Windows Installer XML 3.0

What

WiX is a set of tools that allows you to create Windows Installer-based deployment packages for your application. The WiX toolset is based on a declarative XML authoring model. You can use WiX on the command line by using the WiX tools or MSBuild. In addition, there is also a WiX Visual Studio plug-in that supports VS2005, VS2008, and VS2010. The WiX toolset supports building the following types of Windows Installer files: Installer (.msi)/Patches (.msp)/Merge Modules (.msm)/Transforms (.mst)
WiX supports a board spectrum of Windows Installer features. In addition, WiX also offers a set of built-in custom actions that can be used and incorporated in Windows Installer packages. The custom actions are offered in a set of WiX extensions. Some common WiX extensions include support for Internet Information System (IIS), Structured Query Language (SQL), the .NET Framework, Visual Studio, and Windows etc.
NOTE: wiX is the unique open source project of Microsoft hosted at sourceforge.

Capacity

1. Create Windows Installer-based deployment packages
    Installer (.msi)/Patches (.msp)/Merge Modules (.msm)/Transforms (.mst)
2. Be able to be integrated with MSBuild/NAnt

Advantage

1. Free
2. Simpler compared with Installshield/InstallAnyware
3. Built-in setup wizards
4. Built-in custom actions
Internet Information System (IIS)
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Windows service installer
Modify XML configuration file
Install assembly to GAC and local system
5. Visual Studio 2008/2010 integration support
6. Be able to integrated into MSBuild/NAnt

Disadvantage

1. Learning curve: lack of enough resources and examples
2. Lack of GUI support to create installer XML
3. A little difficult to customize setup UI

Successful cases

1. SQL server 2005/2008
2. Office 2007

Resources

1. wiX Site: http://wix.sourceforge.net/
2. Tutorial: http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/
3. Manual: http://wix.sourceforge.net/manual-wix3/main.htm

Other

The idea of wiX and C++ language look very alike. The following diagram illustrates the idea,