keymanapp / keymanapp/keyman

feat(developer): add user interface to compile bundled installers for Windows

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developer/ feat
Dominant language
Pascal
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143
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2d 10h
Merged PRs (30d)
113

Description

### Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Building a distributable keyman desktop installer with keyboards packages bundled in requires the installation and setup of a separate package, `kmc`, which in turn must be run outside of KMD at the command line requiring a small learning curve to understand and use the compiler parameters.

This presents a new workflow for KMD developers who had previously been accustomed to preparing the installer executables from within KMD. Restoring the capability to build installers from with KMD is the focus of this request and is made for the benefit of developer productivity and ease of use.

### Describe the solution you'd like

On the KMD package interface (for KPS files), on the Builder interface a subsection would be added for setting the parameters for building the exe. Interface components would be provided for setting each parameter that `kmc` supports.

For developer convenience (which this is all about), the `keymandesktop.msi` would be bundled with KMD and would not need to be downloaded separately. The `keymandesktop.msi` would not be selected and set through the UI, this aspect would be hidden from the user and simply corresponds the current version of KMN in use.

### Describe alternatives you've considered

`kmc` at the command line. works well but has the standard disadvantages for working at the command line vs a user-friendly interface.

### Related issues

_No response_

### Keyman apps

- [ ] Keyman for Android
- [ ] Keyman for iPhone and iPad
- [ ] Keyman for Linux
- [ ] Keyman for macOS
- [ ] Keyman for Windows
- [X] Keyman Developer
- [ ] KeymanWeb
- [ ] Other - give details at bottom of form

### Keyman version

17.0.328

### Operating system

Windows 11 Pro (22621.1702)

### Device

Windows Laptop

### Target application

N/A

### Browser

N/A

### Keyboard name

Any

### Keyboard version

Any

### Language name

Any

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

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