Little Install Builder

In order to make it easier to deliver a product it's best to wrap it in a good looking package either to resemble the product itself or to make it easy to reach, which is the case with computer applications and installers. As the name suggests, with the help of Little Install Builder you can pack all files of your new program in a comprehensive setup package.

Ironically enough, this application does not require installation, which means it's good to go from the moment the download is finished. As such, you can take it anywhere you go on a USB Flash drive, while the target PC's health status remains intact.

Launching it brings up a compact main window with a few tabs through which you navigate in order to specify general settings, files, shortcuts, as well as output. Corresponding controls are displayed upon access in the rest of the space, with a few, intuitive input fields put at your disposal.

General settings refer to the publisher and product, requiring you to write down company and product name, version, description, URL and copyright notice. This only takes a little while considering there's no other input field, not even for license terms and agreement text.

Somewhere along the way you need to add the files that need to be delivered to the end user. Although this step is easy, odd implementation of features makes it rather impractical. First of all, you can't drag files and folders over the main window. Using the built-in open dialog is also frustrating, because selecting too many files doesn't add them, while folder selection is impossible, as is creating directories in the application's file manager.

This has a direct impact on the shortcut selection tab, because it's used to select from imported files. If successful, it also lets you add special parameters. The last step is to specify output settings. These only count as a few, with requirement fields for destination and name.

A “Test Run” button attempts to check the installer, but no feedback is delivered whatsoever. What's more, there's a high chance the building process is subject to failure, especially if there's one missing file or one the application can't process. If you do manage to get ahold of the output file, it's pretty shallow, with no customizable visuals, while programs you pack inside need to be simple, due to the lack of a registry editor and other advanced settings.

Bottom line is that every self-respecting program needs to be delivered in at least a basic setup package, but Little Install Builder isn't quite the tool for the task. Sure, it's easy enough to use, with a simple interface that makes sure you don't get stuck along the way. However, starting with poor file import methods and ending with the faulty building process, you're better off creating your own installer with all that programming skill.