Windows executable/installer

[jbnuh]

Making this tool easily deployable by Windows sysadmins will significantly lower barriers to adoption in NHS organisations

[PhilAppleby]

I'll work on it, need to get hold of a windows machine from somewhere ...

[spco]

@jbnuh What would be the minimum expectations for "easily deployable"? Currently the pip-installable package works on Windows (or at least it did - we don't have any testing on Windows since it was first verified) - see https://hdruk.github.io/CaRROT-Docs/CaRROT-CDM/Installing/ . What are the current barriers to using that route for deployment (I'm guessing availability of Python installs?), and what route would be more viable? Or is it simply a case of making the docs of the Windows install process more detailed?

[PhilAppleby]

@spco my understanding is that expertise in the installation of Python in NHS settings, which are always use Microsoft environments, can be a problem. Pip install does still work on Windows and Erum has recent experiiemce as far as I'm aware.

[jbnuh]

Ideally something like a .exe file or an .msi installer would be perfect. From: Phil Appleby ***@***.***> Sent: 03 January 2024 10:47 To: HDRUK/CaRROT-CDM ***@***.***> Cc: Best Joseph (Research & Innovation) ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [HDRUK/CaRROT-CDM] Windows exectuable/installer (Issue #165) This message originated from outside of NUH. Please do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know that the content is safe. @spco<https://github.com/spco> my understanding is that expertise in the installation of Python in NHS settings, which are always use Microsoft environments, can be a problem. Pip install does still work on Windows and Erum has recent experiiemce as far as I'm aware. - Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#165 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BE2FJTDSCKNK3CRBGXGPAXDYMUZLVAVCNFSM6AAAAABA4SWRI6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTQNZVGE3TANRXGQ>. You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.******@***.***>> The information contained in this email may be the subject of public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - unless legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email and your reply cannot be guaranteed. Copyright of this email and any attachments created by us remains vested in the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for  the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.  This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by  anti-virus software for the presence of known computer viruses. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust City Hospital campus | Hucknall Road | Nottingham | NG5 1PB | Tel: 0115 969 1169 QMC campus | Derby Road | Nottingham | NG7 2UH | Tel: 0115 924 9924 If you have received this email in error please notify the sender. 

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tracking ID: 5f3e9072-53f9-4e59-a8da-19a84ccebb2e Date and Time : Wed Jan 3 10:59:12 2024

[jbnuh]

If you need a Windows box to test it on, I am more than happy to oblige

[PhilAppleby]

The problem is I will need a windows machine to build it - I'm away until the 11th now but I'll get hold of an MS-Windows VM when I get back

[AndyRae]

@PhilAppleby could you use Github actions as a Windows machine to build and release an artefact? https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-github-hosted-runners/about-github-hosted-runners/about-github-hosted-runners#standard-github-hosted-runners-for-public-repositories

But yes setting up a Python environment is significant barrier for NHS orgs.

Would it be possible to package up using
https://pypi.org/project/auto-py-to-exe/
or
https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller

I have no experience with these - but could investigate

[PhilAppleby]

@AndyRae, it's more that I have not got around to this yet - I am in the process of setting up a Windows (10) VM on my home Mac desktop, then I'll get it configured to allow me to experiment.