Preferred installation package
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Having used both recently (though I didn't use any really advanced stuff in either), I'd say that Installshield is better than Wise. Wise was horribly slow and its UI is coded so bad then when some heavy operation is going on, the whole UI freezes and unless you have a multi-core CPUI, your machine is frozen during the entire build process. Not saying Installshield is all that better, because with each new version they add tons of features and the package gets heavier and heavier, but it's still the better choice of the two (my opinion).
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
Having used both recently (though I didn't use any really advanced stuff in either), I'd say that Installshield is better than Wise. Wise was horribly slow and its UI is coded so bad then when some heavy operation is going on, the whole UI freezes and unless you have a multi-core CPUI, your machine is frozen during the entire build process. Not saying Installshield is all that better, because with each new version they add tons of features and the package gets heavier and heavier, but it's still the better choice of the two (my opinion).
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*)Thanks Nish. That's very helpful.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Is the VS 2005 deployment wizard not sufficient for your purposes? I will stay away from both Installshield and Wise. My application has to do some complex install work and Installshield has given me nothing but grief. IS 7.0 work very good for me, then I upgraded to 10.5 which break the patch creation process finally when I upgraded to IS XI Installshield started crashing during builds. Well after spending some time with their support and hacking the build issue is resolved but I am not happy with Installshield at all.
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
We've had zero issues since we started with .net apps using the built in visual studio deployment projects. Before that we used installshield and I can not say enough bad things about that steaming pile of feces and a company with the blackest heart in software. (I'm still pissed that they made us pay for updates to fix huge hairy bugs)
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We've had zero issues since we started with .net apps using the built in visual studio deployment projects. Before that we used installshield and I can not say enough bad things about that steaming pile of feces and a company with the blackest heart in software. (I'm still pissed that they made us pay for updates to fix huge hairy bugs)
John Cardinal wrote:
I can not say enough bad things about that steaming pile of feces and a company with the blackest heart in software
:omg: That's good to know! Thanks
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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Is the VS 2005 deployment wizard not sufficient for your purposes? I will stay away from both Installshield and Wise. My application has to do some complex install work and Installshield has given me nothing but grief. IS 7.0 work very good for me, then I upgraded to 10.5 which break the patch creation process finally when I upgraded to IS XI Installshield started crashing during builds. Well after spending some time with their support and hacking the build issue is resolved but I am not happy with Installshield at all.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Is the VS 2005 deployment wizard not sufficient for your purposes?
I'm not sure yet. Our app is installed in various ways (can't disclose details), and I am looking to see if third-party installation packages might make the various configurations easier to deal with.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I am not happy with Installshield at all.
I was afraid of getting that type of feedback. :( Thanks for the info.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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Having used both recently (though I didn't use any really advanced stuff in either), I'd say that Installshield is better than Wise. Wise was horribly slow and its UI is coded so bad then when some heavy operation is going on, the whole UI freezes and unless you have a multi-core CPUI, your machine is frozen during the entire build process. Not saying Installshield is all that better, because with each new version they add tons of features and the package gets heavier and heavier, but it's still the better choice of the two (my opinion).
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*)Installshield? Really? I used it for years and the minute we switched to all .net which made our deployments much simpler I've been super happy to have dropped Installshield like the plague that it is. I have almost nothing but bad experiences with the product and particularly with the company I could relate for hours if anyone would listen. Unless installshield has made a 180 degree change in their policies and quality control (and from what I've heard they haven't) I can't recommend it at all to anyone.
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We've had zero issues since we started with .net apps using the built in visual studio deployment projects. Before that we used installshield and I can not say enough bad things about that steaming pile of feces and a company with the blackest heart in software. (I'm still pissed that they made us pay for updates to fix huge hairy bugs)
John Cardinal wrote:
(I'm still pissed that they made us pay for updates to fix huge hairy bugs)
Yes! $600 for support to suggest workaround for bugs is unethical in my opinion. I want to stay away from it in future.
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
I used Wise for several years pre-2001. It was fun and easy to use. Not sure what/how their latest version is.
"Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15
"Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb
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Installshield? Really? I used it for years and the minute we switched to all .net which made our deployments much simpler I've been super happy to have dropped Installshield like the plague that it is. I have almost nothing but bad experiences with the product and particularly with the company I could relate for hours if anyone would listen. Unless installshield has made a 180 degree change in their policies and quality control (and from what I've heard they haven't) I can't recommend it at all to anyone.
John Cardinal wrote:
I can't recommend it at all to anyone.
Between IS and Wise, IS is the better one. If you think Installshield is bad, you've got to try out Wise.
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
John Cardinal wrote:
I can not say enough bad things about that steaming pile of feces and a company with the blackest heart in software
:omg: That's good to know! Thanks
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Seriously, do a search on them on the net and see what people are saying. Back a few years ago it had more bugs than a bait shop and it was so complex to use and get working properly we had to pay an expert in Germany to develop our installation script for us. There were still bugs and at one point a huge one that completely knackered us and while hundreds of users were complaining about it on their "support" boards they only fixed it as a paid for update to the newer version. Maybe things have changed, but from what I've heard they haven't. It's right up there with Crystal Reports, Notes etc for hall of infamy in my books.
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John Cardinal wrote:
I can't recommend it at all to anyone.
Between IS and Wise, IS is the better one. If you think Installshield is bad, you've got to try out Wise.
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
I used Wise for several years pre-2001. It was fun and easy to use. Not sure what/how their latest version is.
"Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" - 2 Timothy 2:15
"Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb
Thanks Dave.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Is the VS 2005 deployment wizard not sufficient for your purposes?
I'm not sure yet. Our app is installed in various ways (can't disclose details), and I am looking to see if third-party installation packages might make the various configurations easier to deal with.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I am not happy with Installshield at all.
I was afraid of getting that type of feedback. :( Thanks for the info.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Josh Smith wrote:
I was afraid of getting that type of feedback
You wanted honest feedback. Right? You can also look at NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page[^]
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Never have, I've tried that free one before which was actually very good, I forget the name of it, we used it for a while until we outgrew it.
John Cardinal wrote:
Never have, I've tried that free one before which was actually very good, I forget the name of it, we used it for a while until we outgrew it.
On a side note, I had to phone and speak with Installshield support last month and the first person, after trying her best to get out of it, passed me onto another guy, who also tried his best to get out of it.
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
Josh Smith wrote:
I was afraid of getting that type of feedback
You wanted honest feedback. Right? You can also look at NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page[^]
Given that the two top players in the Install-App field are as unpopular as they are, it's a million-dollar market out there for some smart individuals to come up with something that's simple to use and that will work out of the box :-)
Regards, Nish
Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. (*Sample chapter available online*) -
Josh Smith wrote:
I was afraid of getting that type of feedback
You wanted honest feedback. Right? You can also look at NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page[^]
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
You wanted honest feedback. Right?
Yes, of course. I just was hoping that the installation packages were good! :D
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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We're looking to buy an installation package, and I was hoping that some folks might have suggestions/tips based on experience. The deployment target is Windows-only, for .NET a app. It seems that there are two very popular choices: InstallShield and Wise. Do you have a recommendation for one or the other? Is there an even better choice? Thanks for any help.
:josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Look at Inno Setup. Alternately if you're into MSI stuff, and you're needs are pretty simple (or even if they aren't), consider looking into Wix. I use it at work and have even integrated it into a VC6 project to build an installer that installs a service. Works great. InstallShield is a total ripoff. Can't speak for Wise.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Techno Silliness
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Look at Inno Setup. Alternately if you're into MSI stuff, and you're needs are pretty simple (or even if they aren't), consider looking into Wix. I use it at work and have even integrated it into a VC6 project to build an installer that installs a service. Works great. InstallShield is a total ripoff. Can't speak for Wise.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Techno Silliness
Jim Crafton wrote:
consider looking into Wix.
I'm reading lots of good stuff about it. It seems very powerful and it nicely integrates with Visual Studio.
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