RUNZ FAQ
From Hacktolive.org
This is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for RUNZ
What exactly is RUNZ?
An easier way to run files on "Linux" (Debian, Ubuntu, Super OS, etc...). In simply terms, it is an ISO file with a launcher file + a program inside it, and then the ISO is renamed to .runz, and when the user clicks a runz file, the launcher is well... launched! Think of RUNZ as some sort of "container".
What are the goals of RUNZ?
Make it EASY to RUN files on Linux.
Is this trying to copy Windows or Mac OS?
No, this is just trying to make it easy to run files on Linux. However, I have no problem inspiring me on other software or copying some ideas.
Is this a new package manager?
No. this is supposed to work alongside the package manager
What is RUNZ trying to replace?
Nothing. RUNZ is just an "add-on technology", it does not intents to replace anything.
Isn't this re-inventing the wheel?
No, not really, this is like putting tires on a wooden wheel.
Is this safe?
Nothing in the world is safe. OK, now seriously, this is as safe as an .exe file: if you don't run it, you are safe. However, if you open a .runz file, it might contain malicious software, so make sure to get them from a trusted source.
OK, but is the Framework safe?
I think so, and I am not aware of any exploits or programs that can bypass the question dialog by themselves. But if you find an exploit, please report it
Isn't this "against" the "Unix/Linux way"?
I don't know. I don't care. I don't follow dogmas...
Are runz files automatically updated?
That depends on the developer of the runz file (remember RUNZ is just a "container" format) , if he/she/they want, they can easily add a way to check for updates and report that to the user.
Can I put an icon on a .runz file?
Not at the moment, but that is a planned feature. However, that will be disabled by default for security reasons (to avoid confusing un-experienced users). If/once that gets implemented, it will be announced at the blog
How can I open a .runz file?
- On Linux/Ubuntu: you can use "fuseiso" to open the file (available in the Ubuntu repositories)
- On MS Windows: you can use 7-Zip (note: while WinRAR and daemon tools also open .runz files, these programs mess up the filenames, so 7-Zip is recommended)
Can I make a file that contains the framework + the program? (so I don't need the framework to open the file)
Yes, you can do something similar to that, you can use runz2self to create a self-extracting file that will not require the RUNZ framework.
Does RUNZ support compression?
A .runz file is an uncompressed ISO, so RUNZ itself has no compression. However, developers are free to have compressed files inside the RUNZ/ISO, for example, it is perfectly possible to put a compressed self-extracting file inside a .runz file. Another perfectly possible option is to simply compress the .runz file to create a .zip or .tar.gz archive.
How can I disable the question dialog every time I open a .runz file?
The question dialog is for security reasons, however, if you really want to remove that, you can simply modify the contents of the file /etc/runz.conf to "no" (no quotes). To re-enable the question dialog again just change back the contents of the file to "yes" (no quotes).
Is this open source?
Yes, the RUNZ framework itself and the tools/programs it uses are 100% open source. The RUNZ Framework is also under the GNU GPL v.3
Does this work on other architectures besides x86 and x64?
In theory, yes, it should work on other architectures. Just try to install fuseiso with your package manager, and it should work. (of course you would need .runz files made for your architecture!)
