From 820cca84eddf8790a6b43cd083a55dc623f85ff4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Martin Burtscher Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:39:05 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Clarify WiX fork and OSMF licensing for MSI installer Documents that Velopack uses its own WiX v7 fork rather than official WiX binaries, so the Open Source Maintenance Fee does not apply to Velopack or apps packaged with `--msi`. Closes velopack/velopack#988 --- docs/packaging/installer.mdx | 7 ++++++- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/packaging/installer.mdx b/docs/packaging/installer.mdx index 29b8044..0a2fcb0 100644 --- a/docs/packaging/installer.mdx +++ b/docs/packaging/installer.mdx @@ -23,10 +23,15 @@ The Windows installer will extract the application to `%LocalAppData%\{packId}`. The `current` directory will be fully replaced [while doing updates](../integrating/overview.mdx). The other files added by Velopack (`Update.exe` and `sq.version`) are crucial and are required files for Velopack to be able to properly update your application. ### Windows MSI Installer -In addition to `Setup.exe`, Velopack can generate a `.msi` installer using WiX 5. The MSI provides full Windows Installer integration, including support for per-machine installs to Program Files, Group Policy deployment, and standard Add/Remove Programs entries. +In addition to `Setup.exe`, Velopack can generate a `.msi` installer using WiX. The MSI provides full Windows Installer integration, including support for per-machine installs to Program Files, Group Policy deployment, and standard Add/Remove Programs entries. To enable MSI generation, add the `--msi` flag to your `vpk pack` command. The MSI is built alongside `Setup.exe` during packaging. +#### WiX version and licensing +Velopack builds MSIs using its own fork of WiX v7, rather than binaries produced by the official WiX Toolset project. This matters for licensing: the [Open Source Maintenance Fee (OSMF)](https://opensourcemaintenancefee.org/) that WiX v7 introduced applies only to consumers of WiX's official, compiled binaries. WiX's source code itself is MS-RL licensed and can be used freely without restriction. + +Because Velopack compiles its own fork rather than depending on WiX's official binaries, **the OSMF does not apply to Velopack or to applications packaged with `vpk --msi`**. + #### Install Location The `--instLocation` option controls where the MSI will install: - `PerUser` — installs to `%LocalAppData%\{packId}` (HKCU registry, no elevation required)