Feature Request: Please bring back the ZIP files

[praynaud]

Context

I am using the w64devkit in some GitHub actions that run on windows-2022 using the pre-installed powershell. In general, I love it, it's great. Thank you!

Problem

When trying to set up a windows-2022 native powershell environment for fortran development, the .exe from your version 2.0.0 does not work at the command line. It is unclear whether it runs at all, but regardless, I am unable to then find the compiler and put it in my path.

Potential Solution

The previous versions that used a .zip file (up to 1.23.0) worked great.

Could you add a .zip asset to your 2.0.0 release and all subsequent releases?

[skeeto]

Despite the EXE extension, it's equally a 7z archive that can be accessed using any 7z-capable software. The self-extract executable attached to the archive is, by necessity of its GUI, a windows subsystem program which is why it doesn't play well with console programs. It's not possible to be a console subsystem program at the same time. The first point is your solution. The 7-Zip "Download" page has "7zr.exe" (last item), a command line program to manipulate 7z archives. Put this in your build environment on your $PATH, then you can extract w64dk the same way you handled ZIP. https://www.7-zip.org/download.html Use the "x" option, as in: 7zr x w64devkit-x64-2.0.0.exe This completely ignores the self-extract part, and when it completes everything works just like before with ZIP.

[praynaud]

@skeeto Thank you for the detailed explanation.

I will try your suggestion with 7zr and report back, but as stated in #158 the self-extracting archive is also causing some false security issues, hence perhaps not a bad thing to have both the self-extractor and the zip files... although I do understand this does result in some additional work and some duplication.

In any case, thanks again!

[Peter0x44]

The zip also caused numerous "false security issues" too. So nothing really regressed.

[praynaud]

@Peter0x44 Fair enough...

[skeeto]

Yup, as @Peter0x44 said, ZIP has the same problems (#79) but worse since it's multiplied by a hundred EXEs in the distribution, any of which can set off false alarms. The self-extracting archive should be a slight improvement because it's a single point of contention for "security" scanners, and when extracting it doesn't propagate the Mark of the Web into the installation.

[praynaud]

@skeeto I have tried the 7zip option you proposed and can confirm that it works both locally in in GitHub actions. As far as I am concerned, this issue can be closed: you have resolved my problem.

Thanks!

[skeeto]

Thanks for following up, @praynaud! I really appreciate it.