I'll let Michael handle this in depth, but this is my understanding of the 
installer:

1) if you want Python, it handles Python/Csound interfacing for you:
2) it installs the necessary compatible environment variables.

Assuming one doesn't want Python, there is nonetheless the issue of getting 
the environment variables set right. You either must set them globally, or 
locally (through running a batch file). Or, if you place everything you need 
in a *single* directory and run from there, and have *no* global settings, 
Csound will also run.

With a full, normal setup, however, setting the environment is crucial - 
especially setting OPCODEDIR.

For beginning users, getting the environment right is one of the major 
issues, creating major frustration. For them, the installer is a godsend.

OTOH, uninstalling is simple; it just erases the Csound directories and the 
environment variables. AFAIK, there is no adding of files elsewhere. I, for 
one, am happy that Csound does not create havoc with the rest of my system. 
It's basically self-contained (or *can* be).

Art Hunkins

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Panos Katergiathis" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:54 PM
Subject: [Csnd] Re: Re: Re: Version 5.09 released


> Art Hunkins wrote:
>
>> I'm wide open to ideas/feedback (and will do *nothing* without 
>> substantial encouragement).
>
> Measured in hundreds of begging e-mail messages ? :)
>
> Seriously, i may be wrong but your question can be reversed: what is the 
> point in providing an installer? What purpose does it serve?
>
> Windows users (myself included) always think of "installed" software, as 
> software that has installed hundreds of dll files, in hundreds of possible 
> locations, accompanied by hundreds of registry entries. Therefore, as 
> software that can not be un-installed.
>
> Perhaps, Csound does not follow the rule.. perhaps uninstalling it only 
> means that one can delete the related directory, and that is it?
>
> Do as you will (i would think that it wouldn't be too difficult to provide 
> that zip file). Also, someone please remove that "Beta" indicator, or 
> provide some explanation on its purpose (it only appears on Windows, not 
> Mac nor Linux).
>
> Many thanks
>
> Panos
>
>
>
> Send bugs reports to this list.
> To unsubscribe, send email sympa@lists.bath.ac.uk with body "unsubscribe 
> csound" 

> For beginning users, getting the environment right is one of the major 
> issues, creating major frustration. For them, the installer is a godsend.

as I explained in my message, adding a simple batch file to the 
distribution free us from the need of global environment variables.

users then only have to be told to use csound.bat instead of csound.exe. 
how simpler can it be ?


Stef