Preface

The race to get software developed and deployed is reaching a dizzying pace. As companies accelerate their target release dates, topics such as continuous deployment, process automation, and DevOps take center stage. The need for a reliable and reproducible method of installing software is clear.

In this regard, it's easy to see where a tool like WiX can shine. Its XML syntax makes it easy to read, edit, and store in source control. It creates a package that can either be installed by nontechnical consumers with the click of a mouse or by a remote system administrator who needs to work from the command line. Probably its greatest strength is that it takes tasks that used to be performed by human beings and makes them automated. Think about installing databases, creating websites, and editing configuration files. These are all jobs that WiX can do at the time of installation. More than that, it can react to its environment, installing one file or another depending on the operating system, pulling down missing resources from the Web, and preventing installation on unsupported machines.

In this book, we'll cover many of these sorts of topics. Each chapter centers on a common theme, but taken together, they'll provide a good general overview of WiX's capabilities. You'll quickly see ways in which WiX can cut down on the time you might spend to manually set up your software now. For those who have only limited experience with WiX, the first few chapters should give you the background you need to be up and running. Those seeking to streamline their deployment processes will find the chapters on Windows user and group creation, file permissions, websites, and databases interesting. It's an exciting but challenging time for installation, and I hope you'll find that the recipes presented here give you the running start you'll need.