Chapter 1. Getting Started

Windows Installer XML (WiX) is a free XML markup from Microsoft that is used to author installation packages for Windows-based software. The underlying technology is Windows Installer, which is the established standard for installing desktop-based applications to any Windows operating system. It is used by countless companies around the world. Microsoft uses it to deploy its own software including Microsoft Office and Visual Studio. In fact, Microsoft uses WiX for these products.

Windows Installer has many features, but how do you leverage them? How do you even know what they are? This book will help you by making you more familiar with the wide range of capabilities that are available. WiX makes many of the arcane and difficult to understand aspects of Windows Installer technology simple to use. This book will teach you the WiX syntax so that you can create a professional-grade installer that's right for you.