Understanding the Windows Desktop Runtime and how it fits in the larger .NET ecosystem has become increasingly difficult, but it is also important for developers who build desktop Windows Applications.

In a previous blog article, we discussed what an EXE setup file is, the difference between EXE and MSI installers, and other general details related to Windows’ setup.exe.

Winget is becoming increasingly popular, and the official repository is growing larger as new applications are added. Many ISVs who place their apps on the repository already have a well-established process to keep them up to date.

The Windows Installer service is a standard in the industry when it comes to software packages, but it doesn’t mean it’s not prone to errors.

Windows fonts are a set of digital files that define how text appears on the screen or in print.

How did I end up here? Well, I wanted to build a Windows service that would create an SSH reverse tunnel with a PEM-formatted private key, PowerShell, and the Non-Sucking Service Manager (NSSM). I never expected the biggest hurdle would be invisible line endings and encoding quirks.

In this article, we will learn what “Log on as a Service" is, when and where to use it, and how to enable it.

Publishing an application to the Windows Package Manager (WinGet) requires a manifest file that defines essential metadata, installer information, and localization details.

Registry keys play an important role in the Windows operating systems.They store configuration data and settings for both the system and applications. By adding registry keys, you can properly configure and optimize your app for each user’s system.

It is important to ensure that your Windows operating system is kept up to date in this age of technology. It is a matter that leads us to Microsoft Update Standalone Packages (MSU files), an essential element in the updating process of Windows.

Winget is a command-line package manager created by Microsoft for the Windows operating system. It enables users to search for, install, update, and uninstall software applications using the command line or scripts instead of a graphical user interface (GUI).

The confusion of dealing with unsigned drivers can sometimes disrupt your software installation process. Windows typically raises a red flag when such drivers come into play, triggering a warning message that it can't validate the publisher's credibility.

Advanced installer Repackager allows you to repackage your application in multiple environments, such as the host machine, different types of virtual machines like VMware, Hyper-V, and now Windows Sandbox.

Ensuring your application is well-designed is one of the key methods to keep users engaged. They need to have a positive experience while using your app, therefore a poor design can drive them away.

Windows Forms is a UI framework used to create Windows desktop applications. This development platform provides a broad set of features to develop graphically rich and interactive applications, including a visual designer in Visual Studio.

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a powerful User Interface (UI) framework for building desktop client apps. It's a part of .NET and offers a multitude of helpful features, such as media services, controls, data binding, and security.

Recently, I was assigned to monitor a third-party application to detect when a workstation is unlocked or a user logs in. Additionally, if the monitor goes off, the monitored app should be started.

Throughout their entire history, MSI applications have used Microsoft Windows Installer as an installation and configuration tool provided with Windows since version 2.0 for Windows XP and proceeding to version 5.0 for Windows 7, 10, and 11.

To keep up with the evolution of technology, the architecture of the processors shifted from 32 bit to 64 bit, as did the operating systems.Due to the rapid technological advancements, the logic in the registry and file system changed as well.

Process Monitor is probably one of the most used tools by IT Pros to debug applications and check installations. We mentioned Process Monitor in our MSI Packaging Training free e-book but this time around, we want to explore it further. We will discuss its prerequisites and share how you can get started with it.