WiX Toolset for Windows

Brief overview

WiX (Windows Installer XML) Toolset is an open-source toolkit originally developed by Rob Mensching for producing Windows Installer packages from XML source. It converts XML definitions into MSI/MSM installers so you can build compact, repeatable setup packages for Windows.

What it does

The toolset compiles and links XML authoring into installer files and provides helpers for extracting, harvesting, and localizing installer content. Its utilities each serve different roles in the build and packaging workflow, allowing developers to automate and customize installer creation.

Included utilities and their roles

• Burn — a bootstrapper that can bundle required prerequisites and related installers into a single executable.
• Candle — the compiler that processes WiX XML (source) into intermediate objects.
• Light — the linker that assembles compiled objects into a final installer package.
• Dark — a reverse-engineering utility that can extract WiX XML from existing MSI/MSM binaries.
• Heat — a harvester that can generate WiX fragments from files, directories, or projects.
• Lit — a tool used to assist with localization and related resource tasks.
• Pyro — an auxiliary utility for advanced build scenarios and project manipulation.

Why the bootstrapper matters

When an application depends on other components (runtime libraries, frameworks, drivers, etc.), Burn makes it easy to deliver everything as a single, user-friendly EXE. This simplifies deployment, ensures prerequisites are installed in the correct order, and improves the end-user installation experience.

Why developers choose WiX

• It is open-source and widely adopted for professional Windows installer workflows.
• It integrates with common build systems and supports automation.
• Produces standard MSI/MSM packages that conform to Windows Installer expectations.