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MSI Differences B/W Software Repackaging and Software Development
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MSI Differences B/W Software Repackaging and Software Development
MSI Differences B/W Software Repackaging and Software Development Both system administrators and software developers create installations, however, the methods for how and why they create installations vary. Administrators repackage existing installations in order to customize the package to their company’s standards for mass deployment. In contrast, software developers typically author new installations based on the requirements of the application they are installing. The following chart differentiates software developers and system administrators’ requirements when creating installations.( MSI Differences B/W Software Repackaging and Software Development)
| Software Developers | System Administrators |
| Method of installation creation: author new installations | Method of installation creation: repackaging |
| Software developers typically author new installations from the ground up. | Administrators customize an existing installation by repackaging it. |
| Install on one PC | Install on many PCs. |
| Target is individual PCs. | An application can be distributed via a network, eliminating the need to walk to each PC and install it individually. |
| Minimal integration with other applications | Integration with other applications is critical |
| Little or no concern if the installed application breaks other applications. | It is imperative that each installed application work with all other applications on the end user’s PC. |
| Support several platforms | Support limited number of platforms |
| Doesn’t know specification of target platform, so application installation is designed for several platforms. | Knows target desktop specifications, so application installation only needs to run on specific platforms. |
| Flexible installation | Inflexible installation |
| Installation can be installed where a user decides. | Requires the application to be installed in the same location every time. |
| Media distribution | Network distribution |
| Typically distributes an application on a CD for each user. | Distributes an application through the network to multiple users. |
| Extensive user input | No user input desired |
| Users interact with the installation and make their own choices about how the installation is installed. | The system administrator determines what features users will have and creates an automated installation that installs without user interaction. |
| User executed installation | Distribution system executed |
| User initiates the application installation. | Distribution occurs through a network and can run silently on users’ machines as they work, during the night, or when the user executes the application. |
| Reports status to user | Reports status to distribution system |
| User receives constant messages about the application installation’s progress. | User is not encumbered by application installation status reports. |