After a number of accomplice and buyer inquiries (in addition to some surprisingly energetic social media threads) I wished to put out the rationale behind bringing Smart Script Editor (WSE) into the AdminStudio Suite. I’ll elaborate additional under, however anybody searching for the short motive why we added WSE as an possibility for wrapping alongside PowerShell assist, it’s as a result of…
- Some who do packaging work have no idea PowerShell
- EXE wrapping is most well-liked by many as a approach to notice a customized, single file deployment package deal for vendor setups
- Smart Script Editor has many followers
The longer reply:
To start with, I’m compelled to spotlight that AdminStudio is a set of instruments that goes approach past repackaging. It options many parts able to engaging in automated conversion, testing and resolving of points, in addition to to offer distinctive insights relating to utility OS compatibility, virtualization and MSIX suitability, utility conflicts, adherence to greatest practices, and extra. As AdminStudio made a reputation for itself as a repackaging resolution, this continued funding within the evolution of the product could also be unknown to anybody indirectly engaged. Over the past yr (and into 2019) there was a concerted effort to extend its worth in serving to IT professionals with functions that don’t require repackaging (or MSI customization, for which AdminStudio can be well-known). Two key capabilities particularly add considerably to this purpose: command line solutions and wrapping.
Once you add an utility to AdminStudio, it is not going to solely present all of the perception and reporting talked about earlier however will now additionally recommend the silent command line arguments you could leverage in its deployment. This may be handed on to any of a number of supported methods administration options for distribution. Nevertheless, it’s a quite common observe to first “wrap” an set up with the intention to notice a constant supply the place application-specific conditions could also be higher dealt with. This may increasingly embrace pre or post-installation duties or presenting the top consumer with data, warnings, or decisions to deal with delaying an set up, closing wanted functions, or restarting the system. All of which are choices, and it’s secure to say these are decisions that can range drastically from one group to a different.
Wrapping with PowerShell was launched as a function of AdminStudio in November of 2017. Leveraging the PowerShell App Deploy Toolkit (PSADT), one can simply apply their PowerShell template to any utility with a click on and optionally launch it for enhancing within the related editor (by default Microsoft’s PowerShell ISE). This was very effectively obtained, and we have now seen loads of curiosity and adoption of this functionality. It’s secure to say that this continues to be the most well-liked methodology of wrapping a setup for deployment and stays the advice of Flexera.
One yr later, in November of 2018, AdminStudio 2018 R3 was launched which prolonged the wrapping performance to offer a new choice to wrap packages as an executable file. Throughout that yr, AdminStudio noticed a number of releases which have continued so as to add worth for AdminStudio clients corresponding to including MSIX assist, updating the consumer interface for a extra fashionable expertise, and extra together with the consolidation of what have been non-obligatory modules into the bottom product so that everybody can leverage the extra energy of utility compatibility, virtualization, mac and cell assist. All this to say that the worth of wrapping is effectively understood however is one a part of a a lot bigger image that’s, and continues be, painted.
In a continuing effort to preserve AdminStudio the highest product in its market, we discuss to clients about what they like, don’t like and about what issues they could do outdoors of AdminStudio as a part of their utility deployment course of. One factor we found (and it shouldn’t be too shocking) is that not everybody makes use of PowerShell.
There are a lot of chargeable for utility deployment which have achieved so for a few years and there are these new to the position—both of which can not have robust scripting abilities. The previous resulting from an inclination to stay with what’s working, and the latter a results of inexperience. I spoke to a number of massive organizations which have been utilizing Smart Script Editor (WSE) for a few years, some with hundreds of present scripts.
Utility Readiness
The duty of utility readiness by no means ends. There are at all times new apps and updates. Flexera’s AdminStudio drastically reduces the burden and saves time.
Smart Script isn’t one thing anybody must be taught. It’s a visible interface to scripting the place you select actions and place them inside situations. You’ll be able to examine for a file, a registry entry, an put in program, a service– absolutely anything, with out the necessity to perceive “how” to carry out such checks. In brief, no data of syntax is required.
Flexera acquired Smart Script Editor when Symantec received out of the market a number of years in the past. It has been out there to AdminStudio clients as a separate buy till this level. Now, as a part of the AdminStudio suite, it’s not to be offered by itself. There have been many questions on WSE enhancements and we are going to assess and prioritize such suggestions as a part of the general AdminStudio set of options. When you’d wish to see one thing improved, added, and many others. because it pertains to any facet of AdminStudio, we solicit your suggestions right here in our neighborhood.
AdminStudio is a better of breed toolbox for utility administration and WSE is a brand new instrument now at your disposal. Generally a couple of instrument can get the job achieved; select the one you like or that most closely fits the wants of the duty at hand.
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