Re: [BitPim-user] Unable to run BitPim in WIndows 7; MSVCP71.dll error

[Gregg E. <g_a...@ya...>]

--- On Mon, 7/19/10, Daniel <d.v...@ho...> wrote:

> From: Daniel <d.v...@ho...>
> Subject: Re: [BitPim-user] Unable to run BitPim in WIndows 7; MSVCP71.dll error
> To: bit...@li...
> Date: Monday, July 19, 2010, 9:19 AM
> Here's some links from Microsoft
> describing the files, their use, and
> their redistribution limitations.  The last link
> describes why and how
> to include them in the setup packages made by developers.
> 
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/k9a8ehy3%28VS.71%29.aspx
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326922
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa984372.aspx
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa984684.aspx
> 
> No, I'm not being a jerk, just wanting to clear the air
> that they are, in fact, redistributable.  
> 
> :o)

Software, even when it's freeware, should always include *everything* required to install/run it or at least provide links to where to get any additional software.

Much freeware, especially open source software, just says something like "You'll need Python" or "This software requires Cygwin" with no explanation of what that *is* or where to get it.

With Cygwin, most often all that's actually required are a few of the DLLs which amount to a megabyte or less, dropped into the same folder as the program - but the authors expect the user to download and install the entire Cygwin system. (Which is almost a gigabyte for the complete thing!)

Same deal with the various Microsoft runtime environments. The most sure fire method is to download the complete redistributable Visual Basic or Visual Studio .NET runtime redistributable so that one copy of the files will be shared amongst all apps that need them, but often only one or two are needed and can be placed in the program's folder.

If you're writing software, you'll save yourself a lot of support questions, and a lot of upset for your users, if you make sure to fully document ALL of the requirements, and if all it needs 'extra' are a few small DLL files, either include them in the download/installer or as a separate bundle (with instructions!) in case the user's computer doesn't have them already installed where they're accessible to all programs.