Project Description
MSE-iT Setup Bootstrapper is a library to build lightweight bootstrappers for MSI installations. It encapsulates all information into one setup.exe file (resources in a compressed form) and makes it easy to detect and download a missing .NET Framework. It is developed in C++.

Features
Demo Bootstrapper
The project contains a demo bootstrapper based on our project "MSE-iT maxi", which is a good start for own projects.

Usage
Your own bootstrapper links against the bootstrapper library. The demo bootstrapper shows the possibilities of the library. You can copy the code out of the demo bootstrapper to build your own.

Requirements

DemoSetupScreenshot.png

Copyright
Copyright (C) 2008 by MSE-iT, Hauptstrasse 32, 88427 Bad Schussenried, Germany
and the creators of the public domain and freeware parts as labeled in source code.

License
This project is not Public Domain or Freeware! This project is licensed under GPLv2. To use this project under this license, your project source code (the code of your bootstrapper) must be downloadable or obtainable via physical media. Even when you only link against the libraries of this project. Not sure what that means? Check this: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html Kindly report violations to: thomas (at) maierhofer.de

If your project don't meet this license criteria and you don't want to publish your bootstrappers source code, you need a proprietary license. Feel free to contact us for a proprietary license at: thomas (at) maierhofer.de

Documentation

Roadmap

Relevance
There are plenty of bootstrappers for the .NET Framework, MDAC, SQL Server Express and so on. Why developing another one? Almost all of this bootstrappers are scripted or configured and have less possibilities to be customized. For our own projects we want to have a fully programmable bootstrapper as a solid setup.exe file, because we have special needs. With this framework you have complete control over the bootstrap process on WIN32/MFC/C++ level. For most bootstrappers this is not necessary and it is better to use a configurable one. One thing, before you post a comment: I've programmed DLLs (plugins) for the common installation builders (e.g. InstallShield™, Wise™, SetupFactory™), and i know that this is possible. But it is a waste of time. If you are capable to program a DLL with C++, you are capable to program the whole bootstrapper in C++ with this framework in less time.

Origin
Our new travel agency accounting software (MSE-iT maxi) is based on the .NET Framework and is a client/server application. The installer is developed with Windows Installer XML. We need a compact bootstrapper which was ale to download and install missing parts (.NET framework, SQL Server Express) on demand. It is also a requirement to check if our app server is already running in the local network and start a client setup or a server setup if not. We got C++ knowledge from our projects, so it was a good idea to develop this bootstrapper in C++.

Links
Project Description
MSE-iT Setup Bootstrapper is a library to build lightweight bootstrappers for MSI installations. It encapsulates all information into one setup.exe file (resources in a compressed form) and makes it easy to detect and download a missing .NET Framework. It is developed in C++.

Usage
This framework is a base for other upgradeable persistence frameworks and solutions. It brings a uniform upgrade attribute tagging to the .NET framework and is basic for backup and synchronization issues.

Links
Maintained by MSE-iT Travel Agency Software (Reisebürosoftware)
MSE-iT Software Development Blog
.NET Framework and Open Source Software Development on Maierhofer Software

Project Urls
http://www.codeplex.com/MseItSetupBootstrap/
http://www.codeplex.com/MseItSetupBootstrap
http://mseitsetupbootstrap.codeplex.com/