What would u prefer more if u are gonna install a new hack, instructions in a txt file or instructions in an installer file that you have 2 run online?

I prefer instructions in a txt file more

I prefer text files. I like having an installer for the database mods, but it's a pain doing the file mods from the installer. It's much easier having it in a text document.

I say both :pleased:

It depends on the hack, i mean if the hack is a real pain in the butt it's nice to have an installer, but otherwise i like doing txt better. So I guess i'd have to say both.

Installers are nice, but if you've installed more then one hack the installer could override it.

I like both of them and I'd actually like to see more support of MultiHack, http://www.multihack.com. Great program.

I like text files both as hacker and a user. Because as a hacker I don't need to write these fancy installers any time, and as a user I can just keep the text files in a special hacks folder on my PC for future upgrades (not that I do this... ;)).

both. the install instructions and a php file or template installer for any modifications.

I would like to see more of this around as well...but unfortunately there is one minor problem with the program as I see it. Some lines of code on my forum (for example large database queries like the one to insert a new post) get modified frequently as I am often adding new functionality to the board. But MultiHack can only update a line if it is unchanged, which means I'd have to do updates to this line manually. So much of my forum is modified that virtually every hack would require me to do manual code changes as well as automatic changes.


As to the original question in the thread, I by far prefer text files, for pretty much the same reasons that FireFly said :) Also, I won't run an installer as I like to keep in full control of what is happening on my board. I want to know exactly what is being added and where (and why), so I will never use an automatic instaler. If a hack comes with an auto installer I still run the queries manually.

Yup James got another point there... whenever I get an installed I always go through its code making sure the queries it's about to run are alright. Even if I trust the hacker and all, none of us are perfect and mistakes can happen to everyone. :)

txt-Files are even better. OK, it's more work, but i have the control of my Board. And if I installed many Hacks, the installers my kill my Board.

As the author of MultiHack I can say with complete assurance that you can view the contents of a MultiHack file within the program and see/modify any piece of code it may change. There is NOTHING hidden from your view. I did this intentionally as I did not want the program to be used for any malicious purposes.

As for the problem with things as stated that get changed a lot, I have to assume that this is true and MultiHack will not work properly with these types of hacks. Not much I can think of that would change this with the current implementation of MultiHack.

If database modifications are necessary (i.e. manual SQL statements) then I say an installer; otherwise a text file.