TIS_RMS/frontend/INSTALL.md

TIS RMS Installation & Deployment Guide

This guide provides instructions for installing, building, and running the TIS RMS frontend client on Android and Windows devices.

---

1. Android Installation (Split & Universal APKs)

The Android application is distributed in architecture-specific split APKs (for smaller download size and faster performance) as well as a universal APK:

Available APKs:

APK File	Architecture	Description
TIS_RMS_64_v<version>.apk	64-bit ARM (arm64-v8a)	Recommended. Best performance and smallest size (~40% smaller) for modern Android phones and tablets.
TIS_RMS_32bit_v<version>.apk	32-bit ARM (armeabi-v7a)	Optimized for older or entry-level 32-bit Android devices.
TIS_RMS_Universal_v<version>.apk	Universal (32-bit & 64-bit)	Single standalone installer containing all native architectures (runs on all Android 7.0+ devices).

Build Commands (Flutter):

A. Build Split APKs (Generates 32-bit & 64-bit standalone APKs):

cd frontend
flutter build apk --release --split-per-abi --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/app/outputs/symbols

Outputs located in frontend/build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/:

• app-arm64-v8a-release.apk → TIS_RMS_64_v<version>.apk
• app-armeabi-v7a-release.apk → TIS_RMS_32bit_v<version>.apk

B. Build Universal APK (Contains all architectures):

cd frontend
flutter build apk --release --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/app/outputs/symbols

Output located in frontend/build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/:

• app-release.apk → TIS_RMS_Universal_v<version>.apk

Installation Steps:

1. Transfer the matching APK (TIS_RMS_64_v<version>.apk for modern devices, TIS_RMS_32bit_v<version>.apk for older devices, or TIS_RMS_Universal_v<version>.apk) to your Android device (via USB, local network share, or download).
2. Tap the .apk file in your file manager.
3. If prompted, enable "Install unknown apps" or "Allow from this source" in Android Settings.
4. Tap Install and open the app.
5. On startup, the app will automatically scan the local Wi-Fi/LAN for the TIS RMS server (port 18484) or connect to the secure tunnel domain (https://tis-rms.cc.cd/api).

---

2. Windows Desktop Installation

The Windows client runs natively on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit).

Prerequisites:

• Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable (x64) (v14.30+ / VS 2022 toolset; the installer automatically checks system compatibility and installs the official Microsoft redistributable silently if missing or outdated).
• Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime 6.0/8.0+ (x64) (automatically detected and installed silently by setup if missing).

---

A. Building the Size-Optimized Windows Release

cd frontend

# 1. Clean previous build artifacts
flutter clean
flutter pub get

# 2. Compile release build with tree shaking and symbols splitting
flutter build windows --release --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/windows/symbols

Output binaries will be placed in build\windows\x64\runner\Release\.

---

B. Compiling the Windows Inno Setup Installer (TIS_RMS_Client.iss)

The installer script frontend/TIS_RMS_Client.iss packages the app into an ultra-compact standalone setup file (TIS_RMS_Client_Setup_v<version>.exe ~16.7 MB).

Features:

• Small File Size: Uses lzma2/ultra64 solid compression.
• Bundled Offline VC++ Runtime Setup: Packages Microsoft's official vc_redist.x64.exe inside the installer. During installation, it detects whether a compatible Visual Studio 2022 (v14.30+) x64 runtime is installed in Windows (System32) and silently runs the bundled installer if missing or outdated, reporting errors if installation fails. Also purges legacy app-local CRT DLLs to prevent ABI mismatch crashes.
• Selectable Destination Path: Lets the user choose where to install (defaults to C:\Program Files\TIS RMS Client).
• Desktop Shortcut Checkbox: Optional checkbox on the tasks page to create a desktop shortcut with the official school icon logo.
• Start Menu & Uninstaller: Registers a Start Menu program group and includes a clean uninstaller in Windows Apps & Features / Settings.
• No Auto-Start: Does not create startup registry keys or background launch on boot.

Compiling with Inno Setup CLI:

# 1. Download official vc_redist.x64.exe into frontend/ (if not already downloaded)
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe" -OutFile "frontend\vc_redist.x64.exe"

# 2. Compile using Inno Setup Command Line Compiler (ISCC)
& "C:\Program Files (x86)\Inno Setup 6\ISCC.exe" frontend\TIS_RMS_Client.iss

The compiled installer will be saved to installers/TIS_RMS_Client_Setup_v<version>.exe (e.g., installers/TIS_RMS_Client_Setup_v1.0.0.exe).

---

C. Running Portable / Standalone (Without Installing):

1. Navigate to build\windows\x64\runner\Release\ or extract TIS_RMS_Client_Windows_x64.zip.
2. Double-click frontend.exe.
3. (Optional) Right-click frontend.exe -> Send to -> Desktop (create shortcut).

---

3. Server Discovery & Network Connectivity

When launching TIS RMS on either platform:

1. Local LAN Scan: The app automatically searches your local subnet on port 18484 for ultra-fast local server response.
2. Tunnel Domain Fallback: If you are outside the local network, the app automatically switches to the cloud tunnel domain (https://tis-rms.cc.cd/api).
3. Manual Server Selection: You can tap the server icon at the top of the Login Screen anytime to specify a custom server IP or domain.