Amistaller
Description:	A package installer
Download:	amistaller.lha       (TIPS: Use the right click menu if your browser takes you back here all the time)
Size:	236kb
Version:	1.0
Date:	15 Aug 2026
Author:	George Sokianos
Submitter:	George Sokianos
Homepage:	https://pms.walkero.gr/projects/amistaller
Requirements:	xadmaster.library, AmiSSL 5
Category:	utility/misc
License:	Other
Distribute:	yes
Min OS Version:	4.1
FileID:	14007
Comments:	0
Snapshots:	0
Videos:	0
Downloads:	17  (Current version)
	17  (Accumulated)
Votes:	0 (0/0)  (30 days/7 days)

amistaller is an AmigaOS 4.1 FE package installer and orchestrator designed
to install software packages defined in a YAML manifest. It supports
downloading archives over HTTP or HTTPS (with SHA256 verification), extracting
a variety of archive formats via xadmaster.library, running pre/post install
scripts, and resolving package installation order based on declared
dependencies.

Who this is for
----------------

- AmigaOS developers and maintainers who want an unattended package
  installer for collections of software.
- System integrators preparing curated application bundles for AmigaOS
  environments.
- Developers who need reproducible package installation flows with
  validation, dependency handling and custom pre/post install steps.

What it does
------------

- Parses a YAML package definition file describing packages, metadata,
  dependencies and scripts.
- Validates the manifest: schema checks, required fields (title and
  either url or file), dependency resolution and cycle detection.
- Downloads package archives over HTTP or HTTPS, using AmiSSL for secure
  connections, with optional SHA256 verification and caching in T: or Ram:.
- Extracts archives using xadmaster.library (supports multiple formats
  such as LHA, ZIP, LZX, etc.).
- Runs pre-install and post-install shell scripts with variable
  substitution (%TARGETDIR%) and error logging.
- Displays progress via a GUI and automatically logs to a file (if LOG
  argument is provided via CLI). **All installation activity** (including
  downloads, extractions, and scripts) is captured in the log file.
- Lets users choose the installation destination with a folder requester or by
  dragging a target folder from Workbench onto the installer window.
  Works in both Workbench mode (double-click icon) and CLI mode (shell
  arguments).

How it works (architecture)
---------------------------

- YAML Parser: reads the manifest and maps packages into an internal
  AmistallerPackage structure (id, title, url/file, sha256, deps,
  scripts).

- Validation: checks that each package has required fields (title and
  either url or file). Resolves relative local archive paths against the
  YAML directory. If a local file cannot be accessed, a warning is issued
  and the package is hidden from the installer screens. Verifies dependencies
  (unknown or circular dependencies cause validation errors).

- Installer/Orchestrator:

  For each package it:
  1. Runs preinstall scripts (if any) with %TARGETDIR% substitution.
     Errors are logged but don't stop installation.
  2. Acquires the archive: for local files, locates them relative to the YAML
     directory (using the same path resolution as licence and header files).
     For remote URLs, downloads and caches in T: or Ram:.
     SHA256 is calculated when verification is requested.
  3. Extracts the archive using xadmaster, preserving directories and
     file metadata. Extraction progress is logged per-file.
  4. Runs postinstall scripts with %TARGETDIR% substitution.
     Errors are logged but installation continues.

- Logging: messages from installation, download, extraction, and scripts
  are written to both the GUI progress screen and optional log file via
  a shared logging utility (src/utils/logging.c) with error detection
  (disk full warnings).

- Extraction: uses xadmaster.library proper API: call xadGetInfo() to
  enumerate entries and xadFileUnArc() with XAD_ENTRYNUMBER to extract
  each file. This supports multi-archive formats transparently.

- Downloading: uses OSSL_HTTP_get(); HTTPS connections add TLS through a
  callback. Downloads are streamed to disk while computing SHA256 when
  requested.