[Lazarus] Database and installation

[Chavoux Luyt]

Hi all

I have used Lazarus with PostgreSQL in a client-server setup before.
It worked very well when I installed it at a client.

I have also written desktop Delphi programs using Paradox as database
and InstallShield as the installer before, which worked very well for
distributing programs on CD (or DVD). What would be the best Lazarus
equivalent for this purpose? I.e. a program with a pre-existing,
populated database that can be distributed on (and installed from) a
CD or DVD by users.

If I use PostgreSQL it would need to see if the Postgres RDMS has
already been installed on the desktop, install it if not, populate the
PostgreSQL database with the data on the CD and install the program
itself (with possibly adding a shortcut depending on the window
manager used). I have never studied .deb (much less) .rpm packages in
detail, so I am not sure if all of this functionality can be packed in
there. And I am not really looking forward to writing InstallShield
from scratch for Windows if there is a better alternative.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Chavoux