Merging weighted recommendations for installation and configuration of software products

1. A method for installation and configuration of selectable components of a software product, the method comprising:

providing an installation user interface allowing a user to identify and select a plurality of install and configuration templates from multiple input sources for recommended installation of selectable software components;

responsive to a user selecting multiple install and configuration templates, enabling the user to apply a relative weight for each of the selected install and configuration templates, wherein the relative weight is applied to each selectable software component included in the weighted template;

merging the weighted software components from each of the install and configuration templates to determine a weighted value for each selectable component;

determining the weighted software components having a weighted value that exceed a predetermined threshold value;

installing and configuring each selectable component having a weighted value exceeding the predetermined threshold value including the components to install, the install path, and other configuration options;

removing selectable software components having a weighted value that is less than the predetermined threshold value;

applying a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment; and

automatically resolving a subcomponent dependency conflict.

2. The method for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 1 wherein the multiple input sources for recommended installation of selectable software components are selected from a group comprising internal, file and web-based templates, each input source specifying the selectable software components to install and the selectable software components that should not be installed.

3. The method for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 1 wherein applying a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment is based on a risk of installing a selectable software component containing malware.

4. The method for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 1 wherein automatically resolving a subcomponent dependency conflict comprises pruning the subcomponent.

5. The method for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 1 wherein automatically resolving a subcomponent dependency conflict comprises adding a parent component.

6. The method for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 1 wherein automatically resolving a subcomponent dependency conflict comprises applying a relative weight to add or prune the dependent components for each selectable software component in the selected install and configuration templates.

7. A computer program product for installation and configuration of selectable components of a software product when executed on a computer processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having embedded thereon:

program instructions that cause the processor to provide an installation user interface allowing a user to identify and select a plurality of install and configuration templates from multiple input sources for recommended installation of selectable software components;

program instructions that cause the processor to enable the user to apply a relative weight for each of the selected install and configuration templates, wherein the relative weight is applied to each selectable software component included in the weighted template;

program instructions that cause the processor to merge the weighted software components from each of the install and configuration templates to determine a weighted value for each selectable component;

program instructions that cause the processor to determine the weighted software components having a weighted value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

program instructions that cause the processor to install and configure each selectable component having a weighted value exceeding the predetermined threshold value including the components to install, the install path, and other configuration options;

program instructions that cause the processor to remove selectable software components having a weighted value that is less than the predetermined threshold value;

program instructions that cause the processor to apply a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment; and

program instructions that cause the processor to automatically resolve a subcomponent dependency conflict.

8. The computer program product for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 7 wherein the program instructions that cause the processor to apply a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment are based on a risk of installing a selectable software component containing malware.

9. The computer program product for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 7 further comprising program instructions that cause the processor to automatically resolve a subcomponent dependency conflict by pruning the subcomponent.

10. The computer program product for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 7 further comprising program instructions that cause the processor to automatically resolve a subcomponent dependency conflict by adding a parent component.

11. The computer program product for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 7 further comprising program instructions that cause the processor to automatically resolve a subcomponent dependency conflict by applying a relative weight to add or prune the dependent components for each selectable software component in the selected install and configuration templates.

12. A system for installation and configuration of selectable components of a software product, the system comprising:

a memory device for storing a plurality of software modules;

a processor for loading and executing the plurality of modules, including:

a module for providing an installation user interface allowing a user to identify and select a plurality of install and configuration templates from multiple input sources for recommended installation of selectable software components;

a module for enabling the user to apply a relative weight for each of the selected install and configuration templates, wherein the relative weight is applied to each selectable software component included in the weighted template;

a module for merging the weighted software components from each of the install and configuration templates to determine a weighted value for each selectable component;

a module for determining the weighted software components having a weighted value that exceed a predetermined threshold value;

a module for installing and configuring each selectable component having a weighted value exceeding the predetermined threshold value including the components to install, the install path, and other configuration options;

a module for removing selectable software components having a weighted value that is less than the predetermined threshold value;

a module for applying a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment; and

a module for automatically resolving a subcomponent dependency conflict.

13. The system for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 12 wherein the module for applying a subcomponent dependency ranking adjustment is based on a risk of installing a selectable software component containing malware.

14. The system for installation and configuration of selectable components of claim 12 further comprising a module for applying a relative weight to add or prune the dependent components for each selectable software component in the selected install and configuration templates.