Windows Installer XML 3.0

What

WiX is a set of tools that allows you to create Windows Installer-based deployment packages for your application. The WiX toolset is based on a declarative XML authoring model. You can use WiX on the command line by using the WiX tools or MSBuild. In addition, there is also a WiX Visual Studio plug-in that supports VS2005, VS2008, and VS2010. The WiX toolset supports building the following types of Windows Installer files: Installer (.msi)/Patches (.msp)/Merge Modules (.msm)/Transforms (.mst)

WiX supports a board spectrum of Windows Installer features. In addition, WiX also offers a set of built-in custom actions that can be used and incorporated in Windows Installer packages. The custom actions are offered in a set of WiX extensions. Some common WiX extensions include support for Internet Information System (IIS), Structured Query Language (SQL), the .NET Framework, Visual Studio, and Windows etc.

NOTE: wiX is the unique open source project of Microsoft hosted at sourceforge.

Capacity

1. 1. Create Windows Installer-based deployment packages

    Installer (.msi)/Patches (.msp)/Merge Modules (.msm)/Transforms (.mst)

2. Be able to be integrated with MSBuild/NAnt

Advantage

1. Free

2. Simpler compared with Installshield/InstallAnyware

3. Built-in setup wizards

4. Built-in custom actions

1. Internet Information System (IIS)
2. Structured Query Language (SQL)
3. Windows service installer
4. Modify XML configuration file
5. Install assembly to GAC and local system

5. Visual Studio 2008/2010 integration support

6. Be able to integrated into MSBuild/NAnt

Disadvantage

1. Learning curve: lack of enough resources and examples

2. Lack of GUI support to create installer XML

3. A little difficult to customize setup UI

Successful cases

1. SQL server 2005/2008

2. Office 2007

Resources

1. wiX Site: http://wix.sourceforge.net/

2. Tutorial: http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/

3. Manual: http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/main.htm

Other

The idea of wiX and C++ language look very alike. The following diagram illustrates the idea,