Custom SL Updater program! Actually useful infomation!

Hey guys. If you're like me, I think you realized a while ago that SL's updater program just isn't good enough!

So I decided to do something about it. I've created a custom program to download the latest SL update. It replaces updater.exe seamlessly, and gives you a lot more information about the download!

Here's a screenshot of it in action:


Now, the downside is that it requires the .NET Framework to run, and that's a pretty hefty download for dialup users. But I'd say that it's worth it!

If you want it, you can get it here!
If you don't trust me, of course you can see the source code here. It's written in Visual Basic.NET, though.

If you like the program, please consider sending a few L$ my way. My empty wallet implores you.

Feel free to post any bugs/problems you find in this thread, or just let me know if you're using it!

Being the paranoid freak I am about 3rd party code, virii, works, etc., would you be willing to post said code so we know what we are installing on our machines?

Mind you, I'm not looking to install it myself (I'm on a Mac), I'm just saying, there are paranoid people out there like me who might want to.

What is wrong with SL's updater program? Seems to work fine to me.

Sure! It's programmed in VB.NET, though.

I'd prefer not to post it in public, but I'll PM the sourcecode to anyone who asks. It's not very well-commented, sadly.

[EDIT:] Oh, I can't seem to find the PM system, if there is one here. Okay, I'll post it in the next post.


I like to see more than just how many kilobytes it's downloaded. I also don't like to have %Temp% clogged up.

ROFLMAO!!!!
Man, you're funny! *LOL* .Net....

For Speed Stats: Go HERE, and click you're system's "SAVE" option.


Sorry. As a tech support rep, .Net is like using and anvil when all you need is a cutting board.

Okay, you can view the source here!


This thread isn't about how much you dislike the .NET Framework. I find it to be extremely useful.

that's still making .net a piece of sh^_^t

Do you know how much memory that .NET crap takes? I had to remove ATI CCC and that to get some decent memory.

Plus the existing downloader works well. If they dont want to use it they can always download it from the source using whatever downloader their browser uses.

I don't mind .net. A couple of my favorite freeware aps use it.

For all of you tearing the OP apart - piss off. If you don't like it, fine. Don't use it. Don't download it. But tearing into him from everything from the fact you wouldn't use it, to criticism of the methodology he used to develop it... the hell, really? He's made something that to him is nifty and he was sharing it with you with the best of intentions.

And plus your downloader would always be slow, cause you copy it from some temp folder on download.

If it works, don't re-invent the wheel. I suggest you make a easy, one button registration program for the l33t kids. So they can automatically make an account...

I appreciate that, thank you.

If you've got enough RAM to run SL, you've surely got 15 MB to spare for an updater (while SL is closed, even)... I made the updater because I, personally, prefer to just let the updater do its thing instead of going to the website and downloading it from there. It also allows me to use NetLimiter to prevent it from sucking up all of my bandwidth while I surf, since I have limited bandwidth at the moment.

Actually, it downloads and launches directly from the temp folder, just like SL's updater.

The other issue I see here. Who are you aiming this at?

Updating is usually done on release. And the average SL user would usually double click SL and get the built in updater, totally bypassing this. Those that don't use that, would most probably just download it from the website instead.

SL actually launches a seperate program to download the update, and that program launches the update setup program when it's finished downloading. This program seamlessly replaces it with one that shows more information.

This is great!

However, we should be asking LL to split the client so that it can be updated dynamically; only the revised pieces should need to be downloaded. Eg, When we got the internal browser the file size went from 20 to 25 MB!

This is great!

However, we should be asking LL to split the client so that it can be updated dynamically; only the revised pieces should need to be downloaded. Eg, When we got the internal browser the file size went from 20 to 25 MB!

ON SL install, LL would repleace your updater exe. So everytime you want people to copy this to the folder instead?

Make it read only? (Haven't downloaded it to look at it, I'm on my laptop)

Thanks.

I agree, I'd like to just have a small patch to download! If I had the resources to do it, my updater would download the latest version, compare it to the last version and create a patch to update only the changed files and let users download that patch. In the mean time, though, I'm hoping that this helps some people.


I believe they can just set it to read-only to prevent the installer from replacing it. If not, I'll add a second EXE that's loaded when the installer is finished and copies updater.exe back over the LL one.

It would get overwritten regardless. Try it.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention, then. If I see any more interest in the program beyond people complaining about how bad an idea it is, then I'll be sure to release that workaround in a day or two.

[EDIT:] Thinking about it... I could just leave the program running hidden in the background until the install is complete. I believe that you absolutely can /not/ overwrite a program that's running.

Data stats are never a bad idea. But, the file isnt really that big, most people who use SL are on a high speed network so they'd barely notice the download.

But I do see a use for someone on a limited network, and as you said it does do some traffic shaping right?

I think the workaround would be what you mentioned, make a hook that would copy the updater back once SL is installed.

Nah, it doesn't do any traffic shaping. I'm hoping to implement a speed limit, though, I just need to learn how... I'm using an external program called NetLimiter for traffic shaping.

A lot of you guys are on highspeed ocnnections, but there are still plenty of people like me, who can't really achieve the speeds that the high-end connections can get (sadly, I'm in a bad location for DSL. Moving to cable soon, though!). Plus, I'm betting that a lot of people on higher-speed connections still like to see things like filesize and transfer rate.

You want me to install something written by someone who is admittedly still learning how to do stuff. THAT'LL be the day.



You can't play SL without a decently high speed connection. It takes me all of 90 seconds to download the new version of SL each time we update. I really don't know what all the fuss is about it.

P2