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Comment by pjmlp | Hacker News Reader

That is what Windows store apps and MSIX sandbox are for.

Except Windows store apps are strictly worse than being able to run regular Windows software in a sandbox.

One of MSIX purposes is to package old style Windows software, your regular Windows software into Windows Store sandbox, hence why I mentioned it.

It is an evolution of desktop bridge, appx and msi.

I stand corrected.

I'm not much of a Windows user, but MSIX sounds great.

Does it add a simple context menu entry to convert an installer? Bonus points for straight up Install and even more for Run.

I see it's open source, so if it's missing it may be possible to make a distribution of it with those things implemented. Then one could install it and make it a default msi handler.

Edit: from what I see conversion is much more involved. Create a certificate and go through a wizard and fill out some forms. Correct me if the is a quick and easy convert option. Otherwise it's a nice thing that needs more development to be useful for a generic user.

MSIX is a developer feature, replaces appx and msi installers, while adding support for sandboxing in the process.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sgern/2018/06/18/a-closer-l...

A generic user is supposed to just double click on an *.msix file to get it installed on the Windows Store infrastructure.

"Being just the start, MSI packages may very well be supported for at least a few more years on Windows 10. However, by looking on the GitHub repo of MSIX, there are some hints that Microsoft envisions a future where MSIX not only replaces the MSI but also creates a package format which cross-platform Microsoft applications can recognize and use on any platform (iOS, Android, MacOS, and Linux)."

https://www.advancedinstaller.com/msix-windows-package.html

> MSI packages may very well be supported for at least a few more years on Windows 10

This sounds like someone making installer stuff would say. MSI will be supported on modern OSes for much longer than "a few more years".

VB6 apps created in 1998 will be supported until 2025 at least. MSIs will be treated the same.

Windows Core OS doesn't support MSI by default. :)

You can't run a non-Store app in such a sandbox I believe?

Only when packaged via MSIX, which is why I mentioned it.

I wish MSIX was available on Windows 7 too. It would have much greater adoption.

It is in Preview. https://github.com/Microsoft/msix-packaging/tree/master/prev...

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