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Online Patching Systems?

Posted by Cliff on from the updating-binaries dept.

Master_Flash asks: "My company is preparing to distribute an online Windows application that will change over time (don't they all?). We been evaluating online patch systems. There are a number of commercial applications out there. Some look good: RTPatch from PocketSoft, ASTA Binary Patcher, and Necromancer's FlashUpdate. Has anyone had a positive experience with these or other applications? One other idea we had was to use CVS as a patching system. While CVS isn't technically a binary patch it does a great job at checking on which files need to be updated. Most of the files we have are small and change infrequently, so CVS could work. Opinions and guidance are welcome."

1 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Positive experiences by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So are any other platforms viable alternatives?

    Mac has less than 2% of the market.
    Linux has less than 3% of the market.

    If you somehow feel that anybody could sell a commercial product on those platforms - and make a profit, do tell. Otherwise, shut the fuck up. For non-critical systems, people don't want to change the platform that they work on. You want to sell to the largest possible market. And right now that means Windows.

    Windows is everywhere, hence Windows applications run everywhere. It is the de-facto choice for commercial application development and deployment.

    And let's not get into the problems of deployment and prerequisites on Linux machines. Available libraries, kernel version, staticly linked or not, version of Glibc - not to mention the general hatred of the commercial software world means that (in my experiences) a Linux zealot would rather pirate any commercial software that makes it to their platform rather than pay for it.

    Just because Uncle Bob has never heard of a firewall and his Windows 98 box is beyond repair - does not mean that Windows isn't a viable platform. I use Windows 2000 daily. By using some basic common sense, staying away from Outlook, installing a hardware firewall - the last virus I had was for DOS - more than 10 years ago.

    I wouldn't run a Linux machine without a hardware firewall. I also wouldn't run unnecessary services. The same rules apply to Windows. And makes them equally secure.