Zero-install

Zero-install is a term used to describe running an software application without going through formal process of installation and does not require modifications of the operating system. Zero-install can be achieved through multiple means:

• a "normal" solution is to collect the application and its components together, copy them to a fixed directory, and run from there. In the case of Windows OS this approach is occasionally referred to as an "xcopy deployment";
• a browser-based approach;
• utilizing a specialized tool, like Zero Install.

The Linux distribution GoboLinux takes a similar approach (each applications gets its own directory structure), but still introduces the side-effects of the traditional Linux installation to maintain the backward compatibility with the standard Linux directory layout. Isolation of the OS from any changes required by the application can also be achieved through the application virtualization tools, like VMware ThinApp, Microsoft App-V, InstallFree Bridge.

Zero Install

Zero Install

Zero Install ready to run a downloaded program
Developer(s)	Thomas Leonard
Stable release	2.17 / May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
Written in	OCaml
Operating system	Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows
Type	Package manager
License	LGPLv2.1
Website	0install.net

Zero Install (0install) is a multi-platform (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X) system for running applications that allows publishing applications in a decentralized way (without using central repositories, directly on the project websites). Unlike the xcopy mechanism, 0install retains the advantages of repositories: shared libraries, automatic updates, validation of digital signatures.

Zero Install uses the metadata (sometimes called the feed format) written in XML. Like with xcopy deployment, each application gets its own directory and there are no side effects inflicted upon the OS, so no administrative rights are needed and different versions of the same application can be run side-by-side without special modifications.

Other uses of the term

Other uses of the term "zero install" exist which are unrelated to a specific software project.

PaperCut software describes a "zero install strategy" for Windows networks, which involves configuring multiple terminals via methods such as a group policy, to run the client executable directly off a single share. This enables automatic updates for workstations in line with the server and avoids multiple, separate installation processes.

The Yarn package manager describes a zero-install as a philosophy that seeks to limit failures by limiting the usage of Yarn commands and therefore limiting the number of opportunities for things to go wrong.

See also

• Portable application creators
• Java Web Start
• Advanced Packaging Tool
• Listaller
• Tar (computing) § Software distribution
• Autopackage
• AppImage
• ROX Desktop
• ClickOnce
• NixOS § Multi-user package management
• XAML Browser Applications (XBAP)
• Progressive Web Apps
• GNU Guix

Sources

• Oliveira, D.; Martín-Rodríguez, Fernando (2006). "EDNA: A Safe, Evolvable, Multi-version and On-demand Deployment System for GNU/EDMA Applications".
• Eicher, Bastian (2006). Desktop Integration Management for Portable, Zero-Install and Virtualized Applications (PDF). Department of Computer Science (BS thesis). Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

External links

• Official website
• Thomas Leonard (2007-01-16). "Decentralised Installation Systems". OSNews.com.
• "pkgsrc and the concepts of package management 1997-2007 (part 2) - The Zero Install system". The NetBSD Project.
• Bruce Byfield (2007-02-15). "Zero Install: An executable critique of native package systems". linux.com.
• "Neue Zero Install-Implementation". pro-linux.de. 2005-06-24.
• "Zero Install: The Future of Linux on the Desktop?". Slashdot. 2004-04-03.