Users are crowding to the Microsoft Web Platform Installer in mass, and the success is nothing short of well deserved. In less than half a year, the software giant's installer designed to centralize a plethora of free web products exploded to over 1.5 million downloads. Microsoft released the Web Platform Installer to web in January 2009, tailoring it to all supported versions of Windows client and server platforms. Still, despite not being supported on Windows operating systems still in development, the Web Platform Installer also works on Windows 7 and Windows Sever 2008 R2.

“In 2008, we placed a large bet on the fact that the Microsoft Web Platform and interoperability with Open Source community applications, together, would be something that would benefit both open communities and developers for building Web applications. What’s been amazing is the great success we’ve seen in such a short time – with our download numbers, the community feedback, and the amazing relationships we’re beginning to build with the Open Source community—especially application organizations,” revealed Lauren Cooney, group product manager, Web Platform & Standards at Microsoft.

Web Platform Installer 1.0 was launched in Beta at the start of October 2008. The finalized version started being offered in the second half of January 2009. At this year's MIX conference, the Redmond company unveiled the Web Platform Installer 2.0 Beta and Windows Web Application Gallery, which climbed to 100,000 downloads.

Essentially, the Web Platform Installer is a download manager. The tool is designed to streamline the tasks such as downloading, installing and updating a variety of technologies both proprietary and open source. Via the installer, users get a one-stop-location to accessing software as Internet Information Services (IIS), SQL Server Express, .NET Framework and Visual Web Developer, but also applications including DotNetNuke and WordPress.

“Microsoft is listening to the community and making changes to accommodate their needs, and it’s been spectacular to see their positive response and support in these efforts. These are long-term relationships that we’re going to continue to build,” Cooney added.


Microsoft Web Platform Installer 1.0 is available for download here.
Web Platform Installer 2.0 Beta is available for download here.