WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML

by Nick Ramirez

If you're a developer needing to create installers for Microsoft Windows, then this book is essential. It's a step-by-step tutorial that teaches you all you need to know WiX 3.6: the professional way to produce a Windows installer package. Overview In Detail The cryptic science of Windows Installer can seem far off from the practical task of simply getting something installed. Luckily, we have WiX to simplify the matter. WiX is an XML markup, distributed with an open-source compiler and linker, used to produce a Windows Installer package. It is used by Microsoft and by countless other companies around the world to simplify deployments. "WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML" promises a friendly welcome into the world of Windows Installer. Starting off with a simple, practical example and continuing on with increasingly advanced scenarios, the reader will have a well-rounded education by book's end . With the help of this book, you'll understand your installer better, create it in less time, and save money in the process. No one really wants to devote a lifetime to understanding how to create a hassle-free installer. Learn to build a sophisticated deployment solution targeting the Windows platform in no time with this hands-on practical guide. Here we speed you through the basics and zoom right into the advanced. You'll get comfortable with components, features, conditions and actions. By the end, you’ll be boasting your latest deployment victories at the local pub. Once you've finished "WiX 3.6: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML", you'll realize just how powerful and awesome an installer can really be. What you will learn from this book Approach A step-by-step tutorial with plenty of code and examples to improve your learning curve. Who this book is written for If you are a developer and want to create installers for software targeting the Windows platform, then this book is for you. You'll be using plenty of XML and ought to know the basics of writing a well-formed document. No prior experience in WiX or Windows Installer is assumed. You should know your way around Visual Studio to compile projects, add project references and tweak project properties.

Genres: Software, Programming, Coding

461 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Steve Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good introduction to WiX. It is written in a style that allows start to finish reading, skimming and reference, which makes it a valuable desktop companion for anyone packaging their apps with WiX.

I was also impressed that the topics covered included more interesting cases such as localisation, which are too often overlooked.

[Pablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was instrumental in me managing to package Dashman. It had pretty much everything I needed and most if not everything I learned from the book worked with the latest WiX 3.X.

One issue that I have with most WiX information out there is that it assumes you are working in a .Net language and using Visual Studio. I understand this is true for most WiX users but it's not for me, as I was building a Java application. If you are in the same situation as me, I recommend reading chapter 1 and then immediately jumping to chapter 9 that explains how to use all the different parts of WiX from the command line. After that go back to chapter 2 and work yourself over to chapter 8.

I haven't read a lot past chapter 9 because it gets into a lot of very advanced stuff that I didn't need. I feel that a lot of computer books these days are just introductions. It's nice to see one that goes so deep into a subject that I find myself not needing to read it, instead of wondering where's the next more advanced book.

I wish more computer books were like this (but I do understand why they are not).

[Víctor de Souza Faria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good introduction to WiX and a good reference for daily use of the framework.