14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft used the Developer Day event to introduce a new installer format called MSIX and supporting both UWP and Win32 software.
Essentially, MSIX can replace both APPX (previously used for Microsoft Store apps) and MSI (which was launched for Win32 packaging) and brings more container security options with application customization.
With this new format, Microsoft basically brings Store apps and Win32 programs closer together, eliminating one of the biggest headaches for developers building software for the Windows platform. With a single format to rule them all, devs can thus rely on a single installer that can be either published in the Microsoft Store or released through custom content distribution networks.
Format already open sourced
The new MSIX format is open source and Microsoft has already published the SDK on GitHub, offering cross-platform API support for unpacking packages.
“The MSIX Packaging SDK project is an effort to enable developers on a variety of platforms to pack and unpack packages for the purposes of distribution from either the Microsoft Store, or their own content distribution networks,” Microsoft explains.
MSIX could also help Microsoft bring more applications in the Microsoft Store, and at the same time, also make it easier for developers to port games to Xbox, for example. What’s going to be interesting, however, is to see if MSIX has what it takes to tackle criticism regarding Microsoft’s aggressive strategy for moving games to the Microsoft Store, an approach that has drawn criticism from several top industry figures, including Epic’s Tim Sweeney.
It remains to be seen how many developers, if any, embrace this new packaging format, but given the advantages that it brings, there’s a good chance Microsoft will push hard for the Windows developer community to at least give it a try. More information will certainly be provided at the Build developer conference later this year.