MSIX is a modern Windows application packaging format that blends the strengths of MSI, .appx, App-V, and ClickOnce, delivering a reliable packaging experience. This post guides you through the steps of creating an MSIX installer for your Flutter application, along with configuration options to customize it to your needs.

Installation of MSIX Package

To start using the MSIX package in your Flutter project, you need to add it as a development dependency. Here’s how you can do that:

flutter pub add --dev msix

Creating an MSIX Installer

Once the package has been installed, you can create your MSIX installer by running the following command in your Flutter project directory:

dart run msix:create

Configuring Your Installer

Your MSIX installer will likely require customization to match your app’s branding and functionality needs. You can add these configurations in your pubspec.yaml file under the msix_config: section:

msix_config:
  display_name: Flutter App
  publisher_display_name: Company Name
  identity_name: company.suite.flutterapp
  msix_version: 1.0.0.0
  logo_path: C:\pathtologo.png
  capabilities: internetClient, location, microphone, webcam

Available Configuration Options

Here are some configuration options that you can customize:

• display_name – The name displayed to users.
• publisher_display_name – The name of the publisher.
• identity_name – Unique identifier for your app.
• msix_version – Specifies the version of your package.
• logo_path – Path to your app’s logo.
• capabilities – List maintenance of the app’s required Windows capabilities.

Signing Your MSIX Package

For trusted installations, it’s essential to sign your MSIX package. While development builds are automatically signed with a self-signed certificate, you can specify your own signing certificate if you plan to release the app outside of the Microsoft Store.

Publishing to the Microsoft Store

You can generate an MSIX file for publishing to the Microsoft Store using the --store flag, or by setting store: true in your YAML configuration. Be sure to configure several values like the publisher_display_name and the identity_name to match your Microsoft Store registration details.

Troubleshooting

Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• Issue: The MSIX installer is not creating as expected.
• Solution: Ensure you’re running the command in the right directory and that all necessary dependencies are correctly set in pubspec.yaml.
• Issue: The application fails to install.
• Solution: Verify if the signing certificate is valid and properly configured.
• Issue: Missing capabilities error during installation.
• Solution: Check if you have correctly specified the Windows capabilities in the msix_config.

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Conclusion

Creating an MSIX installer for your Flutter app can help you seamlessly package and distribute your applications. By customizing the configuration options, you can ensure that your application meets all necessary requirements and provides a smooth experience for your users.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.