The MSI to MSIX Shift in Application Deployment
MSIX is a game-changer for software application distribution. However, it’s not all smooth sailing - there are challenges to face. A big one? Configuring your application.
Remember how with the old MSI format you could tweak your application's settings while installing it? With MSIX, you have to do it after the installation is complete. Why the switch? Well, Windows is aiming for setups that are more stable and secure.
In this article, we'll explore how MSIX is transforming the way we distribute software applications, making them simpler and more secure.
The Shift in Windows Application Permissions and Security
Windows has significantly changed its approach to app permissions and security. This evolution has moved from install-time configuration (as seen with MSIs) to first-launch configurations, common with MSIX and UWP (Universal Windows Platform) formats.
Looking back to the Windows 7 era, applications deployed through MSIs ran with a few restrictions - they had access to nearly everything without proper permissions and scattered their files throughout the system.
Remember those “Modern Apps” from Windows 8.1? That marked the beginning of placing apps into contained environments, called “sandboxing”. This provides a layer of security by ensuring apps operate in isolated environments. Thus, the system and data are protected from potential threats.
This security-focused approach grew stronger with Windows 10, especially with UWP apps. The goal? Preventing apps from causing issues with your system or other software and from gaining access to user data without consent. The focus on security and app isolation carried over to Windows 11, enhancing the balance of power between the user and applications.
MSI’s Legacy Method: Configuring Through Installation Dialogs
MSI has been the go-to method for installing software on Windows for years. When Windows first launched this installer format, users felt a sense of control.
It gave users control during installation, allowing them to choose settings like installation location and components, or agree to terms. Some prompts even requested names or registration numbers.
However, as software became more complex, MSI had to evolve, introducing “custom actions” for more advanced installations.
When an app needs certain user or system settings, custom actions can be used to set these up during the installation process. These actions can set up database connections or manage third-party integrations. However, they need to be used accurately, or they can cause installation and maintenance issues.
How Advanced Installer Streamlines Application Configuration with Dialog Templates
Advanced Installer is a tool for creating and managing software installation packages. It provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the design and build of installer packages.
While it offers pre-designed dialogs for MSI packages, users can also create custom ones, using components like edit boxes, checkboxes, or dropdown menus to collect user input.
It includes pre-configured custom actions for common installation tasks. This allows you to easily integrate them into your packages, eliminating the need to create specialized ones.
So, it combines the best of both worlds: offering standard dialogs while supporting a high degree of customization.
MSIX: The New Standard in Application Deployment
MSIX, Microsoft's latest packaging format, is set to replace MSI. While both are designed for installing applications on Windows, MSIX has some distinctive features, particularly in terms of app configuration.
Contrary to MSI, which may present several dialog boxes for configuration during installation, MSIX uses a standard set of dialogs. This change by Microsoft aims to standardize installations, enhance security, and reduce potential errors from user input during setup.
Rather than configuring during the installation, MSIX emphasizes app configuration after the installation, specifically at the first launch. This means users will encounter configuration options when they open the app for the first time.
This approach ensures a consistent installation experience and gives developers the freedom to design the configuration settings without the usual limitations of an installer. The result of this post-installation process could be a more enriched and user-friendly experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, MSI packages often blend installation and configuration, but MSIX separates the two. This development is in line with today's emphasis on a consistent user experience. MSIX standardizes the installation process while allowing post-install configurations to adapt to individual preferences. This shift represents a move from a more open permissions approach to a controlled model.
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Written by
Renato Ivanescu
Renato is a technical writer for Advanced Installer and an assistant professor at the University of Craiova. He is currently a PhD. student, and computers and information technology are his areas of interest. He loves innovation and takes on big challenges.