -->
    <ControlScript>controller.qs</ControlScript>
</Installer>

package.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package>
    <DisplayName>My Application</DisplayName>
    <Description>Main application component</Description>
    <Version>1.0.0</Version>
    <ReleaseDate>2024-01-15</ReleaseDate>
    <Name>com.company.app</Name>
    <Dependencies>com.company.app.runtime</Dependencies>
    <Default>true</Default>
    <Essential>true</Essential>
    <ForcedInstallation>true</ForcedInstallation>

    <!-- Platform-specific -->
    <Licenses>
        <License name="EULA" file="license.txt"/>
    </Licenses>

    <Script>installscript.qs</Script>
</Package>

installscript.qs

function Component() {
    // Constructor
}

Component.prototype.createOperations = function() {
    component.createOperations();

    if (systemInfo.productType === "windows") {
        // Create Start Menu shortcut
        component.addOperation("CreateShortcut",
            "@TargetDir@/MyApp.exe",
            "@StartMenuDir@/My Application.lnk",
            "workingDirectory=@TargetDir@",
            "iconPath=@TargetDir@/MyApp.exe",
            "iconId=0",
            "description=Launch My Application");

        // Create Desktop shortcut
        component.addOperation("CreateShortcut",
            "@TargetDir@/MyApp.exe",
            "@DesktopDir@/My Application.lnk");

        // Register file association
        component.addOperation("RegisterFileType",
            "myapp",
            "@TargetDir@/MyApp.exe '%1'",
            "My Application File",
            "text/x-myapp",
            "@TargetDir@/MyApp.exe,0",
            "ProgId=MyCompany.MyApp");
    }

    if (systemInfo.productType === "osx") {
        // macOS specific operations
        component.addOperation("Execute",
            "/bin/ln", "-s",
            "@TargetDir@/MyApp.app",
            "/Applications/MyApp.app");
    }

    if (systemInfo.productType === "linux") {
        // Create .desktop file
        component.addOperation("CreateDesktopEntry",
            "@TargetDir@/myapp.desktop",
            "Type=Application\n" +
            "Name=My Application\n" +
            "Exec=@TargetDir@/MyApp\n" +
            "Icon=@TargetDir@/myapp.png\n" +
            "Categories=Utility;");
    }
}

controller.qs

function Controller() {
    installer.autoRejectMessageBoxes();
    installer.installationFinished.connect(this, Controller.prototype.installationFinishedPageCallback);
}

Controller.prototype.IntroductionPageCallback = function() {
    // Skip intro page in unattended mode
    if (installer.isUnattended()) {
        gui.clickButton(buttons.NextButton);
    }
}

Controller.prototype.TargetDirectoryPageCallback = function() {
    // Set custom target directory
    var widget = gui.currentPageWidget();
    widget.TargetDirectoryLineEdit.setText(installer.value("HomeDir") + "/MyApp");
}

Controller.prototype.ComponentSelectionPageCallback = function() {
    // Pre-select components
    var widget = gui.currentPageWidget();
    widget.selectAll();
}

Controller.prototype.LicenseAgreementPageCallback = function() {
    gui.currentPageWidget().AcceptLicenseRadioButton.setChecked(true);
}

Controller.prototype.installationFinishedPageCallback = function() {
    // Launch app after installation
    if (installer.isInstaller() && installer.status === QInstaller.Success) {
        var widget = gui.currentPageWidget();
        if (widget.RunItCheckBox) {
            widget.RunItCheckBox.setChecked(true);
        }
    }
}

Build Commands

# Build offline installer
binarycreator -c config/config.xml -p packages MyAppInstaller

# Build online installer (small, downloads components)
binarycreator -c config/config.xml -p packages -n MyAppOnlineInstaller

# Create/update repository
repogen -p packages repository

# Update existing repository
repogen --update-new-components -p packages repository

Online Update Repository

# Initial repository creation
repogen -p packages output/repository

# Upload to server
rsync -avz output/repository/ user@server:/var/www/updates/

# Update with new version
repogen --update-new-components -p packages output/repository

Best Practices

Version components independently: Allow granular updates
Use online repository: Enable auto-updates
Customize UI: Match application branding
Test on all platforms: Verify installer behavior
Sign installers: Code sign for trust
Include maintenance tool: Allow updates/uninstall

Related Skills

qt-cmake-project-generator - Build system setup
auto-update-system process - Update workflow
windows-authenticode-signer - Windows signing
macos-notarization-workflow - macOS notarization

Related Agents

qt-cpp-specialist - Qt expertise
release-manager - Release workflow