tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post6836224506423276583..comments2024-03-25T00:30:02.127-07:00Comments on ISWIX: Dealing with BulliesChristopher Painterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167478740431444267noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-9928125545118337992008-04-21T05:57:00.000-07:002008-04-21T05:57:00.000-07:00I'm behind you all the way. There's nothi...I'm behind you all the way. There's nothing to be proud of with a no-UI installer. If I made one, I'd be fired before the files were done copying in my demo to management.<br><br>And personal attacks are just petty. I'm sure you have better things to do than be on the defensive against things like that.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08391358459728893260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-25489234882672886412008-04-21T06:35:00.000-07:002008-04-21T06:35:00.000-07:00You just lost me. This is kindergarten.You just lost me. This is kindergarten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-68530633561898278862008-04-21T06:54:00.000-07:002008-04-21T06:54:00.000-07:00Agreeing with both of the above comments. Make of ...Agreeing with both of the above comments. Make of this what you will...Jonathan Perrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05225413917140302974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-21878593129534868082008-04-21T09:28:00.000-07:002008-04-21T09:28:00.000-07:00I find myself in an awkward position because I am ...I find myself in an awkward position because I am friends at least on some level with both Rob and Chris. I won't pick any sides here, because I think that both of you are making good points. <br><br>Dealing with WiX UI is a total PITA. I have done it enough now, that I have stored up UI templates and I am getting better about visualizing where the controls should be placed. That does not however mean it's an elegant solution. On the flip side, WiX is an excellent open source solution with broad community support.<br><br>I hope this is something everyone can put behind them and move on. To Rob, I would say, as much as Chris' posts may be construed as rants or trolling, he makes good points and has the same problems as many other people. To Chris, I would say, Rob does WiX on his own time and InstallShield it is not, you can't really do an apples-to-apples comparison.Aaron Shurtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16538587727045104430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-14265647123650536862008-04-21T15:40:00.000-07:002008-04-21T15:40:00.000-07:00I would never ask anyone to pick sides.I also unde...I would never ask anyone to pick sides.<br><br>I also understand that WiX is done on off time and I just absolutely hate that. As Bryan said:<br><br>"I think he's hard on WiX because deep down he likes WiX. I can't help but feel the same way. I get frustrated at times because WiX feels like it's "right there" but there are idealogical things that keep it from becoming the whole tool I believe it could be."<br><br>I once posted on this blog "Microsoft: Make WiX a Priority!" and I really mean that. As much as I like my friends at Acresso, I want to see WiX go WAY beyond it's current resource and idealogical constraints and be a first class member of the VSTS system capable of making that apples-to-apples comparison.<br><br>But you are right, it's no where near there. But if you were to listen to the comments made from the community and it's leaders, you would believe that it is.Christopher Painterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167478740431444267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985159635193633235.post-10209683523937104412008-05-05T16:39:00.000-07:002008-05-05T16:39:00.000-07:00I totally agree that WiX has way much to be desire...I totally agree that WiX has way much to be desired regarding User Interface. And Rob's response seems low-blow, and I do feel that this is a case of ideology hampering progress.<br><br>But I will say that WiX (and Rob) have great ideas regarding the use of WiX Fragments to distribute component definition back down to the developer (where it is best handled). Installshield's DIM concept is pretty lame. (And I flew up to Schaumburg for an invite-only lab when they were pushing this as the next great thing since sliced bread!)<br><br>But I ask, why can't WiX fanatics and Installshield folks get along? Both tools have strengths and weaknesses... and the beauty of MSI technology allows you to mix and match tools to produce the best solution, overall.<br><br>Here is my solution: roll out WiX, but use it to only to develop Merge Modules. Push Fragments to the devs in their Visual Studio projects for this.<br><br>Then roll these Merge Modules into a Installshield project, and benefit from the excellent Installshield UI and (if needed) any Custom Action support which may be required.<br><br>All this needs is some smarter build scripts. Pretty easily done.<br><br>Oops, but I guess I'll miss that fancy Red Banner...gripper4hirenoreply@blogger.com