That meant developing a new installation program for each new product and sometimes a completely new installation program for newer versions of the same product. Fortunately, just as the new generation of Windows development tools has accelerated the development of Windows applications, the new generation of installation tools has accelerated the development of installation programs. These new tools generate installation programs that handle many of the mundane tasks, such as checking for disk space and checking write permission on target drives. They also offer a wealth of features that give your application a professional look and feel. For instance, they provide a nice graphical interface that includes some type of wizard positioned on a backdrop screen on which you can display your own graphics, such as a company logo.
Users now expect that in a Windows software product.
A poorly designed or poorly performing installation program can destroy a user's enthusiasm for your product right off the bat. Each of the packages in this roundup provides the necessary tools to help you quickly develop sophisticated, professional installation programs. Each also provides many advanced features, such as integrated uninstallation. A couple of the packages even delve into a new era of program installation by allowing you to develop installation programs that work across the Internet or your company's intranet. Each product has strengths and weaknesses.