Open Source Windows Installer

Question

You know that sometimes XXX people release an open source executable file. But it has an actual window installer. something like this: http://www.bestesoft.com/imgbest/2/3/setupsqueezer_msi.gif

Typically, the main reason for these things is simply placing certain files in specific places? Also, how are you going to create your own?

Since it’s clear that people use the Windows Installer, it must be some kind of open source utility? How can I use it for my own programs.

Answer 1

Windows Installer is a free tool, a component available on Windows for both users (for installing packages) and developers (for creating installation packages). You can use your capabilities using the Setup project in Visual Studio.

Wikipedia Information

MSDN Information

MSDN Information (link)

InstallSite Information

Such packages have several software deployment points, some of which include: having a central container for many files that depend on each other, hiding this unnecessary truth from ordinary users, compression to make the final deployment package smaller, built-in actions for write configuration items to the system (both for system and for your own), user actions to perform any processes necessary before running the software, almost completely offline rollbacks, deletes, etc., and the list goes on.

There are other environments for creating these packages (unlike VS), some use MSI technology, some use other, proprietary technologies.

Answer 2

If you need to create installers for installing software on Windows, you can use NSIS . It is compatible with all major versions of Windows and is released under the permissive license zlib / libpng.