mapbox/tilemill — Issue #1294: No-admin, no-install windows route
Author: springmeyer
Created: 2012-02-14 05:49:38+00:00
State: open
Labels: windows

I'm currently testing a no-admin install route

* distributing a .zip file that once uncompressed will yield a directory.
* Inside that directory will be a `TileMill.exe` and a `tilemill` subfolder
* Clicking on the `TileMill.exe` will start TileMill without requiring any installation (or admin to install)

Most users have admin and will be most comfortable with a click-through that adds Start Menu shortcuts. But advanced users (thinking IT staff or savvy windows users) may wish to avoid having to use an installer that hits the registry, and has built in assumptions/needs for permissions.

The only potential blocker here is needing admin to add the node.exe to the firewall permissions (currently a step done by the installer when it has elevated admin privs). But, in testing now on XP with a "limited user" this looks promising. Running a no-admin, no-install version of TileMill appears to work despite the blocked firewall (pop-ups sit in the background, tiles still work). Next step is to test on more locked down configurations of XP and Vista/7/8.