What is ssTEK?

[The Freezer]

Here we'll try to define, introduce ssTEK. We'll edit this post so it's easier to find:
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ssTEK (Silent Setup Technology) refers to a deployment technology to install applications and games unattended from a pre-defined package; and hence provides a high level of comfort in deploying software. It allows an administrator to access a list of software packages from the same directory or network share for install on more than one operating system platform. With these tools you will lessen the time necessary to install software across your network and raise your level of productivity. SetupS is a necessity in the IT environment due to its ability to cut down on timely and tedious software installations.

Originally utilized to facilitate modded operating systems such as the Last series and more recently WinBorg, these tools evolved into something far more universal in their applications across a wide range of operating systems and architectures. They are even handy for Linux installations.

You'll see them listed as: ssWPI, SetupS, ssBuilder, ppGenerators, etc.

Some useful definitions:
ssApp = (s)ilent (s)etup (App)lication
ppApp = (p)ermanent & (p)ortable (App)lication
ppGame = (p)ermanent & (p)ortable (Game)
ssTweak= (s)ilent (s)etup (Tweak) - No application to install
SetupS = Setup(S)iletly
ssWPI = (s)ilent (s)etup (W)indows (P)ost (I)nstall

[The Freezer]

Here's another version:
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ssTek is a name derived from "SetupS Technologies" and all the tools using that technology. These tools are collectively called a package management system -- a collection of software tools that automates the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing applications and games for a Windows[sup]tm[/sup] operating system in a consistent manner.

SetupS, meaning "Setup Silently", is the central tool responsible for managing the install and setup of certain deployment packages. These deployment packages have file extensions that SetupS automatically recognizes and can be installed simply by double clicking on those deployment package files. One can also use the context-menu "Sendto" option to install these packages or to install an entire folder of them.

Although SetupS is not an installer itself but rather a "manager" for other installers, the main feature and advantage of SetupS is its advanced ability to customize an install for nearly any application or game and to do that install without user interaction. This is sometimes also called an unattended or silent install.

Another ssTek tool is ssWPI -- a highly modded Windows Post Installer that works in conjunction with SetupS; and hence the name. ssWPI presents the user with a list of available deployment packages each with their own descriptions and screenshot/previews. The user can then select from any number of these items to install... all in one sitting... all without requiring any further interaction from the user.

Included with the SetupS suite is another application called "SetupS Editor", or ssEditor, that can create these deployment packages for ssWPI or SetupS. The ssEditor can also be used to edit existing deployment packages or simply to view them.

ssTek has several types of deployment packages available:

ssApp: installer based apps, installed silently or unattended.
ppApp: a portable and permanent application.
ppGame: a portable and permanent game.

An advantage of ppApps or ppGames is that they can be located anywhere on any drive (i.e., portable) -- for example, "D:\ppApps" or "D:\ppGames". Another is that as long as they remain on a different drive than the operating system (OS) then even after a new OS is re-installed, these apps or games can then be "brought back to life" and reused exactly as they were before (i.e., they're also permanent). This recovery can be accomplished by means of another ssTek tool called ssRegenerator.

With ssTek a user can also opt for an advanced startmenu structure that allows SetupS to automatically sort these apps or games while it is installing them or while they are being "regenerated". Of course the user can also opt for the standard startmenu structure if that is preferred. The ssTek tool that does this is called the ssControlPanel. And for cleaning dud shortcuts from the advanced startmenus is ssCleaner, which can be accessed via the ssControlPanel.

Each ss/ppApp contains a file with an .app extension (or .ppg for ppGames). It is a text-file which contains all the essential install information, startmenu sorting, and shortcut options, etc. This SetupS-file basically tells SetupS how to install the app or game. It can also contain many other bits of information pertaining to the app or game.

There are also many other SetupS-recognized files a typical ssTek deployment package might use. Installers (in the case of ssApps), or archives (in the case of ppApps); and various graphics files not essential to the apps' installations, but are added to provide other fun things ssTek tools can do. For example, screenshots of the apps or games when used with ssWPI.

Best of all, SetupS works with all the popular "NT-based" Windows, such as Windows 10, 8.x, 7, Vista, XP, & 2K.

And finally, ssTek tools are licensed under the open-source GNU GPL v3. For details, please see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.