MSI Builder

The MSI builder tool enables automated creation of Windows Installer packages by modeling the installer as a project with metadata, file mappings, features, and upgrade rules. It focuses on domain logic for software packaging rather than UI concerns, delivering repeatable outputs suitable for release engineering and deployment automation. It integrates with the project model and source control to track changes and rebuild from the same inputs.
Core concepts include product identity (name, version, manufacturer), upgrade_code, components and features, install locations, and file-to-component mappings. The tool validates inputs, computes required identifiers, and emits an MSI using Windows Installer conventions. Optional advanced steps support custom actions, prerequisites, customization dialogs, and digital signing prior to distribution. Validation rules enforce version formatting, GUID correctness, and architecture compatibility; errors are surfaced before a build.
Beneficiaries are software teams packaging Windows applications, MSPs, and IT administrators who need repeatable, auditable installers. The tool's unique value is its focus on installer lifecycle: stable inputs, deterministic outputs, and metadata export for auditing and rollback. Common use cases include building new version installers from a file set, regenerating installers after file changes, and generating offline installers for air-gapped environments. Example scenarios include multi-file products with optional features and upgrade paths across major versions.