What are the options to build an installer on a build-server without Visual Studio

Question

It seems like it's still not possible to build .vdproj on a build-server without having Visual Studio installed. However, using Wix seems to be a lot more complicated.

Are there any other options to do the following task:

• Visual Studio 2010 Solution with multiple projects (.csproj)
• Many loose content files (not inside assemblies)
• Installer must be built on Build-server without Visual Studio on it (devenv.exe / devenv.com)
• Installer must create Registry keys
• Installer must associate file extensions with installed product
• Installer must support upgrades (version upgrades)
• Installer should be able to register COM components
• Installer should be able to pre-JIT assemblies

My goal is:

• Effort to maintain installer is low
  • Minimal changes if new project (assembly) is added to solution
  • Ideal: no changes if new content files are added to any of the projects

Maybe I just did not get the point with Wix, but including project output (like in .vdproj) seems very complicated.

Any suggestions very much appreciated!

Answer 1

OK I decided to go with Wix. Found out that using Votive it's possible to include project output like in .vdproj (Binaries, Content, Symbols and even Source Code).

If I run into more complicated situations where this isn't sufficient, I could fall back to some kind of harvester (Heat, Paraffin).

See some more Links in comments below (too little reputation to post more than 1 link in this post).

Answer 2

Check out InstallShield 2010 Limited Edition ( Free for Visual Studio 2010 users ). It has pretty much all the functionality that VDPROJ ( being retired btw ) has and supports silent builds. You can get one license for your dev box and one license for your build machine pretty easily.