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historically all windows software has either been unzipped into a folder or installed using an installer created by the vendor, so as a result the vendor has to
by kevingadd 3y ago
historically all windows software has either been unzipped into a folder or installed using an installer created by the vendor, so as a result the vendor has to provide their own uninstaller too. uninstallers are complex enough that the OS can't completely take their place, though Windows has shipped with an install/uninstall framework called MSI for a long time.
- pjmlp 3y agoSince Windows 2000, to be precise.
- dolmen 3y agoINF files were (are?) also available (but quite undocumented) as an install/uninstall framework. I used to bundle an INF file in a CAB archive (converted to self-extract executable) to distribute software. Using only Microsoft's own tools.
- TremendousJudge 3y agoWhat they never shipped is understandable docs and tools for devs to create .msi installers, which caused the deluge of custom installers such as the one being discussed.