I have started doing more scratch programming, one off little bits of code that I use and throw away. I found that I am not coding as much at work as I need to be, or want to be for that matter. I am loosing my touch.
Like any thing else, if you don't use it you loose it.
When I create projects I like to follow a specific file structure. Nothing fancy, I use a solution folder with folders for lib, src and tests. So when I create my scratch solutions I want to create the same folder structure, but there is no easy way to do it with Visual Studio. I tried to create a project template, which would work if what I wanted was skeleton projects. But what I want are skeleton folders and the VS templates won't create those.
What I wound up doing was create an MSI using NSIS that would create the folder structure and copy core libraries that I like to use. So far it is working out pretty good and was surprisingly simple to create, not by hand of course but with HM NIS Edit, a free tool to create and edit NSIS scripts.
Add the appropriate files to the Sections, compile and your ready.
Like any thing else, if you don't use it you loose it.
When I create projects I like to follow a specific file structure. Nothing fancy, I use a solution folder with folders for lib, src and tests. So when I create my scratch solutions I want to create the same folder structure, but there is no easy way to do it with Visual Studio. I tried to create a project template, which would work if what I wanted was skeleton projects. But what I want are skeleton folders and the VS templates won't create those.
What I wound up doing was create an MSI using NSIS that would create the folder structure and copy core libraries that I like to use. So far it is working out pretty good and was surprisingly simple to create, not by hand of course but with HM NIS Edit, a free tool to create and edit NSIS scripts.
; Script generated by the HM NIS Edit Script Wizard.
; HM NIS Edit Wizard helper defines
!define PRODUCT_NAME "Scratch Template"
!define PRODUCT_VERSION "1.0"
!define PRODUCT_PUBLISHER "HomeNet"
!define PRODUCT_WEB_SITE "http://blog.ddpruitt.net"
;!define PRODUCT_DIR_REGKEY "SoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp PathsMbUnit.Cons.exe"
; MUI 1.67 compatible ------
!include "MUI.nsh"
; MUI Settings
!define MUI_ABORTWARNING
!define MUI_ICON "${NSISDIR}\Contrib\Graphics\Icons\modern-install.ico"
; Welcome page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_WELCOME
; License page
;!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_LICENSE "............\path\to\licence\Your\SoftwareLicence.txt"
; Components page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_COMPONENTS
; Directory page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_DIRECTORY
; Instfiles page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_INSTFILES
; Finish page
!insertmacro MUI_PAGE_FINISH
; Language files
!insertmacro MUI_LANGUAGE "English"
; MUI end ------
Name "${PRODUCT_NAME} ${PRODUCT_VERSION}"
OutFile "ScratchSetup.exe"
InstallDir "$DOCUMENTSVisual Studio 2005ProjectsScratchNewSolution"
;InstallDirRegKey HKLM "${PRODUCT_DIR_REGKEY}" ""
ShowInstDetails show
Section "MainSection" SEC01
SetOutPath "$INSTDIR"
SetOverwrite ifnewer
File "GenericSolution.sln"
CreateDirectory $INSTDIRlib
CreateDirectory $INSTDIRsrc
CreateDirectory $INSTDIRtest
SectionEnd
Section "MbUnit" SEC02
SetOutPath "$INSTDIR\lib\MbUnit"
SetOverwrite try
File "\lib\MbUnit\MbUnit.Framework.dll"
.
.
.
SectionEnd
Section "Log4Net" SEC03
SetOutPath "$INSTDIR\lib\log4net"
File "\lib\log4net\log4net.dll"
SectionEnd
Section "Enterprise Library (June 2006)" SEC04
SetOutPath "$INSTDIR\lib\EntLib.2006.01"
File "\lib\EnterpriseLibrary.2006.01\EntLibConfig.exe"
.
.
.
SectionEnd
;Section -Post
; WriteRegStr HKLM "${PRODUCT_DIR_REGKEY}" "" "$INSTDIR\lib\MbUnit\MbUnit.Cons.exe"
;SectionEnd
; Section descriptions
!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTION_DESCRIPTION_BEGIN
!insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${SEC01} ""
!insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${SEC02} ""
!insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${SEC03} ""
!insertmacro MUI_DESCRIPTION_TEXT ${SEC04} ""
!insertmacro MUI_FUNCTION_DESCRIPTION_END
Add the appropriate files to the Sections, compile and your ready.
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