PackDesigner > MSIX / APPX Projects

Introduction

Microsoft® Operating Systems have a deep history with Windows application installers. Availability of different techniques spanning from legacy installers through Windows Installer, Click-Once, and App-V created several challenges for developers packaging their apps for legacy and modern environments. Due to the fast growth of mobile and other non-PC like tablets, phones, game consoles, and HoloLens, it has become critically important to unify the installation frameworks and come with a solution that is cross-platform and supports wide range of apps and technologies.

The answer to these challenges has been announced. The new format – named MSIX – is internally based on the APPX technology stack which provides a solid containerization foundation, yet expanding on previously unavailable enterprise oriented features. This is also symbolized by its name where APPX and MSI are combined to MSIX. The technology is natively implemented in Windows 10 (starting from builds 1809 October Update) and is combining the best of MSI, App-V, and Click-Once. Specific goals of the MSIX are:

•Multiplatform format (not limited to Windows OS).

•Security, containerization, and isolation of running apps.

•Fast install and clean uninstall routines made easy, preventing any kind of Windows rot.

•The ability to publish apps in the Microsoft Store / Microsoft Store for Business and Education.

•Built-in licensing and monetization features and tons of other APIs including the integration with Cortana, Sets, Timeline, etc.

•Expanded enterprise features, including easy customization of existing vendor packages (Modification Packages), extended compatibility features, and fixes (Package Support Framework).

Where migration to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is not possible (especially for apps which are no longer maintained and for certain Line-Of-Business products) Windows 10 implements a bridge to the UWP world, which allows running old Win32 apps on the new platform, with the new MSIX installer and all benefits of it, yet requiring no changes to the code. As the adoption of Windows 10 grows, more and more apps are expected to be packaged in the new format, and slowly modernized to use the UWP benefits. This should finally join the development and packaging world in a coherent world, using same tools and principles.