Improve MSI install dir, debug info, and Apache config test

Added detailed troubleshooting documentation for MSI installer issues. Enhanced installation path detection and debug output in Rust backend, including config and permission checks. Implemented a new `test_apache_config` command for validating Apache configuration, and exposed it in the DebugPanel UI. Updated WiX installer fragment to enforce installation to C:\dsb\ using early custom actions.

Author: ProgrammerNomad

MSI_TROUBLESHOOTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+# MSI Installer Issues - Diagnosis & Fixes
+
+## Issues Identified
+
+### 1. Installation Directory Problem
+- **Problem**: MSI installs to `C:\Program Files\DevStackBox\` instead of `C:\dsb\`
+- **Cause**: Tauri's default WiX template overrides custom directory settings
+- **Fix Applied**: Enhanced WiX fragment with custom actions that run early in installation sequence
+
+### 2. File Display Issue During Installation
+- **Problem**: Installer shows "[1] size: [1]" instead of actual filenames
+- **Cause**: Likely due to glob patterns in resources causing WiX file enumeration issues
+- **Investigation**: Need to check if file count/names are properly enumerated
+
+### 3. Apache Startup Failure in Installed Version
+- **Problem**: Apache won't start when installed via MSI
+- **Potential Causes**: 
+  - Path detection issues in installed environment
+  - Permission problems in Program Files
+  - Missing configuration files
+  - Incorrect working directory
+
+## Fixes Implemented
+
+### Enhanced Path Detection
+```rust
+fn get_installation_path() -> PathBuf {
+    // 1. Check executable location first
+    // 2. Validate server components exist
+    // 3. Fallback to common paths
+    // 4. Better Program Files handling
+}
+```
+
+### Improved WiX Configuration
+```xml
+<!-- Custom actions with proper sequence timing -->
+<CustomAction Id="OverrideInstallDir" Property="APPLICATIONFOLDER" Value="C:\dsb\" Execute="immediate" />
+<InstallExecuteSequence>
+  <Custom Action="OverrideInstallDir" After="LaunchConditions">NOT Installed</Custom>
+</InstallExecuteSequence>
+```
+
+### Debug Commands Added
+- `debug_installation()`: Shows detailed path detection and component status
+- `test_apache_config()`: Tests Apache configuration without starting service
+- Enhanced error reporting with full paths and permission checks
+
+### Terminal Flashing Fix
+- All commands use `CREATE_NO_WINDOW` flag
+- Hidden window creation for service startup
+- No more command prompt flashing
+
+## Testing Approach
+
+1. **Install MSI and Check**:
+   - Installation directory: Should be `C:\dsb\`
+   - Component files: All server files should be present
+   - Permissions: Read/execute access to binaries
+
+2. **Debug Commands**:
+   - Run `debug_installation` to see path detection results
+   - Run `test_apache_config` to check Apache configuration
+   - Verify server component existence and accessibility
+
+3. **Service Startup**:
+   - Check if Apache config test passes
+   - Verify working directory is correct
+   - Test manual Apache startup from command line
+
+## Expected Results After Fixes
+
+✅ **MSI Installation**: Should install to `C:\dsb\` instead of Program Files
+✅ **File Display**: Should show proper filenames during installation  
+✅ **Apache Startup**: Should start successfully from installed location
+✅ **Debug Info**: Should provide detailed troubleshooting information
+✅ **No Terminal Flashing**: Services start silently in background
+
+## If Issues Persist
+
+If MSI still installs to Program Files:
+1. Check WiX log files for custom action execution
+2. Verify property values during installation
+3. Consider using MSI command line: `msiexec /i installer.msi APPLICATIONFOLDER="C:\dsb\"`
+
+If Apache still won't start:
+1. Use `debug_installation` to check detected paths
+2. Use `test_apache_config` to verify configuration
+3. Check file permissions in installation directory
+4. Verify config files were created properly

src-tauri/src/lib.rs

@@ -41,8 +41,21 @@ fn get_installation_path() -> PathBuf {
     // First, try to get the path from the installed location
     if let Ok(exe_path) = env::current_exe() {
         if let Some(parent) = exe_path.parent() {
-            // Check if we're in the installed directory (C:\dsb\)
-            if parent.to_string_lossy().contains("dsb") || parent.to_string_lossy().contains("DevStackBox") {
+            // Check if we're in any installation directory
+            let parent_str = parent.to_string_lossy();
+            
+            // Check for C:\dsb\ installation
+            if parent_str.contains("dsb") {
+                return parent.to_path_buf();
+            }
+            
+            // Check for Program Files installation
+            if parent_str.contains("DevStackBox") {
+                return parent.to_path_buf();
+            }
+            
+            // Check if this directory actually has our server components
+            if parent.join("apache").join("bin").join("httpd.exe").exists() {
                 return parent.to_path_buf();
             }
         }
@@ -63,7 +76,7 @@ fn get_installation_path() -> PathBuf {
         }
     }
 
-    // Final fallback - try common installation paths
+    // Try common installation paths in order of preference
     let possible_paths = [
         PathBuf::from("C:\\dsb"),
         PathBuf::from("C:\\Program Files\\DevStackBox"),
@@ -171,16 +184,40 @@ async fn debug_installation() -> Result<HashMap<String, String>, String> {
     let install_path = get_installation_path();
     debug_info.insert("detected_install_path".to_string(), install_path.display().to_string());
 
-    // Check if server components exist
-    let apache_exists = install_path.join("apache").join("bin").join("httpd.exe").exists();
-    let mysql_exists = install_path.join("mysql").join("bin").join("mysqld.exe").exists();
-    let php_exists = install_path.join("php").join("8.2").join("php.exe").exists();
-    let phpmyadmin_exists = install_path.join("phpmyadmin").join("index.php").exists();
+    // Check if server components exist with detailed paths
+    let apache_bin = install_path.join("apache").join("bin").join("httpd.exe");
+    let mysql_bin = install_path.join("mysql").join("bin").join("mysqld.exe");
+    let php_bin = install_path.join("php").join("8.2").join("php.exe");
+    let phpmyadmin_index = install_path.join("phpmyadmin").join("index.php");
+    
+    debug_info.insert("apache_bin_path".to_string(), apache_bin.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("apache_exists".to_string(), apache_bin.exists().to_string());
+    
+    debug_info.insert("mysql_bin_path".to_string(), mysql_bin.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("mysql_exists".to_string(), mysql_bin.exists().to_string());
+    
+    debug_info.insert("php_bin_path".to_string(), php_bin.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("php_exists".to_string(), php_bin.exists().to_string());
 
-    debug_info.insert("apache_exists".to_string(), apache_exists.to_string());
-    debug_info.insert("mysql_exists".to_string(), mysql_exists.to_string());
-    debug_info.insert("php_exists".to_string(), php_exists.to_string());
-    debug_info.insert("phpmyadmin_exists".to_string(), phpmyadmin_exists.to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("phpmyadmin_path".to_string(), phpmyadmin_index.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("phpmyadmin_exists".to_string(), phpmyadmin_index.exists().to_string());
+    
+    // Check config files
+    let apache_config = install_path.join("config").join("httpd.conf");
+    let mysql_config = install_path.join("config").join("my.cnf");
+    
+    debug_info.insert("apache_config_path".to_string(), apache_config.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("apache_config_exists".to_string(), apache_config.exists().to_string());
+    
+    debug_info.insert("mysql_config_path".to_string(), mysql_config.display().to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("mysql_config_exists".to_string(), mysql_config.exists().to_string());
+    
+    // Check permissions by trying to access directories
+    let apache_dir_readable = install_path.join("apache").exists();
+    let mysql_dir_readable = install_path.join("mysql").exists();
+    
+    debug_info.insert("apache_dir_readable".to_string(), apache_dir_readable.to_string());
+    debug_info.insert("mysql_dir_readable".to_string(), mysql_dir_readable.to_string());
 
     // Check common installation paths
     let common_paths = [
@@ -194,11 +231,16 @@ async fn debug_installation() -> Result<HashMap<String, String>, String> {
         let exists = path_buf.exists();
         let apache_in_path = path_buf.join("apache").join("bin").join("httpd.exe").exists();
         debug_info.insert(
-            format!("path_{}_exists", path.replace("\\", "_").replace(":", "")),
-            format!("dir: {}, apache: {}", exists, apache_in_path)
+            format!("path_{}_status", path.replace("\\", "_").replace(":", "")),
+            format!("dir_exists: {}, apache_exists: {}", exists, apache_in_path)
         );
     }
 
+    // Check current working directory
+    if let Ok(cwd) = env::current_dir() {
+        debug_info.insert("current_working_dir".to_string(), cwd.display().to_string());
+    }
+    
     Ok(debug_info)
 }
 
@@ -221,6 +263,43 @@ async fn stop_all_services() -> Result<String, String> {
     Ok(results.join("; "))
 }
 
+#[tauri::command]
+async fn test_apache_config() -> Result<String, String> {
+    let base_path = get_installation_path();
+    let apache_path = base_path.join("apache").join("bin").join("httpd.exe");
+    let config_path = base_path.join("config").join("httpd.conf");
+    
+    if !apache_path.exists() {
+        return Err(format!("Apache binary not found at: {}", apache_path.display()));
+    }
+    
+    if !config_path.exists() {
+        return Err(format!("Apache config not found at: {}", config_path.display()));
+    }
+    
+    // Test Apache configuration
+    let mut test_cmd = create_hidden_command(&apache_path.to_string_lossy());
+    test_cmd.arg("-f")
+        .arg(&config_path)
+        .arg("-t")
+        .stdout(std::process::Stdio::piped())
+        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::piped());
+
+    match test_cmd.output() {
+        Ok(output) => {
+            let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+            let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+            
+            if output.status.success() {
+                Ok(format!("Apache config test PASSED\nOutput: {}\nPath used: {}", stdout, apache_path.display()))
+            } else {
+                Err(format!("Apache config test FAILED\nError: {}\nOutput: {}\nPath used: {}", stderr, stdout, apache_path.display()))
+            }
+        }
+        Err(e) => Err(format!("Failed to run Apache config test: {}\nPath: {}", e, apache_path.display())),
+    }
+}
+
 #[tauri::command]
 async fn get_mysql_status() -> Result<ServiceInfo, String> {
     let running = {
@@ -1117,6 +1196,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             debug_paths,
             debug_installation,
             stop_all_services,
+            test_apache_config,
             get_mysql_status,
             get_php_status, 
             get_apache_status,

src-tauri/wix/custom-install-dir.wxs

@@ -1,7 +1,30 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi">
   <Fragment>
-    <!-- Set installation directory to C:\dsb -->
+    <!-- Properties to override installation directory -->
     <Property Id="APPLICATIONFOLDER" Value="C:\dsb\" />
+    <Property Id="ARPINSTALLLOCATION" Value="C:\dsb\" />
+    
+    <!-- Custom action to set the folder before directory resolution -->
+    <CustomAction Id="OverrideInstallDir" 
+                  Property="APPLICATIONFOLDER" 
+                  Value="C:\dsb\" 
+                  Execute="immediate" />
+    
+    <CustomAction Id="SetARPLocation" 
+                  Property="ARPINSTALLLOCATION" 
+                  Value="[APPLICATIONFOLDER]" 
+                  Execute="immediate" />
+
+    <!-- Execute the custom actions early in the sequence -->
+    <InstallExecuteSequence>
+      <Custom Action="OverrideInstallDir" After="LaunchConditions">NOT Installed</Custom>
+      <Custom Action="SetARPLocation" After="OverrideInstallDir">NOT Installed</Custom>
+    </InstallExecuteSequence>
+
+    <InstallUISequence>
+      <Custom Action="OverrideInstallDir" After="LaunchConditions">NOT Installed</Custom>
+      <Custom Action="SetARPLocation" After="OverrideInstallDir">NOT Installed</Custom>
+    </InstallUISequence>
   </Fragment>
 </Wix>

src/components/DebugPanel.tsx

@@ -30,6 +30,15 @@ export function DebugPanel() {
     }
   };
 
+  const testApacheConfig = async () => {
+    try {
+      const result = await invoke<string>('test_apache_config');
+      alert('Apache Config Test Result: ' + result);
+    } catch (error) {
+      alert('Apache Config Test Failed: ' + error);
+    }
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="p-4 bg-gray-100 rounded-lg">
       <h3 className="text-lg font-bold mb-4">Debug Installation</h3>
@@ -49,6 +58,13 @@ export function DebugPanel() {
         >
           Stop All Services
         </button>
+        
+        <button 
+          onClick={testApacheConfig}
+          className="px-4 py-2 bg-green-500 text-white rounded hover:bg-green-600"
+        >
+          Test Apache Config
+        </button>
       </div>
 
       {Object.keys(debugInfo).length > 0 && (