WiX
.svg){kind=logo} | |
| Original author(s) | Rob Mensching, Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | .NET Foundation |
| Initial release | 5 April 2004[1] |
| Stable release | 5.0.0
/ 5 April 2024 |
| Repository | github |
| Written in | C++, C# |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | Software development tools |
| License | Microsoft Reciprocal License |
| Website | wixtoolset |
Windows Installer XML Toolset (WiX, pronounced "wicks") is a free software toolset that builds Windows Installer packages from XML. It consists of a command-line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM packages. WiX was the first Microsoft project to be released under an open-source license, the Common Public License.[2][3] It was also the first Microsoft project to be hosted on an external website.[2]
After its release in 2004, Microsoft has used WiX to package Office 2007, SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005/2008, and other products.[4][3]
WiX includes Votive, a Visual Studio add-in that allows creating and building WiX setup projects using the Visual Studio IDE. Votive supports syntax highlighting and IntelliSense for .wxs source files and adds a WiX setup project type .wixproj to Visual Studio.[5]
History[edit]
WiX was the first Microsoft project to be released under an open-source license, the Common Public License.[2][3] Initially hosted on SourceForge, it was also the first Microsoft project to be hosted externally.[2]
On June 6, 2010, WiX moved from SourceForge to CodePlex.[6] On August 14, 2012, Microsoft transferred the WiX copyright to the Microsoft-sponsored Outercurve Foundation.[7] At the same time, the license was changed from the Common Public License to the Microsoft Reciprocal License.[8] On May 4, 2016, WiX was transferred to the .NET Foundation.[9]
Since Visual Studio 2012, the traditional setup project type has been removed from Visual Studio (available only as an extension since Visual Studio 2013). WiX is a recommended alternative.[10]
Functions[edit]
WiX is a toolset designed to build Windows Installer (.msi) packages using the command line.[5] It comes with the following tools:[7][5][11]
- Candle: compiles source files into object files
- Light: combines object files into a .msi file
- Lit: creates libraries that can be linked by Light.exe
- Dark: decompiles a .msi file into WiX code
- Heat: creates a WiX source file
- Pyro: creates Patch files (.msp) without needing the Windows Installer SDK
- Burn: coordinates dependency installer
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Mensching, Rob (5 April 2004). "Windows Installer XML (WiX) toolset has released as Open Source on SourceForge.net". RobMensching.com /Blog. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d Lawson, Stephen (6 April 2004). "Microsoft goes open source with WiX tool". Computerworld. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Bisson, Simon (2021-12-01). "Using WiX to build Windows installers". InfoWorld. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Robbins, John (18 October 2007). "WiX: Hints for New Users (Part 1 of 3)". Wintellect. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ a b c Ramirez, Nick (2010-10-18). WiX: A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML : Create a Hassle-free Installer for Your Windows Software Using WiX. Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84951-373-9.
- ^ Mensching, Rob (6 June 2010). "WiX toolset source and releases move to CodePlex". RobMensching.com /Blog. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ a b Ramirez, Nick (2012-01-01). WiX 3.6 - A Developer's Guide to Windows Installer XML. Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78216-043-4.
- ^ Mensching, Rob (14 August 2012). "Outercurve Foundation and WiX toolset together, at last". RobMensching.com /Blog. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Mensching, Rob (4 May 2016). "WiX toolset joins the .NET Foundation". Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ Hodges, Buck (17 March 2011). "Visual Studio setup projects (vdproj) will not ship with future versions of VS". Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Bruce (2014-03-05). Professional Visual Studio 2013. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-83205-9.
