Why are Custom Actions in VBScript a warning sign? -----Original Message----- From: MikeR [mailto:michael.ru...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 1:44 PM To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [WiX-users] Interviewing an installation developer
The excerise of writing a simple install would probably be fine, though I'm not sure it is necessary. I do agree that knowing the nuts and bolts of Windows Installer is key and knowing what tables/actions do what is critical. The one potential problem I could see with having them author a small install on the spot is tool knowledge. Knowing Windows Installer itself is more important than knowing WiX, InstallShield, Wise, InstallAware, etc. Learning the concepts and best practices around Windows Installer is more difficult than learning how to use any particular tool. I would be sure to inquire about common issues with Windows Installer where people run into trouble or aspects of Windows Installer that are not intuitive and would require some real hands-on experience to know off the top of your head. Here is a short list of things I'd ask about. 1. Windows Installer component rules, feature/component structure 2. How Windows Installer handles upgrades and patches, making sure they know how FindRelatedProducts and RemoveExistingProducts actions and the Upgrade table work. Understanding how MSPs and therefore MSTs work to augment MSIs, etc. This relates back to #1 because if you don't follow proper component rules you frequently get burned when it comes time to upgrade/patch. 3. Understanding the general sequencing of how an MSI installs, knowing when to schedule custom actions in immediate/deferred mode and understanding when you should be making system changes and what property access is available, use of CustomActionData, commit/rollback actions, etc. 4. Also when it comes to custom actions the only good methods are C++ DLLs or DTF with C#. If you expect this person to write the custom actions for your installs they are going to need at least some basic programming skills in one of these two languages because anything beyond the most basic of installs is going to require custom action work. If your candidate is a proponent of writing custom actions in VBScript/Javascript take that as a warning sign. There's probably some other problematic areas escaping me at the moment but those are the big ones. I worked in Wise's tech support back when Windows Installer was starting to take over Windows setup development and from my experience there I can assure you that the three key areas where people ran into problems with Windows Installer were upgrades, custom actions and following proper component rules. If a candidate has a solid understanding of those areas and can speak about them intelligently that's a very strong starting point. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Interviewing-an-installation-developer-tp4455420p44 55848.html Sent from the wix-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ The Planet: dedicated and managed hosting, cloud storage, colocation Stay online with enterprise data centers and the best network in the business Choose flexible plans and management services without long-term contracts Personal 24x7 support from experience hosting pros just a phone call away. http://p.sf.net/sfu/theplanet-com _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Planet: dedicated and managed hosting, cloud storage, colocation Stay online with enterprise data centers and the best network in the business Choose flexible plans and management services without long-term contracts Personal 24x7 support from experience hosting pros just a phone call away. http://p.sf.net/sfu/theplanet-com _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
