WIX Report

1. We get the official "Certified for Microsoft Windows" logo.
2. Automatic repair - When launching an application, files, registry entries, etc. are automatically checked for accuracy. If they are damaged or deleted, the component is installed again.
3. The installer can run with Administrator privileges even if it is launched from a normal user account.
4. The installer creates temporary backups of all modified, deleted files during the install so that if setup is aborted, the system is reverted to its previous state.
5. Merge Modules - This allows developers to create installation routines for their software that you can import into your installer. For instance, let say we have three applications that have been developed by Daniel, Dhruva, and Gao. They can each write a Merge Module for their own code which can be used for a standalone installation. We can also create an ISIP install program that contains all three that allows the user to select which components they would like to install. It would only require the main installer to import the existing Merge Modules (approximately 3 lines of code.) If the MSI files catch on, it could simplify it even further. For instance, Sun could create a Merge Module for Java. We could import that Module and allow the user to have Java automatically installed for them from our installer. And since MSI files support internet based installation, we would not have to include the Java package in our installer, keeping the size small.
6. Transforms - Allow customization of the installation from a single package. For instance, we could have seperate options for the demo installation for people who just want to run the program and for developers who want to modify the program.
7. Patches - Patch packages can be used for small updates to the installation. These patch packages can be used with complete files or with file deltas (MS equivalent of diff files.)
8. WIX is publid domain.
9. Microsoft uses WIX for packaginf of their applications.
10. Will most likely continue to be the Microsoft standard and will therefore insure a certain level of compatability with present and future versions of Windows.

1. Development time will be longer compared with other applications. It will take time to learn the XML tags and to develop some ISIP standards for formatting, design, and intallation procedures.
2. Support for MSI in older versions of Windows (95, 98, ME, NT) is not installed with the OS. It is available as a separate install, but this creates one more step for the user.